Making your New Year's resolution count: Ryan Daffer's Story

VIGO CO., Ind. (WTHI) - 2013 will be here in just a matter of hours, and for a lot of people in the Wabash Valley, that means it’s time to make a New Year resolution.

And As far as resolutions go, weight loss and healthier lifestyle choices top many lists.

News 10's Mike Latta found out about a new program at the Vigo County YMCA and the story of the young man behind it.

Vicky and James Barish are part of a new program at the Vigo County YMCA called T.O.O., which stands for “Taking On Obesity”.

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If you were to ask them if they are competitive in the program, you may not get a clear answer.

But both agree Ryan Daffer - the Community Wellness Coordinator - has made a big difference in helping achieve their goals.

"He knows what it's like to lose weight and even with someone smaller getting ideas to lose the weight was a big plus with Ryan," said James.

"He knows what we are going through and he's just a genuine good guy. When you look at his pictures and what he looks like now, he has come a long way,” said Vicky.

Ryan wasn’t always as fit as he is now.

"I weighed 735, and I know people are watching thinking wow how could you get that big....i lived it and I'm still asking myself that," Ryan said.

On a January night in 2007, Ryan had to make a call for help.

"I reached an evening where I got down and I couldn't get up so we had to call in some family members and between family and friends they got me up. And it was at that moment I looked at my family and said regardless of what's wrong no matter how bad it is I need to address this issue," Ryan said.

It was after that night that Ryan took the first step in his journey to get his weight under control.

"I just took it one step at a time, literally one step at a time getting started. I didn't have someone I could go to or someone I could ask what did you experience when you went through this took place..for me it was trial and error," Ryan said.

Ryan started exercising and changed his eating habits. 

In over four years, he has lost almost 460 pounds.

To put that in perspective, he lost well over the weight of two grown men.

"It never gets easy, it gets easier, it's just like anything the more you do it the more you get use to it," Ryan said  "You don't get to 735 pounds without making some excuses along the way, trying to justify why you can't do certain things."

But with hard work and determination he did do it.

And now, he’s taking his experiences and coaching others through their journey.

"To see people buy in and apply what you’re trying to tell them, and to see it really change their lives and change their homes and affect their families, that's very rewarding,” Ryan said.  “But to see how it can affect more than one person and affect a household....that exciting."

So, if you find yourself looking for a little motivation to shed those unwanted pounds in 2013, what better motivation than the story someone who’s been in your position.

“I think they buy into what I say because I have lived this,” Ryan finished.

• SIGN UP TO BECOME A MEMBER AT VIGO COUNTY YMCA | Click here