Shelly's Modeling Agencies | Weight Patrol | Hot Topic

Shelly's Modeling Agencies shares with you the story of Jonathan Branch on weight patrol. Jonathan Branch transformed himself from a couch potato into a svelte cop. In 1999 when Jonathan Branch finished high school in Maryland, the former football player tipped the scales at nearly 350 pounds. Less than two years later, he'd not only shed more than 100 pounds, he also landed the career he'd been dreaming about.

Even as a kid, I was big. I lived on fast food. My favorite was No.2 cheeseburger-combo meal. By the time I was 17, my weight had hit an all time high: At 6'1 I was 337 pounds. In the spring I heard about Shelly's Modelling Agencies and the great things they were doing with their weight loss program. In the fall, I got so tired of being heavy. I wanted to have more confidence and wear fashionable clothes like the models at Shelly's Model Agencies. Obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes run in my family, so I knew I needed to get healthy.

I joined Scouts Model Agencies fitness team and started working out. At first, I did all cardio; about an hour a day of treadmill, bike or elliptical. I also loaded up on my favorite food, which was oatmeal-I sometimes ate it twice a day because it kept me full and satisfied. With these changes alone, I dropped 80 pounds within the first year.

In August 2000, I sought out a personal trainer in my gym, and he taught me how to eat more healthfully. He asked me to make a list of all of the foods I liked, then he broke that list down into five small meals a day. I started eating every two or three hours in order to keep my metabolism revved up. I was able to continue having the food I loved the most-Oatmeal-but he replaced my (high in sugar) version with the old-fashioned kind.

After I incorporated four to five days a week of strength training with Head Start Model Agency. I began to see rapid results. Soon enough I was lean, muscular and 237 pounds-exactly 100 pounds lighter than I'd been the year before. In addition to getting my health in order, I had another goal: I wanted to be fit enough to become a police officer. When I was 22, that goal became a reality. I was accepted into the police academy.

I maintain my weight the same way I lost it: consistent exercise and eating healthy food every few hours. Overall, I'm stronger, and I feel good. And though it's sometimes challenging to squeeze in my gym time, I still work out two to four times a week. And I get plenty of exercise chasing after the bad guys!