Sgt. Chris Forrester of the Greer Police Department has bought into a new lifestyle – healthy eating and weight loss.
This is one photo Sgt. Chris Forrester couldn't imagine before April 2009, when he methodically dropped 90 pounds and began running marathons.
The before photo of Sgt. Chris Forrester. It is still on the Greer Police Department's website.
Forrester will be running in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Dec. 1 to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Forrester has collected nearly $3,000 (his goal was $2,500) in donations to support the St. Jude’s mission of treating children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
“I was kind of looking for a different marathon and St. Jude’s is a great cause with the children’s hospital,” Forrester said. His first full marathon (26.2 miles) was in March at the Columbia Marathon.
How Forrester worked his way into shape is the inspirational back story. It begins in April 2009 when, at 5-foot-7 inches, he carried 245 pounds. “It started then. I told my wife, ‘I’m going to lose weight.”
He joined Weight Watchers, read the books his wife collected on losing weight and began counting his calories taken in and calories burned. He signed up for SparkPeople.com, a free website devoted to health, fitness and weight loss.
“Ed Driggers (City Administrator) is the poster boy,” Forrester said. Driggers joined Weight Watchers when it was offered at City Hall as an employee incentive. He has maintained significant weight loss.
"If it's something I say, do or support and it demonstrates something positive to the employees, that's wonderful," said Driggers. "We actively promote a healthy lifestyle."
“The way I feel now and how I use to feel, it’s like 180 degrees,” Forrester said. “The way you look in a uniform and present yourself is also important. I feel better and I have a lot more energy.”
Along the way Forrester shed 90 pounds – equal to a newborn calf. His waist is a 30, down from 38. He has had several wardrobe makeovers en route to his 155-160 pounds he carries today.
Forrester and his wife, Hollie, made it a family affair and included daughters Maddie and Reagan.
“It’s pretty cool it’s going past two to three years,” Forrester said. “We did it as a family. If my wife hadn’t done it, it would have been tough.” Hollie lost 60 pounds.
Forrester said when he reached 180-pounds, it was a benchmark. Stay or continue trying to lose weight. “It was hard to get around that barrier,” Forrester said. “I didn’t think I would get it off.”
There is a reward system. “One day a week I eat anything I want. I will quit counting for two weeks and get back in charge,” he said.
Discipline wasn’t going to be a problem for the former Marine. “I started running when I started losing weight (2010). My first race was a 10k and I got addicted to it. I just love it,” Forrester said. “Once I run a few more marathons I want to run ultra marathons (31-100 miles and longer).”
The Columbia Marathon was a challenge, Forrester said. “It was also overwhelming. My body adapted well. I hit the wall early, 16-17 miles in, and the last 7-8 miles I made it through to the finish but cramped up. There was some discomfort in the legs but I got around pretty good. I wanted to stop and take pictures mentally along the way. It was really good exposure.”
Forrester said he trains 18 weeks for a marathon. He ran the Spinx Marathon in Greenville (Oct. 27) as a training run. “I was only a minute and a half behind my time, but it was a trainer going into St. Jude’s.”
Forrester and Hollie will be spending the weekend in Memphis. He plans to visit with some of the children and doctors attending the events.
“Losing the weight and running has changed the way I eat and my way of life,” Forrester said. “I’m half the person I use to be, literally.”