Dean M. lost 245 lbs.*

*Real success story. Weight lost on prior
program. Expect to lose 1-2 lbs. per week.

“Right away, I knew my life was at stake.”

Imagine being rushed to the emergency room while on vacation. For Dean, this was a frightening reality. He couldn't breathe, and his throat swelled up—symptoms he experienced after walking a short distance to the car while sightseeing. “Right away, I knew my life was at stake,” Dean recalls. Weighing nearly 500 pounds, he believed his weight was a factor.

Dean was scared and ready to do something about it. “I couldn't even put on socks without help from my grandfather. I didn't want my younger brothers, niece, nephew and little cousins to see me like that anymore. I needed to set a better example for my family.”

As it turned out, the emergency was caused by a bee sting. But it signified so much more. “At first, I thought it was a heart attack, and that's a fear I never wanted to relive.” It wasn't just a scare. It was Dean's wake-up call. “Unhealthy habits had taken control of me. I needed more than a diet. I needed to change my life.”

“I tried the food and was instantly hooked.”

Dean decided to give Nutrisystem a shot. “Everything was planned out for me. It was just so convenient. I tried the food and was instantly hooked.” He followed the plan and incorporated exercise, too. On a mission to change his life, Dean dedicated himself to the program and watched the pounds steadily drop.

Eventually, he went on another family vacation. “At that point, I was down roughly 140 pounds. I enjoyed that vacation so much more because I was able to do things with my family. I could walk the boardwalk, I could go to the beach, I could take my younger siblings to the pool and play with them.”

“It's all I ever wanted, my dream come true.”

Today, Dean is 245 pounds lighter than when he started, and he's feeling better than ever. Dean credits Nutrisystem for helping him get there. “I love the way I feel now! I even love eating healthier foods. There's no question: Nutrisystem changed my life and I'm just so happy I gave it a chance!”

Dean celebrated his victory by getting a tattoo representing his grandfather's beloved roadster. Why? Before Nutrisystem, Dean was heartbroken, unable to fit in the sports car and cruise around with his granddad. Now Dean's not only wearing a freshly inked car, he also purchased his own sporty, new ride. “It's all I ever wanted, my dream come true.”

After losing 245 lbs.* - nearly half his body weight, Dean maintains that his healthy lifestyle is driven by the love of his family. “I'll never forget my grandfather hugging me and saying, 'I can get my arms around you now'—thinking about that still makes me smile.”