Weight loss journey starts with a walk

BEL AIR, Md. (WMAR) - "I was traveling and I had taken some clients out to dinner and I got back to my hotel room and just was feeling like the weight of the world was literally on my shoulders," said Adam Carson.

Maybe not the world, but at least 310 pounds.

"I smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day," said Carson.

This is what the Bel Air man looks like today 120 pounds lighter.

"Everybody asks me what's the magic bullet," said Carson.  "There is no magic bullet," he said.

He is a chef, and since the culinary connoisseur  knows his way around the kitchen, changing how he whips up a meal wasn't too difficult.

"My 2 sons love the healthy food," said Carson.  "My wife enjoys it.  I enjoy it, and the key is to make sure it taste good, and I was able to take my skills as a chef and make it taste good," he said.

Adding a little of this and a little of that over the stove was a lot easier than what he had to do outside.  It started with a walk.

"I walked it slow, and I was heavy and it was awkward," said Carson.  "I was feeling I was not going to make it around the loop, and I continued that, that whole first summer," he said.

The walks slowly turned to jogs.  The jogs graduated to runs - 30 miles a week.

"I never thought I could even walk around the block, let alone run a half marathon.  So it's been an amazing transformation," said Carson

A healthy transformation that will have Adam around longer for his two boys, his wife Michelle, and the new baby they're expecting.

"Anybody who is going to take that journey I think you need to start with just a step, said Carson.  "Whether its lifting a weight, whether its outside just enjoying the fresh fall air, that’s the first step," he said.