At the end of three months of the Fitness Challenge sponsored by Core Fitness and Out & About, Paul Roberts has dropped 17 pounds and 12 inches from his waist, hips, buttocks, and chest.

Arianne Missimer, owner of Core, has the 43-year-old Roberts on a diet/exercise program designed to reduce his weight and improve his endurance slowly.

The diet includes a protein and carbohydrate in each meal and snack. “You want something ‘slower’—your protein—to slow down the digestion of the carbs,” says Missimer. “For example, eating a fruit with yogurt, pasta with chicken, whole wheat crackers with low-fat cheese. This is a very effective strategy for healthy, balanced eating. And it’s very satisfying, which aims to prevent overeating. In combination, it’s very helpful for weight loss.”

Roberts agrees. With a mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and evening snack plus three meals, he says, “It feels like I’m always eating something. I eat a lot of fish and chicken and limit the red meat to once a week.”
Roberts, a credit card campaign manager for Barclays, says his conditioning has improved dramatically. “When I first started [in December], I was doing about two minutes on the elliptical. Now, I’m doing 30 minutes at a resistance of eight.”

What’s more, his blood pressure is down to 128 over 75, prompting his doctor to take Roberts off the blood pressure medication he’s been taking for three years.

“I think I’m doing real well and I’m having a good time,” says the Bear resident.