Dec. 12, 2025
Under 200 lbs, First Time in 33 Years, Doug's Story - 32
In this episode of Driven For Health, Coach Brian Parana talks with Doug and Barb about their health journey as a retired couple who wanted to lose weight, feel better, stay active, and enjoy the next stage of life with more energy.
Doug shares how he had not been under 200 pounds in 33 years after quitting smoking and gaining weight. He had spent years hovering around 216 to 220 pounds, then reached his goal of getting under 200 and eventually got down near 193.
Barb shares how she wanted to lose weight before her grandson’s wedding, feel better in her dress, improve her energy, and stop feeling tired and achy. Together, Doug and Barb learned how to plan meals, shop smarter, understand food labels, eat out with more control, manage portions, and build habits they could keep using after the first phase of weight loss.
This episode is a strong listen for couples, retirees, and adults over 60 who want to lose weight, improve energy, stay independent, travel, enjoy family, and build a healthier lifestyle without extreme dieting.
In this episode, you’ll hear the real story of Doug and Barb, a retired couple who decided they were done settling for low energy, creeping weight gain, and feeling older than they actually were.
Doug hadn’t been under 200 pounds in more than 30 years. Barb felt tired, achy, and uncomfortable in her clothes. They traveled often, loved being active, and wanted to enjoy retirement without feeling limited by their health.
Twelve weeks later, everything changed.
You’ll hear how they each dropped 15–20 pounds, built consistent habits, learned to eat in a way that fits real life, and finally broke through patterns that held them back for decades.
Their mindset shift, their honesty about what wasn’t working, and the way they supported each other will give you a roadmap for your own comeback.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why their old approaches — keto, cutting carbs, intermittent fasting — never delivered long-term results
• Doug finally breaking the 200-pound barrier after three decades
• How Barb rebuilt her energy, confidence, and strength before a family wedding
• The simple nutrition strategy that helped them stop guessing and start progressing
• How they learned to eat out, travel, and stay social without derailing results
• What changed in their mindset once they invested in real coaching and accountability
• The habits they now rely on to stay consistent in their 60s and beyond
If you’re a man over 40 who keeps telling yourself you “know what to do” but still can’t get results that last, this story will push you to rethink everything.
Doug and Barb are proof that your best years can still be ahead of you when you commit to getting your health back.
Ready to Drop 20+ Pounds in the Next 100 Days?
If Doug and Barb’s story lit a fire under you and you’re tired of trying to figure this out on your own, it’s time to step into The Call To Rise — my 100-Day Fat Loss Program designed for busy men who want clear direction, proven systems, and real accountability.
You’ll get a personalized plan, daily support, and the exact framework that has helped men drop 20–30 pounds while improving energy, confidence, and long-term health.
Start your rise here: www.thecalltorise.com
Want help applying this to your own health, weight, energy, or lab numbers?
Coach Brian Parana offers Health Hot Seat coaching segments for men who want a clear next step with nutrition, fitness, weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C, or daily consistency.
Learn more about The Call To Rise, a 100-day coaching program for driven men over 40 who want to lose weight, improve their health, and rebuild confidence:
To connect with Coach Brian:
brian@brianparana.com
Disclaimer: This podcast is for education and coaching support only. It is not medical advice. Always work with your physician before changing medication, treatment, or medical care.
- Welcome everyone. So happy to have you and looking forward to sharing Doug and Barb's journey to getting healthier, happier. They are happily married for decades now. I hope I aspire to with my wife get to their relationship age as well. They're family focused. They travel the world. They're new to boating with a new hobby.
- They're super active and they wanted to just better themselves and stay as active, healthy, and energetic as they could. Let's take it away, you two. Thanks so much. And and share with our audience who you are and what you do. >> Uh Doug and my wife Barbara. Uh we are newly retired uh for about a year and a half, almost two years now.
- We've settled into retirement quite nicely. We do like to travel. We we we uh we wanted to get we wanted to get healthier too because we want to we'll be pushing 70 in a couple of years and uh we want to remain healthy so that we can travel and be self-sufficient. >> Yeah. Excellent. Excellent. And where were you last at? I believe you were overseas, right? >> Paris last September.
- >> Yeah. Yeah. September. We were Paris and Sweden. Switzerland, >> you want to be active in all those places. And also, one of the big things that we were working on was a wedding, right? That was a big deadline to look great, feel great, and Barb, I know having those those arms and those pictures was important for you.
- >> That was my goal was my grandson was getting married and we had 12 weeks and I wanted to lose about 15 or 20 pounds, which we did, which I did. Doug gloss more. So, I was happy about that. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. Excellent. And you felt How did you feel on wedding day in the stunning dress you had? >> I felt great.
- It's It was not only to to get into the dress that I wanted and to lose weight, but to feel good. I noticed that I was starting to feel tired and just not feeling good. My body was aching. I knew that it had to do with the way that I was eating and the lack of exercise and so I knew something had to be done and Doug encouraged me um to get on the program.
- >> Yeah. >> And Doug, what were some of the results that we had for you? It was it was a what three decade old >> you accomplished? >> Huge win for me. um something I didn't know I could possibly be done. [clears throat] Uh I had quit smoking 33 years ago and instantly put weight on and uh was as high as 235 at one point in my life.
- Kind of got got it down to around 216 220. I hovered there for years. My goal was to get to 195 by 10:25 by October 25th, which was the wedding day. The day that I broke 200, I sent you a text. I sent Brian a text and uh and I was I was just ecstatic. I I haven't been over 200 since. So, I I got down I got down as far as 193 and I've been kind of hovering there.
- >> Yeah. Uh look looking to still lose about maybe eight more pounds. >> Yep. >> Try to get down at 185 and and then I'll take it from there. >> Yep. >> It was it was a huge win for me. It really was. >> Over three decades last time you're under 200 lb. That's a significant accomplishment to be able to do it. That's awesome.
- Super proud of you both for the effort and determination. Barb put on the afterburners here, right? She was giving you a run for your money. >> Yeah. as we kept going with her focus and getting dialed in or as my 16-year-old would say locked in right now. Now, before we started working together, what were you both trying on your own? >> We were failing at anything.
- I mean, >> yeah. Yeah. >> We had no direction. It was just kind of like, oh, I need to lose weight. I'll cut carbs or I'll, you know, just eat less. not really having the knowledge and the discipline and the training which we got from you and uh you know just had you there every moment that we needed you and just encouraging us along the way.
- I would get get a little discouraged because I didn't lose any weight that week and then we'd hang up and the next day at Hound's off. >> Right. Right. Right. We're like oh we should have just scheduled the call for tomorrow. >> Yeah. It was it's funny that it happened like three or four times. I want you to call you a few more times.
- >> Yeah. So, yeah, just not getting discouraged. I think that's the big problem with anybody that tries to get on a program or, you know, change their lifestyle. We get discouraged easily. Um, so having you there to encourage us and to tell us stories about, you know, what's going to happen and your past experiences that that really helped to keep going for the the goal, >> right? A lot of people, they start off and they might have that early win and and you both had some pretty quick wins before we actually engaged. We had to
- talk and reframe the the mindset, have some insights, share stories of other people's process of how they did to make sure that you did the things you're supposed to do consistently over time, which then got us to the result that we wanted, which was look better, feel better, not only just for the wedding, but the rest of your life.
- Doug, what were some of the things that you tried before outside of the just I guess the 1990s approach of just cutting out carbs and and bread and pasta and sugars and stuff, >> right? Uh the ketos, the uh intermittent fasting, calorie deficit, those kinds of things. I was never really a student of any of them, honestly.
- I I really didn't dig down deep into deep enough to really understand any of them. Honestly, my my problem was I never if I if I would diet in the past, it was mainly calorie deficit or cutting out carbs. And when you cut out carbs, you you're not getting the energy you need. Then I found it hard working out.
- I've always tried to stay in shape and then try to lose weight. But here again, I was never really marrying the two together, >> right? >> The nutrition and the workouts. >> Uh you taught us how to eat properly because we do need carbs. need to balance need to balance our nutrition and I found myself working out and and at the same time I realized I had really never married the two which sounded stupid um that it certainly it certainly worked right now I'm I'm I'm working out every day I'm doing something every day not not crazy
- workouts I'm moving right and I'm eating right >> y >> yeah what amazed me is I thought when we started this program that I would be starving for the next 12 weeks and that wasn't um it was yeah I was never I never went to bed hungry. As a matter of fact, there were a couple of times you told me to eat more because I was like wow this is great.
- >> There's a couple times like well based on what I see here I think you might >> probably go back to the to the fridge or the kitchen and get something else to eat. Right. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. That Yeah, that was a surprise to me. Um, but the best part about it is not only is looking good is is just having a new lifestyle and just just eating right and eating healthy.
- >> Yeah, definitely. Were there any other strategies that you remember that we implemented maybe when you were out boating or with friends that were it was a big difference than what you would have done in the past >> knowing that we were going to be out for the day so to speak and then probably eating out.
- We would we would plan accordingly. We we we weren't always successful [laughter] honestly. >> Uh nobody ever is right. But you're aware of your choices and how to then start to make better ones as a result, >> right? But that either save a little room from breakfast or lunch >> so we could have the dinner. Those those kinds of strategies, we didn't have to make a crazy plan, but we were well aware of, you know, hey, we're gonna we're going to be out today, probably eating out later, and let's make some wise decisions.
- >> Yeah. And that was new to us was planning our meals rather than just going out and hey, what are we going to do today? So yeah, and it was interesting because we in the beginning we were so concerned because we ate out a lot. We decided we're going to, you know, cook at home more, which I we both enjoy doing. It wasn't a problem.
- But um when we would go out to eat, I would ask the waiter how many ounces this fish is? And he's like, yeah, that's three ounces. is the vegetables are for and and then he gives me all the answers. I'm like, "How do you know that?" And he said, "We have people all the time coming in and with an act putting in what they what they're eating.
- " So, even the waiters and the restaurants are starting. >> And it's it's important. People don't even realize that they could just call head and have a better understanding on how to order out at a restaurant. Just like, "Hey, if I show up, can I order like this?" And it'd be fine. And and they'll tell you.
- and or just showing up and asking simple questions like that. And even to the point where you both are at a couple months in, you can visibly understand if this is the right amount of food to be eating or if you should probably take some home in the doggy bag for tomorrow. >> Portions is a big thing, too. I mean, I grew up in an Italian home and it was the pasta and the and the more the happier the family was.
- We I learned too that what I'm going to stop when I'm content. I don't need to finish everything in my plate. And so I started to be more aware of that and and that helped me with, hey, I'm not hungry anymore. Why am I continuing to eat, you know? So, >> and that's what helped get those arms be in shape. Yeah. There you go.
- [laughter] >> In Florida today. >> Yes. Yeah. Right. It's freezing in Ohio here today. [laughter] I'll trade you though. All right. Now, what was say a big challenge for you to even get started signed up in the first place? >> It was your your idea. I just >> Yeah, it was Doug's idea. That's what I was going to say.
- Doug had the idea first and he said, "Barb, you should join in." And that that for Barb, that's a big challenge. Like, wait a minute here. Why Why do I need to do that? who you what are you implying here? >> Well, it's that it I have a problem with discipline and I I thought I wouldn't be disciplined enough to go through it.
- I don't want to start it and then I don't finish it and but uh you know once we got started and I met you and and we started the program it was enjoyable and it was informative and so yeah it it was great and then you know we we had a good time along the way. Yeah, I would say um um actually we had I had never paid for a plan before.
- I would glean on social media what I could. I would read a book or something like that. Uh sometimes when you pay for things I I don't want to don't take this personally, but sometimes when you pay for things, it hurts a little bit >> and and it it motivates you. >> Yeah. And >> and my challenge was I don't know if I want to pay for this and fail again.
- >> Right. Yeah, that's that's a very big issue. So many people have lost weight, but they can't keep it off. And that's I believe that's even a bigger problem is this weight maintenance, not just weight loss. People are losing weights even say with the the GOP ones or something that are all over the marketplace or whatever diet that has come in the last 20, 30, 40 years, right? People lose weight and then they gain it back.
- and how do I overcome that feeling and sense of actually following through with it, actually getting what I need? And yeah, you if you pay, you pay attention to what to do, how you're doing, why you're doing it, which is important process for us to be able to communicate not only individually but also collectively and work together so you can continue this long term.
- I think that's a a really cool part that you both came together and said, "Okay, we're going to do this together. We're going to get healthier together." I mean, you've literally lived life together and doing everything together. And why not do this so that the next decade, two decades, three, ideally three decades of your life, you thrive because you don't have to think about what you're eating anymore or get caught up in just slowly gaining weight and gaining a chronic illness that's going to cause a lot of problems or you will pay way more for a chronic illness
- than you paid for me. Right. >> Oh, absolutely. >> That's for sure. >> The personal attention because everyone is different. So know you were able we were able to measure and weigh and know our lifestyle and know our wants. And so that personal attention is worth money itself because if you're watching something on social media or you're reading a book, you're you're not getting that feedback.
- You're not getting that personal attention. >> And that's what coaches are all about is getting the personal attention. Just another little side note as far as paying goes. The cost what we invested with you, we got back and smart shopping. >> Uh we used to go to a restaurant three times a week at least and I think in the 12 weeks we probably went to a restaurant maybe twice.
- >> That I guess I don't miss it then. >> So we saved a boatload of money doing that. >> Right. Right. I love it when someone goes to the grocery store. I had literally had one guy who said, "I saved $100 on my last grocery bill. Shoot. I'm gonna pay for myself." >> I'll tell you the best part. We're married 46 years.
- And I've always I've always done the the shopping and I've always done the cooking. >> Oh yes. This is huge. >> So since we retired and he got on this program, he goes shopping every week. >> Amazing in itself. That's worth the money. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. He'll go to two or three different stores and compare and look at the labels and I'm like this awesome >> doing all the work for you.
- >> Yeah. And even started cooking >> and even breakfast every morning. So yeah, it is well worth the program. >> Yes. And that's her love language, right, Doug? Wink wink. >> Act of service. >> Nothing nothing goes in the basket anymore without looking at the labels they say. So >> that's huge. That is huge.
- And you were comparing me to a a big brand, right? When we initially talked, we talked about some of the pros, cons of of each different way. And obviously settled on here, which would be able to give you a very personalized concier like service. I'm not cooking your food for you people, but when you had a question, you got an answer.
- When you shared information, you got feedback. when you were in a situation, you got a solution that made sense for not one of you, but both of you together. And I think that is a a huge opportunity that we were able to really maximize here. Now, you both can work together with what nutrition is and what your needs are. Hey, I want pasta tonight.
- Okay, I can manage that. I understand how to fit a pasta dinner in or going out to I want to go out to eat tonight. Okay, great. I can go wine and dine my wife and not come back with an extra thousand calories because I don't know what I'm doing. >> Huge. >> And I think the first week we were shopping and we were texting pictures to you.
- >> Should I buy this? And you're like, no, that's no good. Try this. And because we were learning pretty much everything as things went along and we got more educated, we didn't need to to to do that. But in the beginning, you were there to help us get started. >> Yeah, it was it was difficult at first. I have to admit you're learning.
- It was Yeah, it was different and >> different is a good way to put it. Not difficult. Everything that I ever told you was simple >> to understand and even but it's not necessarily easy. It's simple but not easy. And that's a huge differentiator because my goal is to make it simple and easy to maintain and manage in your day-to-day life.
- >> Yeah. I'm not saying the program was difficult. It was >> we had it figured out and we'd go and okay, >> we got today's dinner figured out. What? Okay. What are we gonna do tomorrow? >> Yep. Yep. >> We live in a society where everybody wants everything instantly. wait, get get a shot and live off of that rather than do it the healthy right way.
- Because I've watched throughout the years many many people go on different programs, different things, operations, pills, needles, and I've always I've watched and I've se I've seen that once it's over, they go right back to the way they were, >> right? >> There was really no accomplishment. So, okay.
- So, you lost weight for a few weeks or months or years, >> but you're back at the place that you were because your lifestyle didn't change. >> So, >> 100%. Skills can be learned. The process of understanding nutrition, understanding fitness, understanding a healthy lifestyle is just a skill set. And my goal is to understand what your skills are, where they're at in the process, and encourage you to improve those.
- Example would be grocery shopping. A lot of people know how to grocery shop or how to what else? Go out to eat. They just eat whatever. There's easy ways to manipulate what you're getting when eating out that still align with, of course, choosing a healthier option, but keeping the level of enjoyment and satisfaction out of that meal >> really high, too.
- >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Now, if someone were in a similar position to where you both were when you started, maybe it's been a way too long since they've been in a certain weight or a say a clothing size. What advice would you tell them to encourage them to move forward with taking better care of themselves? >> I would say be serious, create a positive mindset, and keep your eye on the prize.
- I did share with you, Brian, uh, one time, you know, Facebook or Instagram, whatever it was, I saw a quote one one morning. I shared that with you and I think it said uh discipline is remembering the person you said you wanted to be >> and when I saw that it it motivated me even more.
- I said this is what I'm doing this for. you know, I'm not that person yet and I'm still not, you know, >> evolving. >> Still I'm still work in progress, but that's that's driving me to to, you know, hit the weights in the morning and do the walk and get on the Pelaton and and, you know, cook the cook a good breakfast and that kind of thing.
- >> You're giving Barb a better version of yourself right now, right? more energy, you look better, you feel better, you cook her meals for her. >> She's She's loving it. >> I am. I'm a I'm a goal oriented person. So, for me, I had I have to have goals. So, when we began, my goal was the wedding.
- And so, I got to that place just a couple of weeks ago. So, now my next goal is I have to set goals. That's how that's what keeps me going. Everybody's personality is different of how you can continue to do this. So I'm like, "Okay, we got the holidays coming up, so I need to stay on course so when you have holidays come, I'm okay and I'm not gaining >> the weight back.
- " >> I just need I just set goals for myself and that's what keeps me motivated. >> Excellent. >> Yeah. In fact, >> I would say too um one one other one other thing is um that probably doesn't get a lot of hype from the way that you do things, but the habit list that that you gave us was incredible. >> 84 or something.
- I spent three hours creating that thing. >> Yeah. >> This is something that you shared with us and something that it's a tool that we needed that we should have used. And I could have just been like, you know what, I don't have time for this. Um, right. I got to I got to cook. I got to do grocery shopping. I got to work out. But I looked at it and I was very intentional about it.
- And I I would purposely and intentionally pick two a week, just little ones like practice gratitude or wake up at the second time every day and just create these little habits and it really kind of sets your your life order when you >> I think we spoke about your your morning routine and your happy place in a sense, right? And >> Yes.
- Yes. and and just the the view that you have and and from even your backyard and really honoring that and the ability to just be in that place was special. >> Yeah, >> that that's correct. >> And the lists that you gave were great because if we were making something to eat and we needed more protein, I'd go over to the list that has more protein in it. It was right there.
- We kept it in the >> Yeah, your resources are great. Oh, >> yes. Yes. got to keep it simple and easy, right? You could just quickly understand what you needed to do and implement on it, which is great, which is the whole point of all this. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> So, I appreciate you both so much for staying focused, staying direct to your goals and actually accomplishing them and keeping this moving forward because the best years of your life should be ahead of you, right? Especially with you are newly retired, you have a lot more
- time and energy to focus on each other, on yourselves individually, on fun times like pickle ball and traveling the world and spending a lot of your time with your family, too. >> Yeah, >> we've equipped you with that. >> Yeah. >> Excited that. Now, if anyone is inspired, a singular person or a couple, you can see how I was able to say thread the needle with these two to understand and communicate better about nutrition and fitness and taking care of themselves in a way that's manageable and sustainable. If you're interested,
- reach out. You can just comment below or catch me at Coach Brian Piranha on the Insta or other socials or even brianprana.com you can find me. But I appreciate you so much. You both are awesome to work with. Just >> made amazing progress. >> Thanks. >> We appreciate it, Brian. We're not done. >> Oh, no. No.
- We're never done, right? And we just keep moving forward and improving. So, >> thank you so much everyone out there. Thank you for watching, listening. Have a good day. All right. >> Thank you.
