NEWPORT-Newport's Ronnie Hall had reached a point in his life where change was needed. Not just a little change either.

Ronnie's problem was that he weighed 365 pounds.

"The next thing I know is that I'm 365 pounds," said Hall. "Overeating, lack of exercise, I don't know. I just knew I weighed 365 pounds, my pants were size 56 and I was feeling terrible. I mean, I couldn't take ten steps before I was breathing really hard."

Unfortunately, the problem Ronnie was experiencing is not uncommon. According to the latest numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese compared to about 33 percent who are overweight, and just under six percent are extremely obese. In its' last report, the NCHS reported that over one-third of adults, or about 72 million people, were obese in 2005-2006.

"Although the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980, the prevalence of overweight has remained stable over the same time period," the NCHS report said.

Obesity and overweight are calculated using a formula called body mass index. BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Someone with a BMI of 25 to 29 is classified as overweight, 30 to 40 counts as obese and people with BMIs of 40 or more are morbidly obese.

A person 5 feet 5 inches tall becomes overweight at 150 pounds and obese at 180 pounds.

"You just can't believe how much of an effect it has on your lifestyle," said Hall. "I knew I was way overweight, and that it was time I did something about it."

And that's where Jack Smith of Jack's Family Fitness Center in Newport comes in.

"Ronnie had a couple of friends that were working out at the Fitness Center at the time," said Jack.

"I decided to call Jack to see if there was something I could do," said Ronnie. "My friends were working out at the Fitness Center and said I should call Jack. I've never regretted that decision.

"I took my size 56 pants in to the Fitness Center to show Jack," said Ronnie. "and he told me that it was time, and that he could help me."

"I told him that he was the main player and that he had to buckle down," said Jack. "You can help people, but they have to have the mindset to want to do it. Ronnie had that mindset.

"We started simple with cardio," said Jack, "and doing some high reps on machine stack weights and a few free weights. Ronnie would also go over to the fairgrounds and just walk as often as he could, and used the treadmills."

Jack had plenty of experience in such matters. Actually, it was Jack's lifestyle.

"A partner and I started the Fitness Center," said Jack. "I was working at a plant at the time, but I was really into working out. I've always been into bodybuilding, and it just seemed the perfect fit for me to start the Fitness Center. It started out as a hobby and turned into a business."

It wasn't long after that I started working there full time."

It was 1998 that Ronnie and Jack started working together, and Ronnie stuck to Jack's plan.

"It was up and down," said Ronnie. "but, I felt like I was getting it done. I was really dedicated to it and Jack was always there by me."

But Jack was quick to explain that its not all about weights, machines and running.

"Diet is just as important," explained Jack, "It's all about portions. You can eat four or five times a day, but with certain portions. And it's about the foods you eat, vegetables, lean white meat (chicken)."

With the weight coming off, Ronnie was still honed in to his workouts and running, but, even with the success of steadily losing the weight, by 2007 he wanted to do more.

"We really focused on his diet," said Jack. "We focused on portions and on what he was eating. We also added some supplements to his diet, proteins, aminos, just making sure he had a light diet."

"You have to do it gradually," Ronnie explained. "You just can't quit eating overnight, your body won't let you do it. It has to be gradual.

"I remember the first time I went out to a restaurant to eat," said Ronnie, "I didn't know what to do, what to order. So, I called Jack."

"I told him to eat white chicken, no skin," said Jack, "It's true, and that's what I told him. And I said, don't forget the vegetables."

"It's a whole new lifestyle," said Ronnie, "one I had to learn with time. I'm always focused now on portions. It's difficult sometimes. I mean, I'll cheat sometimes, like eat a slice of pizza. But when you do that, you want to eat more. You just have to have the will to stop at that one slice of pizza."

Their collaborated effort has paid big dividends for both Ronnie and Jack. As of this writing, Ronnie has lost 173 pounds.

"I'm down to 192 pounds now," said Ronnie. "but, I'm not done yet. I want to lose another 20 pounds or so."

"It's a great feeling seeing what's happened to him," said Jack. "I just provided the advice, he did all of the work. But to see him do it is a great feeling."

Ronnie, after 10 years working for the Cocke County Sheriff's Department, is now a patrol officer with the Morristown Police Department.

"I joined the Morristown force in 2008," said Ronnie. "The move gives me more opportunities. But I couldn't have done that without the weight loss. The Morristown Police Department doesn't like me right now because they have to keep giving me new uniforms.

"This is my lifestyle now," said Ronnie. "Once I get to the weight I want to be, it will be all about maintaining. I still run distance several times a week, and I'm at the fitness center just about every day working out. I started this because of my health, and I'm going to keep doing it. Jack's certainly got all of his ducks lined up."

But Ronnie isn't Jack's only success story.

"I've been fortunate to help a lot of people," said Jack. "It's just a matter of wanting to do it, and staying after it.

And Jack is quick to explain that age doesn't matter either.

"About eight years ago, I started the '50 Club,'" said Jack. "I started meeting folks in their 50s that wanted to be in shape, so we fixed them up. It was so successful that we've now got the '50 Club.' People in their 50s are now in their 60s and they're still wanting to stay in shape.

"It really doesn't matter what age or anything," said Jack. "We can work up a program for you. And we're not talking about serious weightlifting or anything like that. We've got programs that will work."

As for Ronnie, it continues.

"I really get mad at myself if I don't lose at least two pounds a week," said Ronnie. "I'm focused now, and I'm feeling really good. It's the difference between night and day."