Man sets weight loss resolution and sticks to it, losing 200+ lbs

Jim Clements made the resolution many times. Many, many times.

"I believe losing weight was one of my New Year's resolutions virtually every year of my life since junior high," he told ABC.

2014 was finally his year. At the beginning of the year, he weighed in around 500 pounds. A year later, he's almost cut that in half.

What's behind this successful weight loss resolution?

"The secret lies in whether you say you want it, or if you truly want it," he said. "If you've got the latter, you're going to be unstoppable."

The motivation for wanting it so badly is different for everyone, but Clements said he believes everyone has it.

"Find a source of hope, and grab onto it," he said. "Look at all the stories out there of regular people like myself who finally had enough and decided to save their lives. Realize that this isn't some impossible pipe dream but an attainable goal."

For Clements, the source of hope was being a part of his son's life. Doctors gave him less than a decade to live -- three years ago -- and last year when he stepped on a scale and saw it go past 500 pounds, he remembered that diagnosis. He also remembered what it was like at age nine to lose his grandfather, who was his major father figure, to lung cancer from smoking.

"My son was 4 years old at the time, and I had to ask myself if I'd live to see him reach 10," he said. "Food was the catalyst instead of smoking, but the end result would be the same -- a sad, confused little kid in a funeral home."

So Clements set a start date for Jan. 1, 2014. On that day, he gave his diet and exercise habits a complete makeover, even leaving in the fridge a single can of root beer he never got to drink.

More importantly than changing his habits, he said, was changing his attitude.

"Absolutely, it's important to learn about what foods are better for you than others," he said. "Without a doubt, learning different exercises will help you get into shape more efficiently.

"But if you're doing all the mechanical aspects of this journey without putting the emotional investment into it that says 'I want to do this, I can do this, and I will do this,' you're going to fall off the wagon and never get back on."

One thing that helped that mentality was index cards. Clements had family, friends and even Facebook followers write encouraging notes on 255 index cards, one for every pound he wanted to lose. He reads a card every time he loses a pound.

He still has 35 cards -- 35 pounds -- until he reaches the bottom of the pile. But Clements, who has been through many diets and failed weight loss attempts, says he knew this resolution needed to extend well beyond 2014.

"Live every day of your life in such a way that you could do it every day for the rest of your life," he said. "You get worse and worse at quitting, replacing it with a tendency to succeed."

Learn more about Clements' journey on the "Jim Gettin' Slim" Facebook page.