Fricker: Yearning for his glory days -- and figure
 |  A former competitive athlete, Fricker now spends most of his day sitting in front of a computer. |
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 Harald Fricker, once an endurance athlete, now weighs 275 pounds and has joined CNN's "New You Revolution." CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports (January 17)
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Name: Harald Fricker
Age: 45
Hometown: Eagle, Colorado
Profession: Chief designer for a Web development company; Hyatt Business Center manager
Issues: Eleven years ago, just before getting married and becoming a father, Fricker was a top endurance sports competitor, mostly running 100-plus-mile races. Although he continued to work out, he gradually gained weight at a rate of nearly 13 pounds a year and now weighs about 275 pounds.
(CNN) -- Harald Fricker's wife blames marriage and raising children for her husband's less than svelte figure. And his children say if he keeps getting heavier, they're afraid he will blow up.
So Fricker decided it was time to break his bad habits, pledging to work hard and lose weight as part of CNN's "New You Revolution."
The 45-year-old graphic designer once was not only a fitness buff, but a championship caliber athlete.
Now Fricker says he's still that same sporty, trim and slim sort of guy -- trapped in an extra large body. (Journal)
He still runs every day, with his dogs and cat. (Yes, with his cat.) But even with his daily exercise, the bad eating habits have taken their toll on his body.
Like many people, Fricker has tried both conventional and unconventional diets. (E-mail Fricker)
After spending thousands of dollars on other people's plans, he came up with his own: The Duh Diet.
Fricker says the plan was simple: Measure calories in, then calories expended. But it was ineffective, as he took in too many calories for the diet to work.
Convenience -- and lack thereof -- has been a prime factor in his waistline's expansion. When he's busy, Fricker says it's often easier to grab something at a fast food restaurant than prepare or buy a healthier option.
But while a candy bar, soda or other quick snack might give him instant gratification, Fricker says he worries about his eating habits' long-term consequences.
While Fricker says he is addicted to running, the extra weight he now carries makes it more difficult to enjoy hitting the streets or a trail.
So his goal is to become the athlete he once was -- and, if possible, wear some of the old clothes that he has kept for decades, but long since outgrown.
Fricker says he believes he will slim down, become fit and begin to fit in better.
