on the scale and realized he was carrying 200 pounds on his 5-foot-10-inch frame . Despite the initial shock , he continued to gain weight . Even though he fit the medical definition of obese , Welch stayed physically active . He joined a master 's swim team , hiked and walked regularly . Because he was physically active , Welch thought he could keep eating whatever he wanted . As his weight crept up , his desire to exercise waned . By the winter of 2005 , the extra calories and his now-sedentary lifestyle caught up with him . During a doctor 's visit , Welch discovered that his weight had skyrocketed . `` That was pretty depressing to see that 262 -LSB- pounds -RSB- on the physical . Just knowing that I had become that heavy , '' said Welch . About the same time , Welch started walking with a cousin who had lost 70 to 80 pounds on Weight Watchers . During their walks , she would gently encourage him to give the program a try , he says . She also tried to calm his fears that he 'd have to stop eating all of
Tim Welch was never the kind of guy who worried about his weight . Tim Welch topped 260 pounds at his heaviest weight , before his cousin convinced him to join Weight Watchers . In fact , the 37-year-old accounts manager from Seattle , Washington , ate a fairly balanced diet and loved participating in sports while growing up . `` I was thin and fit my whole life , '' Welch remembers . `` I was always active in sports such as running cross-country in high school and swimming on the swim team in college . '' Things started to change in 1995 after he graduated from college . Welch got a job , moved out of his parents ' house and began indulging in late-night meals with his friends . `` I remember specifically in 1995 , my waist size went from a 34 -LSB- inches -RSB- to a 38 in a matter of months , '' Welch said . `` I got a size 36 pants to accommodate my waist size and I had to ask for a bigger size for Christmas because they were too tight . '' Welch was in total disbelief when he stepped