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Former metro Detroit radio DJ shares how he lost 120 pounds in less than 10 months

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Posted at 6:14 AM, Jan 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-07 06:14:50-05

NORTHVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — You may know Patrick Tullio from his years behind the mic – a popular radio personality in metro Detroit with stints at 96.3, Channel 95.5, 100.3 and 98.7 FM.

Now he’s making news for his weight loss journey.

A few years ago, he shifted to a new career in his family’s construction business.

The pounds he’d always struggled to lose – beginning when he was a teenager – started to weigh on him emotionally.

Then in 2019 at the age of 34, he hit rock bottom.

“It was March 13 when I walked into my doctor’s office, and she didn’t even say anything. She looked at the scale, and then she looked at me, and said, ‘Yeah, you got to lose this weight.’ And it was just that look,” explained Tullio. “I said this is it. I have no choice. It’s like it’s either this or death.”

After that wake-up call, he snapped a picture of his last bag of Taco Bell food and posted it on social media.

Then he took action.

He started with five minutes on a stationary bike at Planet Fitness in Northville.

Five minutes was all he could manage that day.

“I walked out of here, [and then I] came back the next day. I went for six minutes. And then seven and eight and then 15,” he said. “Now I’m on there for an hour.”

He created an Instagram page called @WeightDownLifeUp.

A selfie he snapped on March 14 – the day after his last fast food meal – shows how he looked at the start of his journey.

The caption read: “Doc gave me the slap in the face I needed. No turning back now.”

His latest selfie shows his progress.

Tullio has dropped 120 pounds in less than 10 months.

How did he do it?

Making one change at a time.

"Things I gave up? Fast food, any kind of processed food, pop,” Tullio listed

He also gave up sitting around. He now exercises five days a week after work. He takes Wednesdays and Fridays off.

He’s added more weight training as he’s progressed.

He's also working with a nutritionist.

One pointer? Eat on a smaller plate.

“She showed me a 10-inch plate. And she said that I want half of it fruits and vegetables, then I want a quarter of healthy grain and a quarter of protein.”

He said the key was not thinking of it as a diet but as a new lifestyle.

“I went down four pants sizes, you know, in this past year. And I went down about two shirt sizes,” he said.

“I have a lot more to lose, but it’s a good start. It’s a damn good start,” Tullio added.

Good, indeed!

He often ends his social media updates with his new mantra: “Not looking back. Moving forward.’”

Tullio is still working with his primary care physician, his dietitian and his gym.

Always check with your doctor before starting a new weight loss plan or exercise regimen.

We want to thank to Patrick Tullio for giving us a look at his weight loss journey so far.

If you’d like to share a success story in your quest for Living a Better Life, please email me: Alicia.smith@wxyz.com.