Dropping Pounds: Eric Weinstein of Merrick

By SYLVIA E. KING-COHENsylvia.king-cohen@newsday.comSeptember 14, 2012

HIS STORY It took fainting at a friend's house and a subsequent visit to the doctor to persuade Eric Weinstein to make changes in his life.

"They took my blood work, and it showed I was prediabetic," Weinstein remembers of the doctor's findings.

"That visit really scared me."

Surprisingly, Weinstein says he was a regular at the gym, focusing on weight training. "My doctor told me to flip my workout and focus on cardio and weight loss," Weinstein says.

He listened. He also changed his attitude toward food.

"Before, I'd eat whatever I wanted because I'd worked out," Weinstein says. "Yeah, that works when you're 18, not when you're in your 40s."

He also stopped eating sugars, carbohydrates, soft drinks and anything white: bread, flour, rice or potatoes.

"Before I lost weight, my kids would hide their snacks in their rooms to keep me from eating them all," Weinstein says with a laugh. "I just didn't pay attention or control what I put in my mouth."

He's now in much better shape and says his doctor was amazed at his progress during a follow-up visit.

"After three months of the exercise flip and watching what I ate, my cholesterol was normal, my blood sugar was normal and I feel great," says Weinstein.

DIET "I don't deny myself anything, but I just don't have cravings," Weinstein says. "I pretty much eat whatever I want, just a lot less of it."

EXERCISE He exercises five times a week. He starts with 40 minutes on the treadmill, then follows with 40 minutes of weight training.

ADVICE "People need to understand that just because you go to the gym doesn't mean you can eat whatever you like," Weinstein says. "I want to be there for my [five] children as they grow up."