Dropping Pounds: Paul Desjardins of Ridge

HIS STORY After years of maintaining his weight, the pounds started to creep up on Paul Desjardins when he was in his 40s.

"I'd get up to around 200 pounds and then lose a few pounds," says Desjardins, who is an avid ballroom dancer but would be winded after a single strenuous dance. "My wife kept telling me I needed to lose weight."

He had a problem not only with what he ate, but also with portion control.

"I could eat a pound of pasta in one sitting," he remembers of the old days. "My wife, Cookie, is a great cook, so I'd always come back later for more. My portion size was a plateful."

Even his snacks were supersized. A common one was a mixing bowl of popcorn in one sitting.

Cookie was so determined to get into dancing shape that she joined the Centereach Jenny Craig Centre with him.

"She was so supportive," Dejardins says. "She only had 7 pounds to lose. She'd be my support system all week, then I'd get the support of my counselor at Jenny Craig. I stuck with it and lost about 2 pounds per week."

SEE PHOTOSHow did these 150 LIers drop up to 320 lbs. each?

In addition to portion control, Dejardins says he learned such tips as adding steamed vegetables to fill out a meal.

"I ate healthy and felt full with what I was eating," says Dejardins, who likes to do the fox-trot, Lindy hop, waltz and tango. "Now that I've lost weight, everything is so much easier."

DIET After a lifetime of not paying close attention to what he ate, he now usually breakfasts on a cup of coffee and low-calorie yogurt with walnuts and flaxseed. Lunch is either a sandwich with thinly sliced turkey and cheese or peanut butter. Dinner is a protein such as grilled salmon, steak or the occasional Jenny Craig turkey burger. He snacks on single-serving items that include Jenny Craig cheese curls, which he says are similar to Cheetos.

EXERCISE In addition to dancing multiple days a week, he also walks 4 1/2 miles a day. Dancing includes ballroom dancing sessions and lessons three to four times a week and at least one weekend day.

ADVICE "It is important to have a support system," Desjardins says. "But, you also have to be self-motivated. If you have 100 pounds to lose, don't look at it as 100 pounds. Lose 10 or 20 pounds, and then re-evaluate. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming."

Paul Desjardins

69, Ridge

Occupation Retired fire alarm systems engineer

Height: 5-foot-11

199 Weight before January 2014

166 Weight after October 2014