A California man has undergone a dramatic transformation after quitting alcohol and taking up regular exercise and fitness work.

For the longest time, Jerard Starks of Santa Barbara was worried about his health but was seemingly powerless to change things.

"I found myself at age 35, 50 pounds overweight and hopelessly addicted to chugging vodka," he said. "I was miserable and afraid I would head to an early grave."

Despite that, Starks vividly remembers a feeling, deep down inside, that told him he was "meant for more."

Obesity represents a source of serious concern in the U.S. According to a Statista survey, about 32 percent of men in the U.S. are obese.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases warns that obesity brings with it increased risk of health issues like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers.

Starks had been his heaviest at age 33, tipping the scales at 225 pounds. Yet it would be another two years before he got the wake-up call he needed in order to quit alcohol for good.

It was a moment he recalls vividly.

"I was in a personal development support group," he said. "For 10 months, I kept trying and failing to get sober. Then one day when I was on a group Zoom call, I told them I drank yet again."

Starks can still remember the reaction.

"They had lost all hope that I would quit drinking," he said. "Something about that scared me so bad it lit a fire within me."

The first step toward losing weight for good was what Starks described as a "mental shift" in how he approached things.

"I had to develop self-discipline, which was severely lacking," he said. "I began with some extended fasting to shed a bit of the weight. After I was done with the fasting, my next lifestyle change was fasted cardio in the mornings, and resistance training in the afternoon. Six days a week. I never missed a day."

Each day was about staying focused by having a "clear vision" of his goals and how to get there via "daily actionable steps." At the same, Starks kept his drinking under control with the support of a "personal development group."

"It was paramount to have that support and accountability," he said. "Every time I would stumble, I had them pick me back up. Every time I wanted to self-sabotage, they would keep me strong."

The bad diet that had dogged Starks for much of his adult life also went, in favor of a renewed focus on nutrition.

"I would meticulously track my calories," he said. "I put myself on 1,700 calories a day-230 grams of protein, 60 grams of carbs and 60 grams of fat. I kept the food simple to make it easy. I would eat four meals a day. My breakfast would be steel cut oats and egg whites, then I would eat chicken salad four times a day."

Though Starks acknowledges having those same meals every day required "discipline," once he began to gather "momentum" on his weight loss journey, they became like second nature.

The average day began with a "fasted run" with no food and only water allowed.

"I would go for my runs in a fasted state, meaning no food or anything that causes an insulin response, because it burns more fat," Starks said.

In the afternoons, Starks would complete muscle-building resistance training at home using a series of bands strapped to the wall of his bedroom.

"I used a resistance band system to build muscle," he said. "A vertical strap goes up the door with different attachment points. I was doing the same exercises you would on a cable machine at the gym, where you can change the height of the pulley."

Over the course of a 10-month period, Starks lost 60 pounds. At that point, his focus shifted to turning the remaining body fat into muscle. By 38, he was unrecognizable and fed off others noticing the change.

"I would see the amazement on people's faces when I would walk into a room," he said. "It was so empowering. And at the same time, emotionally healing."

The biggest change was in how he felt inside, though. It was as if a fog had been lifted.

"Your spirit comes alive with a fire sparked within that's almost impossible to extinguish," he said. "You can think clearer. Emotionally, you are supercharged."

At the same time, Starks worked to address the "past trauma" that had led to him abusing alcohol and food.

"I healed the reasons I was abusing food and alcohol, which allowed me to eliminate not just the cravings but also fill the void that I once poured alcohol into," he said. "I created meaning and purpose for my life, which is the reason I know I will never drink again."

Now 40, Starks has even completed a marathon, an experience that serves as a reminder of his key piece of advice for those looking to emulate his success: "anything is possible."

"I vividly remember feeling so hopeless and in a dark place," he said. "And I honestly couldn't have done it without the support group. It's not just about getting sober and losing weight. It's about shifting your being emotionally, spiritually and physically. It's about healing the subconscious obstacles that are holding you back."

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