Jared Fogle

Indiana University graduate Jared Fogle lost 245 pounds using what he calls “the Subway diet.” At the age of 22, Fogle weighed 425 pounds and was not happy with the way he looked. His father, a physician, worried about the effects his son’s weight had on his health, which led Fogle to believe he was a disappointment to his father and family.

After unsuccessfully attempting numerous diets, Fogle decided to take an unusual approach to losing weight. After looking at a nutritional brochure at his local Subway, he started a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet by eating two subs a day. For lunch, he would have a six-inch turkey sub and for dinner he would eat a foot long veggie sub. He had a bag of baked potato chips with each meal and drank all the diet soda he wanted. He lived on this diet for a whole year without anything else to eat. By never asking for mayonnaise, cheese, or oils, he eliminated 10 grams of fat per sandwich. Fogle also walked eight blocks to and from Subway each day, which he counted as exercise. He eventually returned to a regular diet that included breakfast and fruits in balanced proportions.

Since his diet, Fogle has appeared in numerous commercials for Subway restaurants and has traveled throughout the world talking about the importance of proper dieting and exercise. He embarked on the Jared & Friends School Tour, which is a program designed to teach children the benefits of healthy living. Since it started, Fogle has spoken to more than 31,000 students about the importance of a balanced lifestyle. Fogle was featured in The Washington Post, has appeared on Oprah, Larry King Live, and was the subject of a story on the CBS’s 48 Hours. Fogle has spoken to many organizations, corporations, and healthcare organizations across the country, relaying his inspirational story of hope, willpower, and dedication to a healthier life.

Fogle has also started a foundation in hopes of promoting the prevention of childhood obesity. The Jared Foundation provides grants for educational programs targeting children who face obesity-related issues. “I am starting The Jared Foundation to help kids who are in the same situation I was in growing up,” said Fogle. “I was an overweight kid who turned into an even heavier teenager who turned into an obese young adult and this negatively affected every aspect of my life. Now I am in a position where I can have some influence with kids and hopefully, can help them learn to make better choices.”

On November 7, 2010, Fogle completed the New York City Marathon in five hours, 13 minutes, and 28 seconds. He finished in 36,968th place out of 44,829 runners who finished the race.