Maine Man Sheds 140 Pounds to Join the Marines
A man who shed 140 pounds to join the Marines is headed to Parris Island, S.C., to begin boot camp. Topping out at 330 pounds, Ulysses Milana was rejected by Army and Navy recruiters. But Marine recruiters worked with him as he lost about 20 pounds a month.
It wasn't easy, Milana said, but he managed to slim down through exercise, healthier eating habits and giving up the occasional beer after work. He said he was even able to forgo a beer at his going-away party Saturday night.
Milana said he always wanted to follow in his family's footsteps by serving his country. His Lewiston-born wife, Latoya, also comes from a military family.
Milana met Latoya while he was living in his native San Diego. They settled in Maine following their wedding four years ago. Latoya went on to become a nurse at St. Mary's hospital while Ulysses went to work at TD Banknorth.
Much of his weight-loss motivation came from his wife, who helped him reduce his calorie intake when he began his effort in earnest last December.
"It was really difficult for him at first. He always said, 'I'm gonna lose weight.' But I never took him seriously," Latoya told the Sun Journal newspaper. "Then, when he started to do it, I told him he needed to cut his portion sizes way down."
It wasn't easy, Milana said, but he managed to slim down through exercise, healthier eating habits and giving up the occasional beer after work. He said he was even able to forgo a beer at his going-away party Saturday night.
Milana said he always wanted to follow in his family's footsteps by serving his country. His Lewiston-born wife, Latoya, also comes from a military family.
Milana met Latoya while he was living in his native San Diego. They settled in Maine following their wedding four years ago. Latoya went on to become a nurse at St. Mary's hospital while Ulysses went to work at TD Banknorth.
Much of his weight-loss motivation came from his wife, who helped him reduce his calorie intake when he began his effort in earnest last December.
"It was really difficult for him at first. He always said, 'I'm gonna lose weight.' But I never took him seriously," Latoya told the Sun Journal newspaper. "Then, when he started to do it, I told him he needed to cut his portion sizes way down."
