AdvertisementAt 360 pounds, Clark Valery felt less efficient in his role as a volunteer firefighter. The 38-year-old was motivated to lose weight after the death of a friend from a heart attack. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Clark Valery, 38, an assistant manager at a pharmacy chain and volunteer firefighter from New York. Best of all, I feel more energetic and effective as a volunteer firefighter. I'd get to the ladder, and it would say the weight limit was 250 pounds.

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Persons: Clark Valery, They're, they've, Valery, Clark Valery Lunch, I'm, It's, I've Organizations: McDonalds, KFC, Business Locations: New York