When Jason Barndollar agreed to let WJAC-TV videotape him sweating it out at the gym, he learned two things about himself.

"I love TV now. I love being on it," he said. "I like the attention of people watching and coming up to you and saying, 'I saw you on TV. Good luck, Jason.'"

He's also learned to deal with the unexpected. Just as Jason was getting his 525-pound body back in shape with the help of Snap Fitness, he ended up in the hospital with a MRSA infection.

"When I first started this, I felt invincible and I felt nothing was going to stop me. And the whole hospital thing … taught me, there are going to be setbacks like that. So I'm better prepared for that," he said.

Jason had to take a month off from exercising -- in fact, he could barely walk -- and ended up gaining five pounds. Now, as of July, Jason is on the move again. Overall, he has held his own by maintaining his weight loss and sticking to his new lifestyle routine. He said he is ready to rebuild his strength, endurance and flexibility.

Trainer Mike Schultz said his secret to keeping clients like Jason focused on losing weight and getting fit it two-fold: first, he's a believer in behavior modification.

"That's the biggest thing: making it a lifestyle, not just something you have to do or feel force to. It's got to be something that almost feels automatic," Schultz said.

Second, Schultz said he is a motivator in a way that keeps results consistent.

"A lot of times people run into plateaus with that. You know they were making really good progress and they stop because their body is getting used to it. So, from a training point of view, you need to change the routine somehow," he said.

For Jason -- a man who spent hours in a chair playing video games or watching TV -- he said he feels better that he has in a long time, both physically and emotionally.

"I used to kind of just sit around here and not want to do anything. I was always down, down on myself, and then just some time in the gym and working out and now noticing some results, I notice myself getting out more. I notice wanting to do things more (like) being around people again," he said.

In addition to dropping 40 pounds and a full clothing size, Jason said he's certain his next medical checkup will reflect improvements in his cholesterol and heart health.

"The way I see it now, I will never, never have a chance like this for the rest of my life and if I blow it now and don't do it now, that's my fault," he said.

While he said he has a long way to go, Jason said he's sure he'll make it thanks to the Losing It Across the Alleghenies program and his ever-growing support system.

His goal is to lose 250 pounds and he wants to dance.

"What I want to do is just keep going at it. Keep going to the gym. Keep up with the diet. And just work as hard as I can to get to my goal," Jason said.