KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- Most people know Gordon Bruner as a big businessman.

But that's changing for the better.

He says, "I got on the scale at 290 pounds and I thought whoa, this is crazy."

That was months ago. Gordon is now 45 pounds lighter and active.

The 52 year old trains up to three hours a day to walk the Nashville Music City Marathon on April 30th.

He's part of the (Knoxville) American Cancer Society's team.

Gordon says, "It's kind of a catalyst as a personal goal to try and lose weight. I had gotten big and unhealthy to lose weight it seemed like a good challenge to do something for someone else other than just myself."

Marathon team leader, Michael Holtz says Gordon's commitment benefits the ACS and others around him.

"He's the leader of his company and he is making healthy choices to exercise eat better. His employees see that. He is changing the shape of his company literally," according to Holtz.

He has fruits and other nutritious foods replacing junk around the office.

And his business "Papaw Toms" Foods now offer "all natural" products.

As he reaches for motivation from self help books to stay on track, Gordon reminds us,
"If you tell yourself you can do it, you want to do it, you can do it if you put your mind to it. And that all starts with wanting to do it."