In Sept. 2017, Adam Harris, 38, of Spencer, Iowa, underwent surgery for spinal stenosis, a condition where the spaces within the spine begin to narrow, putting “pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine,” as per the Mayo Clinic.

Harris faced complications during surgery, forcing doctors to perform a full lumbar laminectomy, a surgical procedure where a part of the spine is removed to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.

“At one point in the hospital, I was super angry that the world had put me in this situation. Something snapped, and I realized that I had been a passenger in life, waiting for the world to unfold around me,” he said.

“My surgeon did have some words that stuck: ‘I fixed the frame, now you have to take the snow off the roof,” he added.

It was after surgery that Harris drastically changed his life. After spending a week in the hospital, Harris began a low-carb diet and intermittent fasting — a radical change to his prior eating habits that often included more than a pound of meat and an “enormous side” of potatoes or pasta for dinner. Lunches would often include a pizza buffet or a large burger and fries.

“I ate with no constraint and every meal was over the top,” he said.

At first, his new diet typically consisted of steak and cauliflower. Harris said he would not eat before 7 p.m. each day. “I was looking for 100 grams of fat a day and under 25 grams of carbs,” he said. By January 2019, he was down 100 pounds.

Over the year, Harris shed an additional 115 pounds — largely thanks to his new eating habits and also taking part in a “vigorous” workout routine.

But his lifestyle changes have not only affected his weight and overall health. Harris said the journey has led him to realize some of the relationships in his life weren’t positively serving him.

“It’s weird when you make a lifestyle change. I lost a lot of friends. I found that some of my friendships were unhealthy. Sometimes, being positive will drive negative people away,” he said.

“The biggest change is perception,” he continued. “A man asked me if I was a marine the other day because the only other person he knew that took such good care of his body was a marine.”

He added: “It’s our responsibility to take ourselves where we want to be.”

Police in Virginia are on the hunt for a former U.S. Marine that deserted his post last month and is now wanted in the killing of his mother’s boyfriend.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant Monday for Michael Alexander Brown, 22, in connection with the shooting death of his mother’s boyfriend, Rodney Brown, several days earlier.

Deputies were dispatched to a Franklin County home at around 12 p.m. Saturday over reports that the homeowner was found dead on the property. Investigators later determined that the victim was allegedly killed by his live-in girlfriend’s son, who was later identified as Brown.

The sheriff’s office said in a press release Sunday that Michael Brown’s last known address was near the victim’s — although it was not immediately clear if they lived in the same home — and he was likely driving a 1976 Cadillac.

A later update said that Brown ditched his car and might be in a 2008 Lincoln Town Car with North Carolina license plates.

Little is known about Brown’s motive for the killing or his whereabouts. The sheriff’s office said he “has been known to live in the woods and frequent National Parks and National Forest.”

He is also considered “armed and dangerous.” Police said he is believed to be armed with a high-powered rifle and “may have access to other weapons.”

Brown was a combat engineer in the Marines before he deserted his post at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. on Oct. 18.

A warrant for his arrest was issued for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The video shows two students at Edison High School in Stockton throwing punches on Wednesday before the Marine, identified as 18-year-old Pfc. Josue Valdez Sarmiento, sprints in and abruptly knocks the grappling duo to the ground.

The video was first posted by 209 Times and has more than 1.2 million views on Facebook.

The Marine then held the students briefly down on the ground before getting up. One of the students is picked up by an adult and the other is seen lying on the ground after being tackled.

In a statement to KCRA-TV, the school district said it was aware of the incident and is investigating the situation.

“Stockton Unified is aware of the student matter that took place on 9/11/19 [Wednesday] at Edison High School and the recording circulating on social media. We are actively investigating the situation,” the district said.

Valdez Sarmiento is a recent graduate of the school and was there to help with recruiting but is not a recruiter, the U.S. Marine Corps said.

“He saw a dangerous fight break out. Upon observing that situation, he moved over and broke up the fight,” Maj. Thomas Driscoll told KCRA. “Although, the manner in which he did [could] have been improved, we are proud of Pfc. Valdez Sarmiento for his decision to intervene.”

Troy Sowers was on the job two months when he rescued Marine Corporal Stewart Rembert from a dumpster in Tacoma, Wash., on Aug. 23, 1997.

The reunion took place on Friday in Knoxville, Tenn., at Sower’s FBI retirement ceremony.

“Completely surprised they pulled this off,” Sowers said. “I did not know it at all. I’d wanted something very simple. I asked for coffee and donuts and they shocked me.”

Rembert was a 2-day-old baby when he was kidnapped from a Tacoma hospital by a woman wearing a white lab coat and posing as a doctor, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported Friday.

The woman spoke to Rembert’s mother and offered to take the baby so the mother could get some sleep, reports at the time said.

The woman was arrested later that same day and told Sowers where she had abandoned the child, according to the News Sentinel.

He found the baby unharmed. Rembert’s ordeal lasted 19 hours

Rembert said if it wasn’t for Sowers he wouldn’t be where he was today — serving as a Marine, according to WBIR-TV.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t find me,” he said, according to the station. “I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity of a life and being able to put on this uniform every day and be proud of what I do.”

Sowers has never forgotten about the swaddled baby he found as he worked cases as an FBI agent for 22 years, the station reported.

“For me, it’s kind of a fascinating story that somebody I had pulled out of a box had now started serving his country,” he said.