Garcia was shocked when he found out the big news.

"I was pretty shocked. I hadn't heard anything from them for probably six weeks, maybe two months. I really didn't think I had a chance at getting it," he said.

Senior Editor of People magazine, Galina Espinoza, said they did a weight loss challenge a while back with people from the fattest state in the nation, Mississippi. With that being a success, they decided to bring it back.

Espinoza said their readers wanted more, and they like the true life feel of how ordinary people around the nation can lose weight and incorporate that into their daily lives.

Garcia started his challenge on Jan. 1, and meets with a trainer and nutritionist from Downtown Fitness in Roseburg.

He does weigh-ins, and they have him doing a lot more cardio than what he was used to.

"She has me working out with weights four times a week, doing cardio four to five times a week," he said. It's a lot of repetition, and not a lot of weight. It's really fast paced to get my heart up. It was hard, I was wore out by the time we got to the cardio. It was tough to do, but I made it through it."

Garcia said he was not the best eater before, but now has incorporated healthy foods into his diet.

"I'm eating smaller meals. I eat five times a day. I'm just eating healthy stuff, cut out the junk food, and I'm eating lots of veggies, lean meat and fruit."

Garcia hopes he is a role model for the community, but most importantly for his two daughters at home.

"Hopefully, some of it will rub off on them," he said. "I'm cooking the dinner and stuff now, so they are going to be eating what I'm eating."

Garcia weighs 329 pounds, and when it's done, he hopes to be 250.

His fellow police officers have given him a great support system, and overall, Garcia said he's glad he put himself up to the challenge.

"If I can do it, anybody can do it," he said. "I have the worst eating habits in the world. It's just about hard work and making a commitment to it."

People magazine will be doing four to five updates with Garcia throughout the year.