Transforming My Life: A Journey From 500lbs To Health And Happiness

It was 2020 and, for some of us, the worst year of our lives. But, as the Disturbed song goes: "Sometimes, darkness can show you the light." With all that unfolded around us during the COVID pandemic, I found myself at 500lbs and with a job that had me traveling from home to hotels to hospitals, even though most of the world was shut down. I had always been overweight from a young age. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't. But this was the largest I had ever been.

I wore a 6XL shirt—I’m large and tall, so it was more like a 7XL because they always ran big—and had a 64-inch waist. So when I was home, I was stuck in my office frustrated, scared, and uncertain of what was next. I lost several friends to COVID, and working in hospitals fueled everything that was going on in my head. Was I next? Would I infect my family? I was frightened.

My wife urged us to go for a walk, suggesting that we stay away from other people and perhaps head into the woods. That is when I realized how out of shape I was. We walked a block: I was out of breath, my back and feet hurt, and it was a struggle for me. My wife was in much better shape than me. We’d been married for 27 years at that point, and you get to know a person and what drives them.

Biography

Amazingly, before I knew it, I’d lost 75lbs. It’s a drop in the bucket when you weigh 500lbs, and I’d lost weight before only to gain it back. The last time I gained weight back, I made a promise: If I ever lost weight again, I would never gain it back. I knew what I had to do, and walking seemed to be the thing that allowed me to lose weight.

I started walking everywhere. The only time I used my car was when I had to drive to the next hotel or hospital for work. The funny thing about walking is it allows you to clear your mind, and it highlights the beauty around us. When you drive, you focus on what is ahead. But when you walk, you have the opportunity to see everything.

Walking also allowed me to hold myself accountable with food. If I had a craving for a large steak and cheese extra greasy—I mean, what other way is there to have one?—I would walk a mile to the sub place, enjoy my meal, and walk back and not feel guilty. I called it accountability. There’s nothing worse than trying to lose weight and having a craving, so I didn’t ignore that craving; I fed it.

The only time I felt remorse was when I didn’t walk, so I walked every day. I started with a block, then a mile, then two miles. And every day I would push myself further. The next thing I knew, it was 5km every day.

Discovering New Perspectives

This led me to find new places to walk. I started walking in the woods, parks, and trails. I even got an app to show me what was available no matter where I was. It was exciting; where would I discover next? I used to laugh when people would say they went for a walk in the woods. I would say: "Why?" I get it now.

Perspective: that’s a huge word for me and one that has changed the way I live and how I see the world. Until you put yourself in someone else’s sneakers, you will never have the perspective on what makes them who they are and why they do the things they do.

I took a job with a small startup that gave me the opportunity to travel the world. It was then I realized I had to document my journey of weight loss and personal growth, so I started the "Walking the World" group on Facebook. The goal was to use the Facebook group to drive me forward and hold myself accountable.

People around me started to notice what I was doing, and their support only drove me more. "Hey, I saw you walking, keep it up, looking good.....proud of you." I traveled to the Netherlands and walked from one end of the country to the other, from Groningen to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. I did 45,000 steps walking in Amsterdam alone one night. What an amazing city Amsterdam is, especially at night.

Traveling and Celebrating Achievements

Then I was off to Paris, France. I arrived at 9 a.m. but the hotel room wasn’t ready, so I walked to the Eiffel Tower and had a French roast coffee and a chocolate croissant. Again, accountability through walking and no regret—it was amazing. Walking back, I was able to catch Vice President Kamala Harris and her motorcade driving past me on her visit to the Institut Pasteur.

Next stop was Lyon in France and the Parc de la Tête d’or and the amazing waterfront. Lyon is a beautiful city. With COVID restrictions ending, locals had set up restaurants on boats in the waterways for open seating. It was amazing to see how other countries handled the COVID crisis.

Then I was in London, England when my first stop was Abbey Road. Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I don’t know if I could have accomplished any of this without it. As I approached, I sang "All You Need Is Love," only to have other people join in. It was when I realized the world around us has a soundtrack; if you listen closely, you will hear it. We all have our own soundtrack.

The day I hit my ideal weight and was approved to have all the extra skin taken from my abdomen, I celebrated like I only could: I hiked the Wishbone Trail from Carver to Plymouth in Massachusetts; 13 miles of every terrain possible.

It was like when you watch the final group on the TV show Survivor as they look back at the journey they had just traveled. It gave me strength and clarity. It spoke to me and said: If you want something bad enough and you never give up, you will accomplish it.

I have walked all across the U.S. and Canada and made a trip to Manchester, England. I have put a map of the world on my office wall, and every time I walk somewhere new, I put a pin in. Someday, I will fill that map.

Embracing the Ongoing Journey

I have lost over 217lbs so far, but the journey is ongoing. Along with the weight loss, I am working to build muscle. When you lose that much weight, you also lose muscle mass, so it’s important to build that back as well. How much you weigh is important, but quality of life and the things you can do outweigh that number.

My doctor told me I have added 40lbs of muscle, and that is not the norm, but my body type is not one of a small man. I am 6’1 with a 14 EEEE size shoe. At some point, it is less about the number and more about your health and all of the things I can do now that I have never been able to do before.

Don’t get me wrong: I still step on the scale. But the mirror and my doctor are better indicators of my progress now. This journey is ongoing and will be part of my everyday life. I moved to Philadelphia after living all of my life South of Boston.

My new adopted home has welcomed me, and the people in the city of brotherly love have been amazing. I have a granddaughter and a grandson on the way here, and living here allows me to enjoy every moment with them. Having the stamina to keep up with them is glorious.

My daughter is getting married this year. I was asked to be the officiant for her wedding, and I am working extra hard to look good, and I am going to dance the night away. There’s always something new and exciting on this journey.

I have made it my goal to empower others to never give up. I am not an influencer; I am an empowerer. I will never tell you what is right for you, I will only tell you that if you want something bad enough: Yes, you can. It is never easy and the journey may be long, but if you never give up: Yes, you can.

This journey did not happen overnight. You have to start somewhere. I started walking a block and eventually hiked 13 miles, but I never quit and never gave up. I have a lot of people to thank for that.

All of you who honked