My whole life, I have struggled with food and my weight. In October 8, 2015 I weighed 417.5 lbs, with my highest known weight at 430 lbs. I was born in 1978 and I have a height of 6′ 2″ (186 cm).
With the first FAT Project October 9, 2015 – October 9, 2018 – I lost 100 lbs and then slowly gained some back (~30 lbs). After I stopped in October 2018, I slowly gained weight through job changes and a challenging life (including a move and some bigger injuries) with a big family. And then a pandemic…..it has been very hard to be successful in working with my body.
As of October 9, 2020, I weigh around 420 lb and am feeling very challenged in living in my body. It is too hard to do things that I want to do – I am suffering because of my size.
I thankfully have access to:
- Incredibly healthy food
- A home gym space
- Much love and support
I am bringing back the FAT Project, 5 years to the day after the first one launched. There is no better time than now. I am 41, struggling with some leg movement challenges and wanting to truly own my body. There have been very rare moments in my life where I felt at home in this physical presence.
My assumptions as I undertake the Project again:
- that obesity is a disease with many complicating factors
- that I have class 3 obesity (severe or morbid obesity) which is greater than 100 lbs over ideal weight. I am at least 200 lbs over ideal weight.
- that at age 41 things are getting harder to do without regular exercise and physical engagement.
- that I am finding the normal activities of life to be difficult.
- that I am running out of time to course correct on this issue, I fundamentally believe I am getting closer to a point of no return where there will be a permanency of the impact of my size.
This is project is about a journey of the biggest change in my life: a quest to go from Food Addict to Triathlete(FAT). Telling a story about change, about challenge, about fear and most importantly about love.
The hope the project will:
- Document in rigorous and honest detail the journey of a 400lb+ man to better fitness and health
- Reduce the stigma of being fat, reclaim the word and debunk myths about fat people
- Inspire others
As the proud father of five amazing daughters(Born in 2009, 2011, 2013 and twins in 2017), with an incredible partner Christine, I am so ready to take this on (again).