Transformation Tuesday | This Is Just The Beginning

I was always a big guy for most of my life. I really started to pack on the pounds in my teenage years with no physical activity and lots of eating out at buffets and fast food.

By the time I was 17, I was already over 300lbs. As long as I was eating though, I was happy – and I didn’t really want to change. All that eating and inactivity finally caught up to me in April 2012 when I was 23. I woke up one morning with a really bad case of chest pain, really short on breath, and feeling like I was breathing through a straw. I had to go to the E.R., after which I found out that I had a Pulmonary Embolism (P.E) in my lung. I had a blood clot in my leg that broke away and traveled to my lungs and was blocking blood flow. The doctors also told me I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Here I am at 23, laying in the hospital bed, and my doctors are talking about death. At that point, I knew I had to change.

When I got out the hospital, I tried eating healthy and working out for the first 2 weeks but it didn’t stick got right back in my old habits. In April 2013, my diabetes got real bad. I was urinating over 10 times some nights, my foot was swollen and numb most mornings, and I woke up with blurry vision most days.

At that point, I got sick and tired of being unhealthy. I started watching a lot of YouTube fitness videos which motivated and inspired me to start lifting weights. I started out lifting 65lbs doing over head press and curls, and I walked a lot at the park. In August 2013, I got my gym membership… and that’s when I really fell in love with lifting weights and working out.

To cut fat I was on a high-protein low-carb diet – I ate lots of chicken, turkey, tuna, egg whites, veggies, and lots of healthy snacks that taste good (like Quest bars!). By October 2013, I was able to jog a mile in 18 minutes. I lifted weights 5 times a week, which helped me build muscle while burning more fat. It was a hard journey, but I was determined to get healthy!

In late October 2013, I had an appointment with my doctor and found out that my diabetes was gone and my blood pressure was under control. It wasn’t an easy road – I lost over 100lbs of fat and got my health back. I built a lot of muscles and fell in love with fitness!

The key to success for me was to stay motivated, build good habits, and have a good support system to keep your motivation burning! This is just the beginning for me – I am still working hard and pushing towards my goals. I came a long way from 468lbs down to 345lbs, my next stop is to make it down 315lbs over the next 10 weeks, and I am determined to go even further!

Team Quest – We are here for you! Share your transformations and triumphs with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or email them to us at [email protected]. Remember that these transformations took hard work, discipline and a plan. Quest products are a delicious component of, and not a substitute for, an exercise regimen and effective diet. The Quest Community is always there for you if you need help, inspiration or motivation!