Month 5 in Review

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In the beginning this was fun.  Different was fun.  You have to understand, when I started moving from fit to fat, I was treating myself to the rest, relaxation, and indulgences that I had deprived myself of years.  Suddenly, every day was Christmas.  I could suddenly eat what I wanted when I wanted to (while not having to move a muscle).  Sounds fun right?  5 months in, different is no longer different.  This is now my routine.  And it’s just not fun anymore.  Dreading to walk up the stairs knowing that you’ll be out of breath is not fun.  Not being able to play with your 2-year old due to chaffing and lack of stamina is not fun.  Being in constant discomfort and being self conscious no matter what you wear is not fun.  I guess I shouldn’t complain.  After all, in a month this all gets to move in reverse.  But as we’re not quite there yet, let’s look at our current month in review, breaking down the physical, mental, and emotional realities. Then, we’ll take a look at the biggest “a ha” moments so far.

Physical

  • 13 inches gained in my waist (I think I need to upgrade to the bigger hula hoop size)
  • 11 inches gained in my hips (Can someone say “birthing hips”?)
  • 70 lbs. gained in 23 weeks (Take that Mythbusters!  It is humanly possible to gain that much in such a short period of time)
  • Energy level is around 5 out of 10 (At this point, doing the Macarena would constitute as “high impact aerobics” for my poor body)
  • How do you make 5 lbs of fat look pretty?  You add a nipple and put it in a cute little pink bra from Victoria’s Secret.  Being that I’m a man and that’s not an option (well, not a viable one).  No, when you’re a man with more like 10 lbs. of fat on your chest, your followers start office pools called “Guess the cup size”.  The minute I get a “bro” in the mail instead of a cake, I’m calling it quits.

Mental

  • Mentally I notice I’m not as sharp as I used to be.  I’m sure it being football season hasn’t helped either.  Strangely, I asked my wife and she said I seemed “pretty much normal in that category”.  Hmmm….
  • Speaking of laziness I’ve noticed that even though I’m hungry at times I get too lazy to even make a sandwich or pour a bowl of cereal.
  • Hunger pains are so much more intense as a person that’s overweight compared to when I was fit (let’s just say that 7 hours without food is torture for someone my size.)  Don’t believe me?  My 2-year old found me attempting to see if there was actual “Strawberry Shortcake” in her doll).

Emotional

  • Emotionally, I’m very self conscious about my body, not only in public to complete strangers, but even in front of my wife. It’s tough when you know you’re not attractive and you know your spouse isn’t attracted to you (physically at least – thank God I have the mental edge with her.  Wait a minute…)
  • My wife says I have the male equivalent of PMS, but instead of it being once a month it’s just a continual, never-ending cycle. I suppose I’m a little sensitive about my appearance.  To comfort myself I’m going to sit on the couch with my Ben & Jerry’s and watch “Chocolat” with Johnny Depp (and only because my Steel Magnolias DVD has a scratch in it)
  • My blood work came back and informed me that my testosterone levels have plummeted to the levels of a prepubescent teenage boy.  Seriously? Can I feel any less manly?  (Of course, that might also explain the acne, voice changes, and obsession with the ongoing relationship of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez)
  • I’m just not the same, up-beat, happy Drew that I used to be. My wife pointed out that I can’t seem to go 1 hour without complaining (I’ll show her.  I’ve looked at the clock and held my tongue for 61 minutes!  Then again, that’s only because it takes too much energy to complain.  Bah, I’m tired.  Oh wait…)

This Month’s “A Ha!” Moments

  • You may recall the blog post about me becoming Worst Father Of The Year. It bothers me to think of the affect I’m having on my kids’ lives right now.
  • While at a social gathering, someone so kindly informed me that my shirt was so tight my buttons looked like they were going to “pop” right off.  The problem was that it wasn’t my old clothing but actually a newer “large” shirt I had bought. I can’t seem to convince my wife I need to buy yet another set off even LARGER clothing to get me through this last month.  (I also didn’t hear from that person again, because one of the buttons popped off and nearly decapitated him.)
  • I bought a bag of water softener salt the other day. Sadly, since I haven’t exercised in the past 5 months I realized I was barely able to lift the bag from the pallet to my cart and from my cart to the car. Looking at the weight it said “40 lbs”. I then realized I was “carrying” around almost TWO of those on my body now.  I also firmly regret not taking advantage of “drive and load” service.
  • My wife and I had a serious discussion of how we thought this journey has had a negative impact on our marriage. All joking aside, we spoke about the physical, emotional, and mental side effects this project has caused and how it’s caused some “tension” in the home. It made us think and realize that there are probably millions of couples that have similar qualms that may steam from one or both partners being overweight. Luckily for my wife this emotional, lazier version of Drew is only temporary (look for more on this talk a bit later into this journey)

I’m not going to lie – with less then a month left, I am relieved and a little scared. Part of me fears it will be hard to curb some of my addictions (I keep a bottle of Mountain Dew and a bag of Captain Crunch under the bed.  When my wife found my stash I quickly defended myself “COME ON! OUR BEDROOM IS ON THE SECOND STORY!”  And the serious discussion of tension in the marriage was a surprise to me?  Oye…).  I guess I’m just sick of feeling like a different person.  I want the old Drew back.

I know he’s in there somewhere, proud of his “A” cup.

589 comments on “Month 5 in Review”

      • I just read your story on Yahoo this morning. I’m currently in the navy, and stationed in Japan. I have battled weight gain and loss for a long time. Today I weighed in for my physical fitness assessment for the first time without being taped(Very happy with myself). I am definitely waiting to see you go from fat to fit to get pointers on how to keep the weight off.

      • I just saw you on GMA and then I watched your videos and all I kept thinking is how could you do this? As a personal trainer, I am sure you are aware at every moment just how awful these foods are for your body and It amazes me that you can eat it. I have struggled with my weight all my life and could stand to lose some and just wanted to say thank you. I am looking forward to you journey back to fit as I will be right there watching and learning with you and hoping that I, too, will find my way back to fit! I was at my lowest weight last year and went out and bought new clothes that unfortunately, I can no longer fit into! Cant wait until we get to work!! Thanks again for putting yourself through all this just to help those of us who are too overwhelmed to even think about perform a single push up!!

        • A reply to Brenda and a thank you to Drew. Brenda you would be the kind of trainer that would get me more depressed. Drew you are trying to understand MY existence and applaud you for going to such extremes so that you can relate to the every day issues. I have always been overweight and am 100lbs too heavy. As a heavy person who tries to change my evil lazy ways, I get depressed and give up when I feel that there is no understanding from fit people. I will be logging on to your site EVERY day now as I know you will be able to give me a more understanding ear. Don’t get me wrong, I am strong and my ex trainer was surprised that I appear to be a healthy strong person with a quilt of fat over me. But carrying that weight and having my legs rub is exhausting and I find myself self-sabotaging all the time. Thank you thank you thank you for taking this journey and I don’t know what area of the country you are in but I will be eagerly trying to keep up with you in your journey back to fit.

        • Oh my god just stumbled across your journey by looking on the daily mail news I’m well chuffed that your putting yourself in my shoes by living the overweight life if only for 6months. I’m 225lbs and 5ft3lbs think I’m about 5stone over weight you can imagine also have prolasped disc due to the lack of tummy muscle or any muscle in my body for that matter but I’m going to follow you all the way and you can and will inspire me. Wish me luck and a great big thank you from the bottom of my heart I will let you know how I get on.

      • I would like to say thank you!!!! I’m a personal trainer. I have also struggled with my weight my entire life. This last fall I quit personal training to go back to college. I have not worked out for four weeks. I have found that the less I worked out, the less likely I was going to make wise nutritional choices. Things are going downhill very quickly, and I don’t like it. This is just the motivation I need to get myself going again. I cannot wait to share this with all my past clients. Thank you again for this huge sacrifice. This is very inspiring to myself and I am sure many others.

      • Hi Drew

        I admire you Drew for what you are doing. For years food was my drug, my comfort. My self-confidence and self-esteem really suffered from being over-weight. In May of this year I decided to take matters into my own hands. Started eating right and joined a gym. I have to say at first, it was excrutiating. Didn’t see the results right away and was starting to get frustrated and wondering if I was wasting my time with this non-sense. I persevered and stuck with it. I wanted to set an example for my children and I wanted my husband to be proud of me. After 5 months, I went from a size 24 to a size 16. As a result of this, my husband also started eating right and joined the gym as well. Now, I enjoy working out and feel miserable when I don’t go. Never in a million years would have I thought that’s all I needed to do. Eat right and workout 3 times a week for an hour and a half.

        Continue your journey Drew. I know you will inspire people that are struggling with their weight. Your journey will give them the courage to take action and better their lives.

        Good Luck Drew

      • Hi Drew! So I have honestly never commented on any website before, but it really hit me on your feelings of not feeling like the real you. 6 years ago I was injured in a car accident, was in physical therapy for 2 years, then 2 years after that was hospitalized 5 times in a semester. Due to my physical health, ongoing back pain, herniated disks in my back, fluid in my spine & overall sadness to the whole situation, I had gained over 60 pounds. A lot of weight for a young girl who had grown up as a dancer & runner! I had felt as if I had lost my identity, my personality, my drive, purpose, passion & worst of all hope. I was angry at other young people who were capable & able to do so much & wasted their time & energy. Those who weren’t sick or injured & were just lazy or unhealthy. It wasn’t until I hit bottom that I took back my life. I got very active. Ignored doctors telling me to get a desk job, became a Nanny to 5 kids under the age of 4yrs., became Cocktail Server & ran my little booty off. While taking a leave from school, I decided to focus on my health & passion. In one year & by my 24th Birthday, I had lost 65 pounds! Back to my pre-accident & injury weight. Ackowledged my own power & strength, stepped out of the “victim” role & took back control of my young, healthy & limitless life! I found myself again, who I always was & who I aspired to be. Through encouraging stories like yours, it has motivated me to be the REAL me again!
        THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY! You will be at peace with yourself again soon enough, just with more appreciation. -Kate

        • Wow Katie! Great job! You had every excuse to, but you didn’t allow yourself to be a “victim”. You took control of your life and made it better. That’s so inspiring!

      • Hey Drew your doing a great job, it’s funny how I can see myself when your talking about your days and negative attitude, and eating habits. I struggle in all those area’s too but reading your blogs give me inspiration thanks keep it up 1 month to go!!!

    • Wow, I am so overtaken with this. There is no way I would purposely put on even 5 pounds. Took me almost a year to lose 78 pounds 20 plus years ago and I still have a struggle. I put back on 20 pounds in that time period but…there is no way I eat the things you do. Now isn’t that a bit overboard to eat so much when most people do not eat like that. How many people eat 6 to 12 donuts at a sitting and all the junk food. I know people go over board but what your doing seems to be way to much in excess. Perhaps what is taking you 6 mos. to do would take some one a couple of years to do just by eating the wrong things and more than they should.

      I am 64 and I cannot see myself getting into much better shape even though I would like to as I still have the stomach bulge problem and it is more than a bulge. I excercise often at the gym and I walk 7 days a week 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. I really fear what I may look like if I did not do that and if I did not watch what and how much I eat most of the time. SCARRY! Judy

      • To Judy, in reading your comment, I have to tell you that you may not see it, but people do eat this way. I see it time and time again, and have also fell victim to this way of eating.
        I think some people are missing the point of why he is doing this. I think it is great for him to experience the feelings that overweight people have. I have never sought out a personal trainer because really….look at them. They are all fit and skinny and “perfect”. Why would I want someone like that to help me when they have no clue how I am really feeling? So instead I avoid the gym, I joke about my weight and all the while I feel crappy about myself and don’t even want my husband to look at me.
        If I had a trainer that understood what I was feeling, I wouldn’t be so inclined to take the easy way out.
        I wish you the best and will follow the rest of your journey back to fit!

    • come on …..im so glad you are helping humanity keep it up buddy …..some of us are just skinny and trying to get huge!! cant wait to follow along.

    • Hi Drew,
      I just came across your website. I have been chronically overweight all of my life, except for a stint in the Canadian military. At 45 years old and 305lbs, my 18 year old daughter graduated High School. I was so proud! When I saw the pictures of me dancing with my baby girl, I lost it! Who was that ‘fat slug’ dancing with my kid?!
      Even though I had tried various diets and some exercise programs, nothing had worked. Fortunately at the same time, my wife came across what I’ll call a ‘lifestyle change plan’ which includes moderate exercise and changes in diet. Lots of green veggies and moderate proteins…not a lot of sugars, starches and fats. Not attractive to a food addict like me, but the alternative was even less attractive!
      Now 6 months and 40lbs lighter at 265lbs, I’m happier & healthier than I’ve been in years! I’ve still got a way to go, but I’ll get there. My eating habits had to change, and stay changed! I won’t say its easy, because its not. I’ve had lapses and lost my way on the journey, but I found my way back!
      Why do I share this story with you? Because there are people out there who really believe that they can’t do it! But if I can anyone can!
      Your journey has value! When you begin your weight loss, I guarantee you will have problems and setbacks…food addictions aren’t easy! I believe you will overcome them and show people that what has happened to you and to people like me IS POSSIBLE!
      Keep the faith and I look forward to the successful completion of your journey!
      Remember ‘lifestyle change’ not ‘diet!’

    • I can’t wait till you start the Fat to Fit journey. I have struggle for so many years now, and I just want to finally succeed.

      Thank you

    • Hello Drew,

      One of my work colleges told me about your journey, although I have never been fit and am currently doing my best to get to fit, I still have a long way to go, started at 347, currently 321. If you would like some company when you start on your way down to “fit” again, I would like to be apart of that. I can confirm all of your insites into the “fat” world and can add many others. I would like to become additcted to exercise and a health eating habit. Contact me if you would like to talk.

      Thank you, Dwayne

    • Drew,
      Firstly i commend you for you courage but i hope that you are able to make it back to your old self… Have you given any thought to how your newly developed craving will affect you for the rest of your life?

      Remember you indicated you never drank soda in the past now you have a soda addiction…

      I am in the army and work very hard at remaining “somewhat fit” but i have a soda addiction… I truely hope you can make it back to your old self… For yourself and your family…

      Good luck

      D

    • Drew, i just heard of your journey from my yahoo email, and I think what you are doing is absolutely inspiring. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to drastically alter your lifestyle, but you seem to have a very driven, positive, and healthy personality, that I can tell you will achieve your goal. I’m replying to your blog because your story is very inspirational for me. I am 20 years old, and have been recovering from a dramatic 35 pound weight loss in a 2 month period. I was very underweight, and I took a year off of college to seek help. In may, I finally turned my life around, and began to gain the weight back, and rapidly, like you. I ended up adjusting to the habit of overeating and over compensating to gain the weight, that my body got used to it. I ended up being 20 pounds OVER what I originally weighed. I’m hoping through your journey on getting fat to fit again, that it could help me lose weight, in a healthy way. I feel that in essence, your journey is similar to mine, and I keep reading your blog, because it gives me hope, that even though I am uncomfortable in my body know, that I can look and feel good about my body if I just change my life style around. I’ll be reading! Keep with it, because what you are doing it so incredible! Thank you

  • I think you have really learned a lot on this journey and are definitely understanding feelings of what its like to be overweight! When i read your posts I am always thinking, “thats exactly how I feel or exactly what I think!” Especially when you say your starving but too lazy to make a sandwich, or to tired to go upstairs or play with your daughter! Thats exactly how I feel 95% of the time! I want to be healthy and skinny, and I am really self conscious all the time, I’m sick of being the “fat one” at family get to gethers as most of my sister in laws are skinny. I have tried diets and working out and I can stick to them for a few weeks and then it just goes downhill from there.. I cannot stay motivated and get to where I need to be.. I havent lost my baby weight from my first baby and the thoughts of getting pregnant again with this fat ass body makes me want to cry (but times a tickin! can’t wait too long!) Whats your advice and how do you stay motivated to stick to a plan?? Im sorry this is really long, but I need serious help! And good luck with the rest of your journey!!

    • @anonymous: I was overweight but somehow squeaked through my first 5 years in the military. A personal crisis prompted me to change my ways and I’m so glad I did. I started with – and recommend – Jillian Michaels’ regimen. Her book “Making the cut” addresses emotional and physiological obstacles to success in a fit and healthy lifestyle. Remember, just like starting your diet and exercise programs, it will not do anything for you if you do not follow through, diligently put the work into it, and make the change PERMANENT. The number one reason people cannot achieve the fit and healthy lifestyles is because they go back to their old ways. It is true that most of us struggle to manage our physiques better but fail to maintain the change. Again, Jillian Michaels addresses these issues and so can you. JM herself was overweight.

      There are fitness tests every 6 months in the military. I’d begin to prepare one month before the test and usually pass at the lowest level. Then there would be very little exercising for the next 5 months.

      I realized that the incentive for military fitness did absolutely nothing for me if I couldn’t maintain. Exercise has to be a priority. I think this could possibly relate to your attempts and subsequent cessations.

      I find motivation and incentive through signing up for fitness classes. It brings structure, accountability, more investment/commitment through the higher pricing, variety, and it’s more sociable.

      Varying the exercise routine keeps things fresh and exciting. Consider a sport – not necessarily for competition but just for fun. I had a blast playing tennis for my college team but I was a totally abysmal player. Boot camp fitness classes are awesome. They provide strength, endurance, and cardiovascular training, are always challenging, and full of variety. I also enjoy trail running and I’ve been itching to take up parkour (find it on youtube!) :)

      Remember, if you don’t follow your plan permanently and diligently, it does nothing for you. It must become the new you. Consider yourself to be who you are today – not “okay I’ve stuck to my plan for 2 weeks so I deserve time off.” I don’t know how you get yourself derailed, but you must put in the time to identify WHY and it’s up to YOU to change that. Good luck!

    • I have been overweight all my life now at 39 and three kids (8,6,4). I never thought of myself as” FAT”, just overweight. When shopping, I never had a problem about going to the next size up in clothes. I just bought what fit. I just ate and never thought about calories. I eat EVERYTHING, nothing I do not like. I will even continue to eat something that was not good, but it was still edible.
      In 2009, I lost 40lbs and received lots of attention. Went from 185lbs to 145lbs at 5’1” I became aware of clothes sizes and actually saw myself as THIN…WOW! I started receiving all this attention that I never had before. This became over whelming. Because I was never thin before, I was not experienced in how to live a “thin life.” I sabotaged myself and gained back all my weight, plus 5 more lbs. Even though my weight is not that high, I can totally relate to people who weigh over 500lbs.
      Today, I came across your story and I think it is great what you are doing. Stepping into the shoes of an overweight person is very hard to do. Life is so hard being overweight it is both psychological and physical. Personally, I believe it is more psychological than physical.
      I hope my story gives you more of an insight on the overweight life. Today I will take a step in the right direction to start my new life again. We will do this together

    • Hi anonymous! I’m Viviane, from Brazil. Everything you wrote is the same for me. The biggest problem has always been: keeping the motivation. Please, Drew, tell us, where/how do you find motivation? I know, these have been hard times for you and your family, but you still have a strong motivation – motivation to put on weight and motivation to lose all the weight later. What is the secret?

  • Drew, I heard you on 97.1ZHT last week and you intrigued my interest when I heard what you were doing, Jessica intrigued me to want to see what you looked like and now I am just plain intrigued PERIOD to see how this all turns out! Im thinking most people will be like myself and see this to the end. Like you now, I used to be fit. Fit enough for people to ask me if I was a fitness competitor. Now at age 43, I feel in a rut and hopefully by keeping up with you I can find motivation to get back into the game! I could stand to lose about 25-30lbs. I will be following you and encouraging others to as well. Thanks for the updates, they are funny!

    • I just read about you in yahoo news or something. This is insane! I wish you luck.I used to be fit and I let my self go, I gained about 40 lbs since my fit days about 4 years ago. So I will be following you. Hopefully I get inspire enough to get fit along with you. LOL

  • Just 3 weeks away…..can’t wait for the return journey….will be tuning in to see you on the 28th….Good luck, I know your sense of humor will be a highlight to the show!

  • I am ready for you fat to fit portion to start. It’s almost torture to listen to how things are in your life. As a person that has been overweight all my life it makes me wonder how things will be different when I reach a lower weight. Keep your head up it wont be long before you are beating your body back into shape. You will be that man again but with a new more understanding perspective.

  • Seriously Dude,

    I’m tired for you! I mean you have been doing this for so long! I’m sure your determination WILL beat this thing and the old Drew will be back. The end is near…. Can you smell it or is that you hallucination of you next meal? Lol jk

    Almost done…

    • You know what, Junior?

      What you said made me realized that I, too, am tired for him. And then, I realized again that I “am” Drew.

      I’ve read all of Drew’s posts and at some point I was like “seriously? is he eating all THAT? FOR REAL?” But I eat THAT too. Why doesn’t it make me a little disgusted when I see Drew eating but it’s “okay” for me to eat? :S

      That means something is wrong with me!

      I guess I’ve been over weight for so long that I didn’t realize how baaaaad those foods are ,and seeing Drew gain all that weigh, eating what I eat in regular basis, before our eyes was a little scary!

      I’m sure a lot of us are scared to go on the scale and see for ourselves how much we gain for the past 6 months!

      I want to go fit as well :(

      Isabela – your friend from Brazil

  • The sad part is many people life the way you feel. I know I have but I’m back on track. I too went from fit 180lbs to fat 320lbs (over the course of the last ten years) but I’m back on it down 15lbs this last month. I’m uploading my weigh in on my youtube. My goal is to lose 10 lbs per month for the next 11 months to get me under 200lbs. I think its very doable and can’t wait to hear your advice(s) and get motivation from you re-transformation!!!!

    • @El soto – Nice job on your progress. Keep up the good work and I can’t wait to get started so that a lot of us can get fit together.

    • I am inspired by Drew today on GMA and you El Soto. Because I went from 180 to 286. Now I’m 264 nad going to find motivation with Drew and these postings. Thank You everyone.

  • Dear Drew,

    I was very touched by what you wrote. I went from being fit to 30 pounds overweight due to a relocation and some other life changes that clearly were not in my best interest. I can relate to everything you’re going through, particularly on the emotional level. It’s stunning how differently we relate to other people when our confidence plummets as a result of our weight. I will be so excited for you when you can get your life back on track, and I mean it sincerely when I say that you have motivated me to get my fat ass back in the gym. After all, you have a reason for what you’re doing. My only excuse is laziness and I have now realized how much better I will feel once I get on the right track, too. I know what you are doing is hard for you and for your family, but I want to thank you (and them) for letting us experience your journey.

    • @Lisa – Your comment was very inspiring for me and I’m glad that you’ve been inspired. We are all motivated by different things and I’m glad that you and many others feel motivated because of this. That definitely makes this journey worth it to me. Your comment really made my day. Thanks.

      • @ Lisa R. -Yes! That is exactly how I am as well! I went from fit to frump over career and life changes that halted me mentally to get back to the gym and even workout at home! 35lbs. on and much less muscle has been depressing. I hiked 2 days for cardio and am ready to hit the gym now. Just had to start moving again! Drew is a great inspiration, and I appreciate your guts to share your views and situation as well!
        Thanks so much!

  • Well stated! Many of my clients say, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Mind you, I don’t advocate skinny. What they are saying is that nothing you can put in your stomach feels as good as how your body responds to being fit. It has been painful watching the changes as you fall deeper into this journey. The journey back will be awesome to watch for many reasons. One, because it’s evident that you have honesty on your side. Two, because the journey will not be easy and folks need to see that even when it’s tough, you keep going. Three, because we’ve come to know the slower, less energetic Drew and will definitely notice the changes to your mood.

    Onward!

  • 70lbs in less than 6 months. Wow. Ok most of us aren’t that severe. But I guess you can see how easy 15 lbs one year turns to 30lbs the next. I am very intrigued on how you battle your new bad habits and addictions. Do you think you can relate a little more to your clients? Put their situations in a better perspective?

  • “Hunger pains are so much more intense as a person that’s overweight ..”

    This! This! So many time, THIS! People that have not been through this just don’t understand!

  • Hey Drew,

    You mention in almost all of your videos that you are excited to start your FAT 2 FIT stage and can’t wait to start exercising and eating healthy. Do you ever worry that your memory of exercise is from a FIT perspective and that it will actually be SUPER hard for you to move like you once did? Also, I’m curious if you are going to have the equivalent of your weekly food challenges (like a super torturous work out challenge) on the flip side?

    I can’t wait to see your progress and reactions in a few weeks!

    • @Sarah – Good question. That’s why I plan on starting out slow with the exercise. The first month all I will change will be my diet, to stress the importance of it. Then I will implement the exercise in stages starting in month 2. No plans for a workout challenge once a week. Thanks so much for your support. I’m excited too.

      • Drew, You just gave me an ah-ha moment. Thank you! I gained 130#s over the past 15 yrs (not a typo). I’m a 44yr old woman who at 20 was so fit she won a local fitness club challenge. Most difficult for me is the mental torture in not being able to exercise & knowing how fit I use to be. I never thought of dieting for a month w/out any exercise expectations – that’s very responsible & a much kinder way of treating myself than my former attempts. Thank you for this undertaking. It’s generous, brave & a very responsible way to deal with your overweight clients. Kudos to you Mr. Drew!!!

  • The mental and emotional factors vary greatly from person to person, and I hope that the lean people reading here realize that not all fat people feel about their weight the same way Drew does about his. Some feel worse about it than he does, but many don’t feel so bad. Some are OK with it and a small proportion are even happy about it. As a tubbo myself, I like it in some ways and dislike it in others.

    Drew, you know without needing to qualify it that you want and intend to get back into shape, so good luck sticking out the rest of phase 1 and better luck with phase 2.

    [If I comment again, the "formerly" portion will be out of my handle. This is its last outing.]

  • I was where you are now 3 months ago(mentally & emotionally). I totally understand the “tension” in the home you mentioned. Even though my husband told me every day how beautiful I was it didn’t matter. There was probably nothing he could have said or done to change how I felt about myself. I found Crossfit Timpanogos and it changed my life. I have since adopted a whole 9 eating life style and can say I am on my way to being in the best shape physically, mentally and emotionally of my life. I can’t wait to see the next part of your journey. I am sure you will rock it!

  • i can sympathize with what the depression aspect. I find if I don’t train for a day or so i get extremly grumpy. during the next month, just keep thinking about how good it’ll feel to pick up the iron again. hopefully that will be an “a-ha” moment during your journey back.

      • stretch marks will never go away completely. the best way to get rid of them is to lift weights and tighten the skin. for the abdominal region (where most people get them) standard planks and side planks are the best exercise. you can also use Vitamin E oil directly on the area, that will “soften” the look. I know first hand as i went from 270lbs to now 150lbs.

        • another quick point – stretch marks will come as you begin to lose the weight most likely won’t see them while gaining the weight. as you begin your transformation back to “fit”, make planks an everyday training tool and you could ward them off.

        • Natalie, I’m really glad to hear that you went from 270 to 150. I’m around 260 and have been for a very long time. I really love exercise (or how I feel after), but can’t motivate myself. My biggest struggle is eating (I like food, it’s comforting) and I know that has to be the first area of my life to change. Really glad to see that you did it! It’s going to take me time, I know that there is no quick fix, but it’s still terribly hard.

  • Drew, I have to say that as a bigger woman I’m not impressed and slightly offended at your quest. However, as someone that is trying to understand where the bigger side of the spectrum is coming from, I applaud you. I have struggled with food, being “fat”, and all the other issues inbetween. I was thin at one point in my life but without the knowledge of how to stay that way, it disappeared.
    I am now more conscious of what I eat and what my body needs and it’s horribly difficult to stay on track. I exercise some but not as much as I used to. I make no excuses other than there are not enough hours in the day. I work a full time job and go to school 75% of the time, I literally have no time when I leave work. Doing homework and trying to stay healthy doesn’t necessarily happen the way I want it to. I get to the gym Fridays only and I manage to plow through about 30 minutes of cardio which for me equals about 2 miles of running. (for a close to 300 lbs woman, that aint bad). I lift weights when the mood strikes me and well to say it plainly, I’m more muscle than fat. However there are other things than just lack of exercise and poor diet to make one obese. I dieted and exercised for 3 months straight and I didn’t lose a single pound. I ate around 1200 calories a day and killed myself at the gym. Learned later on that I have a medical condition that makes losing weight extremely difficult.
    I hope you know how lucky you are to have a metabolism that works and the know how to make things better for yourself and turn it around. I wish you the best of luck.

    • I respect each person’s view but I don’t really understand how you can be offended by someone on a quest to help people.

      Basically, Drew has actually come to meet us all the way, putting himself at peril in the process, hold our hand and show us the way back to fitness.

      Just reading your email, I see a bit of myself in there, the tone is tired, a little bit of can’t be too bothered because of other life commitments, but what is important? How do you get the motivation even though we all go to work, have kids etc?

      This is what Drew is attempting to show us!

      I look forward to the fat2fit stage and will be following. Good luck to you Nyt, and Drew!

    • @nyt: I’m very intrigued by your post.

      “I’m more muscle than fat” What are your body fat and muscle percentages?

      I recovered from my own obesity through following Jillian Michaels’ regimen. She was also overweight and understands the struggles. She has a book called “Master Your Metabolism” and her knowledge is incredible! She explains how the American diet sabotages healthy physiques and metabolisms – and how to REVERSE it.

    • Nyt,
      Try to stay more fit by marching in place while seated at a desk. Find a way to move something. Maybe you wouldn’t ever lose, but you can keep moving and be as fit as you can. Keep eating healthy – fruits, veggies, lean protein, whole grains in moderate portions.

  • My girlfriend turned me onto your story. I took one look at your current picture and thought it looked about where I was 4 weeks ago. I’ve managed to drop about a 1.5 pounds per week since then with steady running and hitting the gym.

    The hardest part was the first two weeks of running. It’s kinda humbling being out of breath after just a quarter mile or so. Not to mention the stress of carry 250 lbs on your knees each step.

    4 weeks into it, the running is still hard, but I’m up to a continuous three miles. I’m breathing better and sleeping better (despite my gf complaining about my snoring!).

    The hardest change of all was improving my eating habits. I’ve never been a calorie counter or fat vs carbs, so I took an old friends advice and keep my portions small. Cutting out the sodas, sweets and breads (which I love!!!). I’ve avoided fried foods and now since I haven’t had them for a few weeks, smelling them makes me a little nausea.

    I will be following your story, I think it will resonate with a lot of people.

    Good luck!

    ~Paul

  • I dont usually make comments, but I almost feel like I need to at this point. As someone who’s known Drew for a while, and who has even lived with him (college), I’ve only known Drew as fit Drew. I’ve seen first hand his strict eating habits, his work out routine, and even taken part in it. I’ve never wondered why he was the way he was, it was just how I knew him. Some of you who don’t know him might assume he was someone who was self absorbed before this. I have to say, not true. He has always been someone to help anyone who needed it, I have never heard him say a bad word about anyone. If he didnt know you, and you needed his help, he’d be there. I guess I’m saying this because everyone needs to understand that he is exactly how he appears and sounds in his blog. He’s someone who cares about people, all people, and his intent really is to help everyone. This isn’t for publicity, its to help those who need it or want it.

    With that being said, keep it up Drew. There are lot of us rooting for you and a lot of us inspired by you. I know this has been hard, harder than a lot of us might know. But there are those who will find you, who will know exactly what you are going through and how you feel, and who need your inspiration to help them. It is because of those people that I know you will succeed.

    And for all of us, I hope we just learn to be a little less judgmental. I hope we learn to be more supportive when we see people struggle with their weight. I hope we lend a hand instead of a judging look. There is a lot we can learn from you Drew, I have already learned so much. I applaud you and love you. Thank you for doing this.

    • I don’t know you, Grimm, or Drew. Your comments though are right on the mark, and go much farther than this one man’s journey. We all have our own journeys, and being a little less judgmental, a little kinder, and a little more giving to others will go a long way in manifesting better human beings. Non of us get’s out of this journey alive. It’s what you did with your journey that counts.

      Bless you Drew!

    • I totally agree with Grimm. I had been thin for years and due to some medication I was prescribed and a 2 1/2 hour commute (one way) to my previous job I gained over 80 lbs. That was 8 years ago. I’m still trying to get the weight off. I NEED someone like Drew to inspire me. I lose 5 to 10 lbs, but then something happens and I lose my motivation. Until you have a lot of weight to lose, you just don’t know how frustrating it is to be overweight (obese). I don’t recognize the person I see in my pictures. That cannot be me! My mirror and my camera have two different visions of what I look like. For someone like Drew to purposely go on this journey to help others in amazing. I for one will be following Drew’s progress daily. Thank you Drew!

    • Thanks for the background info on Drew. It helps to legitimize the entire journey. I just heard Drew on WGN in chicago and thought what an incredible risk to himself for the benefit of others. I have not read everything yet but i know from what i have read, i have many similar attitudes and feelings. So keep going Drew cause i can identify completely.

  • Hey Drew, I’m sure you really do miss the old you! LOL I hope the rest of this journey goes great for you!! Can’t wait to see your journey from fat2fit!! Just know that many people, including myself, thank you for doing this, and will thank you even more when you show us how to get fit. And on a side note… I personally want to thank you. You’ve been a real encouragement to me. You’ve inspired me to get in shape. Thank you and I hope you keep the courage and strength you’ve had for the rest of this journey!

  • Drew, you have opened my eyes to my own feelings about my weight. I believe that because you have gained the weight so fast that your experience is magnified, where people like me that have gained the weight slowly over the course of many years don’t realize the effect it has had on our lives. I jokingly call it the “slow death.” On the outside I joke about my weight and most people(except my wife) probably think it doesn’t bother me, but reading your blog I realize how much it really does. In a few post you mention how “disgusted” you are, that word bothered me and at first I thought it was because you where being a typical gym rat and disgusted by people like me, but then I realized that it was because I also was disgusted with myself. Its hard to admit. I feel like the lobster on the stove in a pot of cold water that never realizes that it is being cooked alive. Thanks to you I realize it now and I’m planning on jumping out of the pot along with you next month.

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  • I truly appreciate what you are doing. As a person who has ballooned in weight since puberty I really believe this might be the turn around for me. I can’t wait to see you start you Fat 2 Fit portion. What I am hoping to take from this is how to change eating habits, more successfully than I have in the past. Maybe an exercise move or two as well. I was also maybe hoping that you could give advice, when ready and part of your challenge, on how to eat healthier on a budget. Because sometimes it is a whole lot easier and cheaper to buy the bad stuff than the good.

  • It’s easy to watch an infomercial and see someone get “totally ripped” or watch a celebrity get totally fit in 6 weeks( from a 4 to a 0), but being a real person is different. Everyone knows it takes a mind set and dedication to get to the point to want to change, but you are SHOWING just how hard it is to do so when you are mentally in that dark spot. I just saw your article in YAHOO! And I will not be following your journey. Thank you for showing how a real person can over come this; not just a before and after photo, or a 16 week TV show, or infomercial.

  • Drew, I know this has been a new experience for you. The unfortunate truth is there are people out there that have been dealing with these issues their entire lives. I was one of those people until I recently took control over myself back. for the last several months I have been watching your journey from fit to fat while I was going through my own from fat to fit and I honestly can say watching you HAS helped me. It is a reminder of what I have to loose if I stop my commitment to a healthier me and a visual representation of what I once was. I can proudly say that as of this morning I am down 56lbs since the first week in August and I know I can keep going tell I am in better shape then I have been in my entire life.

    Take it from someone who has been there you haven’t even started the hardest part yet. The first 2 weeks of calorie reduction and exercise increase are murder, but after that it becomes routine and before you know it your slipping into your old jeans again. I look forward to hearing about your first week back on a proper diet and with increased exercise!

  • Hey Drew,

    I found your website through a post on Trying Fitness. Really interesting thing that you are doing and maximum respect. There’s no way I could bring myself to do anything like this for a full 6 months. Bet it’s going to feel so good in the final 6 months to reverse all the damage and get back to your old self.

    I’m trying to subscribe to your blog’s RSS feed but there seems to be a problem with the link. Would you be able to send me a link so I can subscribe as really want to keep up to date with your progress.

  • The most interesting part of this post is your relationship with your wife is starting to suffer. I noticed that no one else commented about this important aspect. I used to be fit, then went to college with my wife and gained nearly 100 lbs to max out around 300 lbs. During my last year in school my wife noticed she was getting much larger as well and dedicated herself to working out everyday. Fast forward to 2007-2008 and I was around 290 lbs and she was the fittest she had ever been in her life. I tried to eat clean and get motivated in 2008 but it just didn’t work after 4 weeks. I lost interest because my wife was pregnant with our third kid and she was due within the month. Fast forward 3 more years to this year and my wife gained a bunch of weight after the pregnancy around 40 lbs and I’ve maintained my weight around 285 lbs. Mainly due to walking 2 miles everyday at work.

    Last month my wife and I both agreed to work together and for me to lose around 80 lbs and for her to lose around 40 lbs. I’m down around 15 lbs and she has lost around 10 lbs. We are eating clean, together, lifting weights, together, and doing cardio (separately at the gym – no childcare). We are motivating one another and our relationship has taken a positive turn. We were headed down the path of losing interest in one another, both mentally and physically. But we came back on track mentally a month ago and are now coming back on track physically. My wife made a comment the other night that she is very happy that we are doing this together and she said she is amazed at how much more energy I have now compared to before.
    I hope this will not ruin your relationship with your wife, I doubt it will, but now you may understand a bit better what many people struggle with and how hard it can be on relationships.
    I’m sure you never thought the weight gain would be this severe nor this difficult mentally.
    At least you know enough about nutrition, dieting, and exercising to reverse it. Back in 2008, I didn’t know what I know now. It is a world of difference now. I’ve been using the Body for LIFE book as the basis this time around.

    Take care…

  • I think this month 5 post is the most important blog I have read of yours. You have come to see that you have now been able to “indulge” in all those things you missed out on before but now you are not happy with these “treats”. You have a unique perspective that you have lived fit before and it will be interesting to see how you transition from being fat to fit again. I’m sure you can do it, you especially have an appreciation now for being fit that many of us have not been able to know. It is especially hard to leave the only lifestyle we know, healthy or not, and sometimes we are afraid of success… being fit is intimidating to me because that is a whole other lifestyle that I have not experienced before, and it is the biggest struggle- in regards to finances, emotion, and physical motivation. Thanks so much for this experiment/journey, it has brought a whole new light to obesity and food addiction and I look forward to following you on your fat to fit transition, maybe it will inspire me to finally stomp out my fear and finally succumb to a healthy change(as ridiculous as it may sound)…

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  • Drew,

    This is quite a journey you are making. I sympathize with your cravings and fears. A year ago I weighed 365 lbs. I have lost 94 pounds since then and plan to drop another 50.

    You are a trainer so I am sure you have already heard any suggestion that I have to offer. I can tell you this… It is so WORTH IT! My confidence level has increased, my outlook on life has improved and my relationship with my wife and my kids had changed so much. I am so much happier now than I was a year ago. I KNOW that you will feel the same as you begin your “fit” journey.

    Matt

  • Think it’s really amazing of you to put soo much efford into understanding physical and emotional states of overweight person. Hope you’ll inspire a lot of people to start taking care of themself, and since you’re doing it by example have a hunch it’ll work;)It’s all about willpower! Best wishes, will follow your progress!

  • I’m glad your taking this journey, cause I’m fighting it now. I’m 70″ and weigh 215. I used to weigh 145lbs soaking wet at 18. I’m now 28 and I’m exercising to get back to 190 lbs. I have craving for soda even though I don’t need it among other things. I used to run 2 miles in 14minutes and now it’s 17:30…It’s a struggle that I hope you win. The other issue on the side of it is that DIET plays a huge roll in all of this…it’s easier and cheaper to eat unhealthy. At my highest weight I have been 235..errrrr….Good luck cause it’s a journey!

  • Many kudos to you man, you’ve earned the respect of many in your incredible journey. As someone who was once obese (250lbs) I can tell you it’s amazing how much people underestimate these addictions, the brain becomes hard wired for these foods. I lost 90lbs in one year and by far the biggest (aside from lack of energy) obstacle in my personal journey was the emotional addiction. I have to say to embark on a quest like this says a lot about your character, I’m sure at first it was marketing strategy but once you’ve actually reached this point everything changed. You became that much more connected to your average person. I look forward to following you on your journey till the end.

    I’ll be here posting.

  • Wow. This is my first time on your site and I have to say that I’m impressed. Impressed with what you are doing and your motives behind all of this. I was quite the little ‘chunker’ in my 8th grade year. I’m only 5’6″ now, so I was probably shorter and I made it up to 230lbs and my mom was ready to buy me size 40 jeans. Being overweight was/is not fun. I’ve dreamed of seeing my abs, until then I have one ab, lol. Between the age of 14 and 18 I was able to lose a total of 50lbs. It’s funny how you equated the bag of salt to your weight, because that’s what I did too except it was a bag of deer corn. Being 25 and within 6 months going to be 26 I fear being in my prime is a thing of the past. This shouldn’t be. This is interesting, nonetheless, what you are doing.

  • I just discovered what you are doing as of today (10/18/11). I am 6′ 2″ with a waist of 45″, a bicep of 15″, a neck of 17″, a chest of 47″, and a weight of 252 lbs. My goal is to get down to 180lbs, with a realistic goal of 200 lbs. I have 4 children and my wife and I do not want them to get like us so we have been trying to change our eating habits with some success. We have been playing a game called disc golf that gets us out and with the kids. The courses take us about two hours to walk (up and down hills) and runs just shy of a mile long. I find my biggest problem is curbing my desires to eat certain foods. I have cut myself down to two 20oz bottles of soda a week and cut almost all sugary snacks out, but I tend to have relapses. Any suggestions?

    • I used to fight the cravings while dieting but I’ve been following the Body for LIFE eating plan. Basically 6 meals per day consisting of a fist size serving of protein and carbs and at least two servings of vegetables per day. For supplements I take a liquid multivitamin, EFA capsules, and a product called Enerfood. Just do a web search for it, it really cuts the cravings out for my wife and me. We take it first thing in the morning with 1/2 c. of apple juice. E-mail me at postmako through gmail dot com and let me know how it works for you or if you have any questions. This time has been by far the easiest diet and something I feel my wife and I could do for the rest of our lives.
      Take care,
      Kory

      • Kory,

        Your diet looks really interesting! I want to tell my husband about it, but maybe you could tell me a little more before? email me at givemewings310 at yahoo dot com.

        Thanks so much!

  • I saw this on Yahoo News today and I think that what you are doing is very interesting. I know that you are feeling what overweight people such as myself feel, which I think gives you a thumbs up in my book and many other people’s books because you know what it’s like to go through what we go through, unlike some people that say “Lose some weight fatso!” or “you really should lose weight” they just don’t know what it’s like and how much it hurts our self esteem, which makes us not want to do it. Since you have experienced it firsthand however I have great respect for you, and I will continue to follow you through your journey, and as you start getting fit, my wife and I will start getting fit (she doesn’t want to go it alone and it’s more fun with more people), I really want to say thank you for having the courage to do this so that you can understand what we go through. I know it’s been hard, but once you begin part 2 of your journey you’ll be glad you made the journey because you’ll be able to relate to overweight people.

  • Best of luck! I appreciate this experiment you are conducting. I too have gained about 70 pounds during the last 10 years and just can’t get motivated. Between work and 60 mile one way commute, I just don’t have the energy. I was never this much overweight and find simple life things much more difficult. I am looking forward to your return to fitness and hope to learn something.

  • Its great to see someone getting the experience of what its like to be obese. You will have new outlooks as well as new insight to the how hard it can be to lose weight. What I would like to see is you lose the weight on a budget. Most Americans who are obese are low income. I just want you to get the full effect of losing the weight while trying to stay under 200-250 a month for groceries for the entire family. Again to fully understand you must put yourself in the shoes of the avg obese person.

    • I have diabetes and must stay away from carbs very hard to do supporting a family of 4 on 200a month for groceries! Poor people food is rice, potatoes and pastas. They are filling for growing teenage boys but deadly for me!

    • ET, thank you so much for posting this! We can watch as many shows on weight loss and how to eat right, find diets that tell you what to eat etc. Majority of the time it’s food that is very expensive when you have a family to feed. One person, sure, it could most likely be managed. Even purchasing certain foods that are required just for yourself could be worked into a budget but what about the rest of the family? A $10 large pizza from Pizza Hut for the family while the dieter eats grilled salmon with fresh greens?

      Drew, ET has an excellent point. Please consider this when you start your journey from fat to fit!

  • Hey Drew, this is an amazing experiment! please thank your family for allowing you to complete this adventure! I’m a marathon training coach, I teach non runners how to become marathoners. Most of my runners are overweight and are just learning how to get rid of their weight. I’m very excited to hear how you get back into shape and deal with all the issues associated with getting back in shape. My hope is your experience will help me to better train my runners.
    Thank you!!
    Regards,
    Mike G.
    PS I’m not the skinniest runner myself so your experience will help me. as well looking forward to your Ab workouts!

  • Wow! Drew, watching your intro video, looking at your blog posts.. this is so mind blowing! I can’t wait to come on here to see your updates on how you are going to be losing this weight you’ve gained. I’m going to show this website to my father. Maybe he can get some inspiration from you…I know you are going to be an inspiration for me to continue my weight loss journey (I used to weigh 209 pounds. Now I’m at 164…goal is 140)
    Good luck! Don’t give up! We’re all cheering you on :)

    -Ashley

  • Drew,

    I find myself looking back on my earlier years in the military and sometimes wish to put a gun to my head I feel so much despair sometimes over my weight. My wife has lost a tremendous amount of weigh and looks damn good too. When we got together 9 years ago, I was the one always running and walking and just out and about, but only 8 years and a coma later and I really find that I have more issues than a playboy publication. I am counting on you to take this to the finish line, because there are many men out there just like me who have given up on life or are right there at the edge of a cliff emotionally ready to check out just waiting for their life to catch with their emotional death. I want to see this to the end, because perhaps somehow there is hope for me to overcome this funk and get my life back, my marriage back, and the old me back. So although I am where I am right now in life, I look to you to move forward with this plan and keep all of us in the loop. If more trainers would just spend a little time in the shoes of people like myself, then maybe we’ll have more respect for them, maybe we’ll have more faith in ourselves and maybe our families would actually take us serious for a change. Sorry for dumping this all on you, but as far as I can tell, there is a lot riding on what you are doing. People like me are tired of fad diets and gimmicky equipment. We want the real deal and you are giving a lot of people, especially this 39 year old man with the physical body of a 70 year old a chance to make things right in his life. I will say that my weigh took much longer than 6 months to appear and I expect it will take much longer for it to come off, but I just want one person to take me seriously when it comes to trying to lose weigh. Thanks and please keep in touch with all of us. I really don’t want to remain the way that I am and end up dying young unnecessarily.

  • Dude!you an inspiration to a lot of people. I’m definitely excited to see your journey to back to “normal”. On February 2011, I was 220 pounds and now I am 185. And i’m still working on that stubborn 10 to 15. haha. I’m really excited to see how this is going to turn out. Keep it up man.

  • Hi Drew

    I have to say, I am intrigued by what you are doing. I have gained 60 lbs over the last year and being 49 years old, a woman, and having battled fat all my life, I am in somewhat of a different position than you. I am going to follow along with the fat to fit part but aren’t men and women different in that respect? I mean as far as food types to eat, etc. I wish you were my trainer because I know I’d never be fat again so I just make you my “virtual trainer”. Best of luck to you on this journey.

  • Drew,

    MY GOD MAN! I just stumbled onto to your site today and I have to say that I am feeling sorry for you at the moment. Even more so when you start back the other way.

    I am currently 5’7″ at 230 lbs, about 60 lbs heavier then I want to be and I find that it is very very hard to change it around. I am to the point that I do not know what to do anymore. I am ready for a change, but my wife makes me pretty lazy. Every time I want to go out and run or ride my bike, she wants me to do something for her or stay with her. She also complains about the way I look. I just wish I knew what to do.

    Thank you for your dedication. I wish you the best of luck in your journey ahead.

    Dan

    • I know what you mean. I think she’s just worried about once you start up, you’re going to leave her for a ‘much prettier’ girl because you yourself feel like ‘shes not enough for you’ anymore. What you can start to do is include her in a small work out regiment. There are MANY different ways you can work out of your home without purchasing insane work out videos. You can ALWAYS start out when you first wake up in the morning start doing push-ups, count out as many as you can do and write it down. Next do some squats, count out how many you can do, write it down. The next day when you first wake up do the same thing you did before but add 5 to that number you wrote down. The next week after you start that, look up two new exercises that you’d like to try and do the same thing but add them on top of the two you started. and every week keep track of what you do, how many you do and that would be a terrific starting point for the both of you. That way she wont feel left out and you both can do something together! :D

  • Hey Drew, First off I would like to applaud you for all your efforts. I have always been thick/big since my early teens. Getting teased my whole life is no fun. I’ve tried eating right & exercising but once my schedule changes thats when my eating habits change. I really want to go on this fit journey with you when its time for you to turn it around. I’m boarder line diabetic and i’m 26 years old. I want to change now but I feel I only have so much self motivation. See you at the top Drew :D

  • I too used to be an athlete, but have just never put the 2FIT after the 2FAT. That being said, I am having a hard time understanding, and maybe you can help me with this – - if you were so fit & strong, how can carrying a 40 lb bag of salt be so terrible just five months into no exercise? I understand the grandiose verbiage makes for better humor, but it took me years of completely neglecting myself and focusing on full-time work, eating out most of the time, pregnancies, no exercise, and domestic duties to get to that point of weakness. Everything you have said is true, but it is just hard for me to comprehend getting there so quickly when you have such a great base, and still ample muscle, under the “snow”. Fat is easy to add, but muscle takes longer to deteriorate than five months. I guess I felt a little like, “dude, really?!? Come on.”

    You might take that as a criticism, but it’s not really…just thinking that for those of us who have been down here wallowing in the trenches of obesity and feeling terrible for so long…that made it hard to relate. You know?

    I really do commend you on what you are doing – crazy, but brilliant. It just makes sense that someone who’s aim is to assist people in losing weight and becoming more fit be able to truly understand from where they are coming – physically, emotionally, mentally, and health wise. That being said, I am truly excited to have found your blog and I look forward to being inspired, getting tips, and more.

    One thing that I have a hard time with, and I will be interested in reading how you deal with this, is that since I was an athlete previously I do not know how to go from 100 lbs. over weight to fit again. I only know competitive training. It is easy to say start walking and then running, but I always end up pushing too hard and hurting myself because my brain is one place and my body is no where in the vicinity. I am also interested in seeing how you deal with the plateaus – those totally mess with me mentally and emotionally and have been a major source of set backs too. I get so frustrated between the plateaus and injuries that I have given up every time, which, being a “quitter” just adds to the humiliation, embarrassment, emotional pain, and inner disgrace.

    Here’s to hope!

    • Chere, I’m so with you! I gained back 15 lbs because of the plateauing and injuries…I’m so over it. I’m fighting my way back but it sucks!!! I want to know how he deals with plateaus too. I’m so excited to see it all

  • Drew,

    I think what ur doing is awesome. When you begin your journey from fat 2 fit, will you post a daily or weekly diet and exercise plan that you will do to reach your goal for those of us who would like to get fit with you and can follow along? I think it would be great motivation and inspiration.

    Good luck man. I will definitely be watching your progress.

    Rob

  • I’m eager for you to start your plan, I’d like to follow it unison. I used to be an athlete during my entire childhood and adolescent live, then I gradually lost motivation and an appreciation for my image and confidence. Overly indulging in poor eating patterns, day-to-day abuse of alcohol, as well as smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes a day will dig an abyssal trench to climb out from. Waiting for you to start, good luck.

  • I wish more people who aren’t over weight would take such an initiative just to see what the masses are talking about when it comes to addiction. I personally have been trying so hard to cut back on alot of things I literally grew up with like pop, pizza, fast food. but when it comes down to it, alot of the time the reason people are obese (At least in my case) Is because of money. Our family doesn’t do so well so the more calories we consume it wont be as horrible if we only eat maybe once a day it wouldn’t kill us because we couldn’t afford a meal. so with this journey I hope it becomes easy for you to get back to where you were. make sure you’re teaching the right habits to your children as well since you now have this addition knowledge to your arsenal!

  • I just found this website today off of Yahoo home page. I am encouraged and motivated by your story so far. I am a fat guy myself and did it over about 40yrs slowly. My biggest motivator for me do something was when I could not reach parts of my body with a normal motion or without a lot of effort. Since then I have lost 30lbs. I am however still 270. In the last 3 three weeks my wife and I have hired a personal trainer to make a difference, because what we were doing just was not working and we do not know enough to know what we need to change. I will be following this story to see how you make out. Good luck on your second half of you journey.

  • I just saw a link to your website on yahoo news. I plan on following your blog. I’m really wondering how this will turn out for you. I’m not sure it will be possible to both lose the weight and be just as lean as your were at the beginning of this. But I’ll see. I know you’ll try. From my experience exercize doesn’t work for weight loss, only diet.
    For most people I would say, “No way! Don’t do this!”, but in your case it’s different because of your purpose, to understand what it’s like to be fat, and understand what it’s like to try to lose the weight, and to help other people throught this. It’s a noble cause.
    Another thing I’m wondering is, will you be able to keep the weight off after you’ve lost it? I’ve lost weight before, it’s do-able, but keeping it off long term seems nearly impossible.

  • I feel like everybody else here. I use to be the skinny one in my family. Three kids and nursing school later, im the fat one. I am overweight, which makes me tired, which makes me depressed, which makes me more tired. It takes work and a very long prep talk to even get up to work out. I get surges of energy and motivation every now and a then, but quickly regress. I am going to watch your journey closely and follow EVERYTHING you do. You are an inspiration. TO SEE HOW QUICK IT WAS TO GO FROM FIT TO FAT was a shock to me. The normal food we eat everyday really does screw are bodies up and the cravings ARE awful! For me the biggest hurdles are 1)meal planning. I haven’t the faintest clue what the best meals are for me AND my children. Im really curious to find out how. 2) See how you exercise and for how long. Little tricks you will do. I think you will be shocked how hard it will be to move your new body- every move drains at your soul! Hopefully your body sees improvement – mine doesn’t. 3) motivation…how to retain it. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS UP FREE. that is the absolutely biggest thing. MONEY. everybody is hurting for money right now and can’t fork up the “three easy payments of $99.99″. – Your loyal follower: fatty to fit with u.

  • Drew – I am an overweight woman, over 100 lbs. I know what it is like to be healthy and thin, but the longer I stay away from a healthy lifestyle the harder it becomes to remember what a normal life it like. What I find inspirational about your story is how you have reminded me with your new experiences how horrible the food makes me feel. I have an addiction to food that I have been struggling with for years. It takes over again and again and when I’m in the food, I am blind to how much better I will feel when I break away from it. But when I’m in it, I can’t see the other side – the healthier side where my mind is clear, I can feel joy, and I have a life that doesn’t revolve around junk & quantity. I will keep following your story and I know you will be successful when it is time to turn your life back around. Thank you for a glimpse of what you are doing, because it helps me remember and accept what I am doing with the same unhealthful eating and lack of exercise. Your pictures alone, would not have told the story. It is your personal experiences and emotions that you have shared that speak to me. Thank you.

  • Drew,

    Awesome idea and I feel motivated to lose weight plus it is good entertainment.. Cant wait for the rest of the story

    Thanks,

    Patrick

  • Drew, Your featured story on yahoo peaked my interest. I am amazed by your transformation on all levels. It is frightening to see how quickly the body changes & adapts in this way. You are incredibly brave to take on this journey & admirable for doing it to better understand & help your clients. You are literally walking in the shoes of many. I enjoy the honesty & humor in your posts. I am particularly interested in the mental & emotional part of your experience. I haven’t had a problem with being overweight but I have been chubby and unfit. While I enjoy working out when I’ve gone consistently I frequently fall off track & it is very hard to get back to it. Usually at least a month passes before I try. My body composition changes & my clothes aren’t flattering. Mentally I beat myself up about this, my eating habits change for the worse -I’ve had a muffin for lunch on a bad day- I feel lethargic & lazy. I’ve had a day where if there isn’t anything appetizing or easy to make I won’t eat until my husband comes home & I have no choice but to cook dinner or eat with him. Well…all in all your journey is inspiring me. I need to regain control & start to feel better. Good luck to you as you continue!!!

  • Hi Drew, I just came across your story. I have to say I am impressed. I look forward to watching you kick your butt back into gear. Good luck. Im rooting for ya.

  • I just found your website! Wow! I think it’s great that you are going through this experiment. I was fit at 130 pounds, and after having 2 kids, I now weigh 190. Your blog sounds like my life now, and it has made me aware that I am tired and unmotivated because I’m carrying around all this extra weight. I will be watching your progress. Good luck! P.S. I’m hitting the gym tomorrow at 5am!

  • Oh another thing, to respond to chere. Its prob the pure shock of it all. I was skinny and gradually got fat. I can pick up a lot of weight still, but im used to the “blah” feeling.
    To drew: you are going to help thousands of people with this. Thousands of weight related diseases, people with depression and low self – esteem. Even suicidal from it. Thank you again. Don’t lose hope when trying to get fit again. You have solo many people rooting you on and yes even depending on you! You are amazing! Your loyal follower : fatty to fit with you.

  • I just found your website today via Yahoo, and I felt the need to say…you’re crazy!

    In all seriousness though, I commend you for this project you have taken on. I recently watched the majority of your videos and am catching up on your blog. It has been an interesting journey to watch thus far, and I’m sure even more so to live it.

    I am very excited to see the return journey to “normal” Drew from “lazy” Drew. I feel like it will be great motivation for many people, myself included. You truly are an inspiration, and if no one has said it yet, thank you!

    Twitter-@rynct

  • You are an inspiration to me and my whole family. My entire work is always talking about losing weight and new fad diets. I will tell everybody about you. This is gonna spread like a wild-fire, my friend! Get as much publicity as you can cause you are gonna save lives! How many people can say they single handedly did that? Not very many…you are ingenious. This is truly revolutionary!

  • You’re such an inspiration!
    I know how it feels like to be addicted to running and staying active. And having to stop all that–WOW! Bow down. I start to feel horrible when I don’t get the chance to run for five days straight. What more five months?

    Keep it up! A couple more weeks left. As for the new mountain dew addiction, I’m sure a guy like you will be able to get rid of it easily.

  • Drew,
    Awesome, I think this project of yours is inspiring. Five years ago, when my first daughter was born, I evolved to what you are today. I used to go to the gym 4 times a week, was in good (not great) shape. Had some muscle tissue on my arms and legs. Now I see that all turned into flab. The other day just holding my second born for about 15 min, my arms started to shake from the lack of exercise. Sad! I also have an age problem. I am no longer a young dude. I have started my aging process and I am fearing that I wont be able to get back on the training rutine as before, my metabolism isnt what it used to be. These five years of haytus are more damaging then I thought. I will try to get on the ball following you as you get back in shape.
    Thanks from all of us that are you now. Hopefully, we can copy you in the getting 2fit process.
    Jose

  • Drew,
    Thank you for doing this. I just found out about you and commend you on wanting to be able to understand thinking of overweight people. I am going to follow your lead for the back to fit six months! If you are willing to go through all of this just to understand the difficulties I and others are having with losing weight the least I can do is see where your journey will take “us”!

  • Thanks for your insights on the physical, mental and emotional tolls we place on our bodies when we visit “the darkside”. I’m a 51 years old single ex-athlete that has let my stuff go over the last 5 years. Just didn’t care but you’ve enlightened me to the fact that its a visious cycle (especially the head trips). Been doing the yo-yo no carb to all kinds of different programs, losing 21-25 lbs in a month or two but always gain it back when I start “cheating” again. I’m totally looking forward to your fat2fit blogs.

  • I love your website and blogs. It’s neat to watch someone attempt to indulge himself in the riches(food) of the average person.

    I’m a little concerned that lost in this experiment is the fact that you will be “reverting” to a lifestyle you have always known and understood. You have a wealth of knowledge concerning healthy foods, the body, and exercise. While it will take enormous amount of will power to resist cravings, you absolutely know what it takes to be in shape.

    How does a person that has spent an entire lifetime the exact opposite relate to that? Someone that has 0 knowledge of the correct foods, 0 knowledge of the body, and 0 knowledge of proper exercise; Someone that never has or may never have access to education and personal trainers.

    I look forward to the 2nd half of your journey!

  • I don’t know how to feel about this but I completely understand how it is to be tired lethargic and have no energy . I have struggled with my weight for years and after seeing the yahoo article i decided to check this out. I admire the fact that you are trying to understand both sides of the spectrum and hopefully you regain perfect health status . Good luck.

  • Hey man, just found your website, an I must say, this is truly inspiring to me. I am 6’0 an around 220lbs, so yeah, Im not in that great of shape… An for the longest time I thought I never could get out of it. But the fact that you are coming down(or up, if were talking about lbs) to our level means that its a mission that we can both meet at the same time. I want to get into a better, more healthier life style, an I think your fit2fat2fit plan can actually be the thing that pushes me to do it. So thank you.

  • I just found this sight i am an overweight U.S.Army dissabled VET and i dont eat a massive amount of food anymore but excersize is difficult for me. in the army i would need 3000-9000 callories a day to keep up with what i was burning off per day. after my injury ive had to battle with overeating to keep my weight under 275, i was 195 and i could leg press 1500lbs 10x and bench 300 10x and ran 5 miles every 2 days. you have a veary hard journey ahead of you and you have my compleate attn. good luck. and i plan on following this fat to fit. and see if there is anything else i can do along with you, thanks for your sacrifice.

  • Stay strong, fellow Drew. I have just caught onto this wonderful test you are up against and I admire your endurance. I seriously cannot wait for you to take on the toughest battle of your life, get back to your old self, and do it in style! There’s a six-pack waiting on the end of this rainbow for you, bro, and its not a malted beverage.

  • Hello Drew

    I was up checking my email and ran across an article about you. Wow !! I just got back from the store with a bag of food. I tried to make healthy choices but, the fact that I feel the need to eat at this time is really the problem. I look exactly like you with my shit off. I don’t feel sexy, and my health is poor… high BP and low testosterone levels. I just don’t feel connected to my body. In spite of that, I can’t seem to break this cycle of food addiction. Thanks for going through with this. I think this will have a huge impact on many people dealing with out of control eating and poor health. I’m really looking forward to the next part of your journey.

  • Hey Drew!

    Your experiment is very inspiring. As most of the other people who have commented, I’m also overweight (275lbs at 6 foot 1) and have been like this since childhood. Not the best thing for a girl. Growing up and being teased was hard and has definitely left me with a ton of self-conscious issues which I’m not sure if I’ll ever overcome. Nevertheless I haven’t managed to stick with a diet or an exercise routine for more than a few weeks. As I’m really impatient not seeing any quick results really makes all of my motivation disappear.

    I hope you all the best and that the following weeks will be easy for you. I liked the idea that someone suggested above that maybe you could start posting daily diet and exercise routine so we could follow your example. You could make a difference in the lives of many.

    All the best from Estonia (a small country in Europe),
    K

  • I think this is really cool! Your actually making yourself go through what an obese person goes through. I want to follow you now and get fit with you!

  • It’s crazy how, even after all this time, you still feel the bad side affects to such an extent. I eat crap all the time and the “guh” feeling after is hardly noticeable to me. Of course, you being healthy for so long before, I suppose it would take longer for you to get rid of that feeling than just six months. But just think: the big uphill is almost done!

  • I came across your website from Yahoo, what an amazing and inspiring challenge you are doing. I will definitely be watching the fat 2 fit part of your journey and joining you all the way from South Africa. Good Luck!

  • Like some others, I stumbled upon this from Yahoo. It’s quite interesting, but wow, is your BP really 161/113 at any given time? I am 6’0″ 379, I was 403, and with bp medication, I’m usually 120/80. I’ve gained 70 pounds since I lost 50 previously in a 10 week training contest. I think that was less shocking to my body than what you did to yours. I think your body is absolutely shocked. I would be scared to work out with such a blood pressure. Heck, I even feel nervous at the gym already. I also grew up being overweight so my fat cells went with me as I became an adult. I think it will be easier for you to lose this than someone who has always been overweight. Or most of the time. When I was 16, I went from 250 to 201, but it didnt last after I quit weight watchers. Then it just kept going. I’m having a hard time losing, doing 40 minutes cardio everyday and 30 minutes weights every other day while maintaining a 2200 calorie diet daily. But then again, I havent been able to measure my body fat. I’m sure I’m making strides. I hope you do it. Please get a physical before you begin working out again.

  • Oh, and hunger pains kill me too. At night, I cant sleep without some snack. Sometimes its small, sometimes its bigger. I try to do like some cottage cheese. It used to be pasta. But that changed. If you’re anything like me, being awaken at 4am by your stomach will be a common problem, if it’s not already. I think eating enough fiber has helped me considerably. All the best.

  • Drew,
    I just found out about your journey tonight (you’re on the front page of Yahoo!) and I have to say I think this entire project speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Destroying (even if temporarily) something you have spent your entire life building and maintaining has to be extremely difficult, and I applaud you for doing it to help you understand and better others. You’ve got yourself another follower and I can’t wait to see how the next 7 months turn out. Best of luck, hang in there man!

  • Drew, unfortunately I just heard about you, wish i could of known about this since day one, i myself am trying to lose weight, 6’2 currently at 205 lbs, I was at 218lbs in March. Its real hard trying to lose weight, i think disciplining yourself is the hardest think to do when trying to get back to shape. I hope by following your adventure I can get back to shape faster.

  • Lucky you’ll be going back from fat to fit but imagine some of us who have stated fat for years and the problems that come such as the skin rubbing on skin boils. You’re also lucky you seem to have a good life but many escape to processed foods and TV/net addiction due to have a crappy life they’ve lost the will to believe can change. Of course there are those in-between who might not be happy but could’ve made better choices in diet and exercise. I was physically abused by my parents and ritualistically raped by a level 2 sex offender when I was younger and I wanted to end my life like two of my siblings and one other relative BUT processed foods gave me such a high. I actually get aroused when I see certain food. Watching your challenge videos was like food porn to me.

  • I just saw your story on yahoo. I never check the front page but when I saw Fit2Fat2Fit, I’ll admit I was curious. I hope everything goes well weening off the sugar next month. I know how malevolent that sweet tooth can be sometimes.

    Keep up the hard work! I’m gonna sticking with you till the end and hopefully, i’ll get a few family members inspired along the way.

  • I think Drew is full of it…that belly looks fake. It doesn’t even jiggle or nothing. Lets see you slap it and move it around. Better yet jump up and down and exercise on film with it.

  • First, I have to say your blog is, above all else, inspiring. This is a whole new level of dedication in the field of personal training, and that’s coming from someone who’s had more than ten personal trainers over the course of her 41 years. Second, I don’t think you knew what you were getting yourself into. No one in their right mind would volunteer for six months of heroine or any other drug, to gain a better understanding. I have so much respect for you and everything you’ve experienced on this journey. Third, you’re hilarious and that’s coming from a Second City grad and former improv actor. I know you’re suffering right now, but you and your blog are knocking it out of the park. Your doctors would probably disagree, but I think this is pure genius. I became really fed up with young, fit personal trainers who had no clue what it felt like to battle sugar and fast food addictions, let alone what it felt like to haul around a bunch of extra weight. It can be an exhausting uphill climb, lasting months and months just to break free of the addictions. You’re redefining empathy, and I can’t wait to see your return trip to fit. ~Sheri

  • Thanks for taking the journey. Those of us having gone through a lifetime of yo-yo dieting and desperately turning to bariatric surgery understand how you can become so weak in such a short period of time. Now 10 years later I have little hope of lasting success following weight regain…and lost muscle to combat it. Do you have any fear of unknowingly setting up a yo-yo metabolism through this experiment? Have you had any mental health/medical support through the past six months? It would be interesting to know if you have experienced that portion of the journey others have endured..some for a lifelime. Praying for your transformational health and wellbeing. Aloha!

  • Props to you for putting yourself and your family through this experiment to realize that there is far more to weight loss than simply not wanting to exercise or enjoying ice cream a little too much. I would love if your success spawned a similar experiment, only with a single female to study the effects on her dating life. I think it is pretty obvious that slender is sexy in our culture and seeing the change in reactions from men as a very fit woman’s body drastically changes over a short amount of time would be a very interesting wake-up call. Any other trainer friends out there up for the challenge?

    I will keep checking on your site for updates. Best of luck!

  • I was a Marine many many pounds ago and I remember I used to have only 3% body fat. I am 6′ 2″ and have never looked as buff as you did I want to try your diet and work out routine to see if I can go from 255lbs to 190lbs or even 200 would be good. Thanks for doing this I really hope I can loose weight too.

  • Dear Drew,

    OMG! Reading your blog made me so, so sad (**tears) and more conscientious of myself (I hate my body image)! However, it also gave me so much hope to continue my current plan to become healthier. In the last decade or so, I have gained 80-90lbs, and I have tried so, so hard to get back on track. You are absolutely right about the emotional fluctuations… Wow, I feel like a big failure most of the time and I KNOW I cannot afford to continue living this way. My BP levels are not controlled without meds and I am sick of the meds and the side-affects from taking them. I need help!

    Your journey gives me some type of ‘life-line’ or hope, so I am ready to follow your journey back to fit. Currently, I am living and working outside the US (I am an expatriate). I miss the foods, even the packaged health foods from the US. It’s hard to get what I need here, but I am going to try so, so hard to do what I need to get my body moving and eating a much healthier diet. In 6 months, I want this weight gone as much as you do because I am ALWAYS TIRED. My back hurts not only from these uncomfortable beds here in China, but also due to the curvature of my spine (Scoliosis). I am way short (5’3″) for all this weight I am carrying so I will be following you.

    I know that now you can understand what it’s like for me to attempt to exercise with 90lbs on me, but I will do all I can to keep up with the routines you post on your site, along with the foods you eat. There’s no ‘protein mixes’ where I am so please give alternatives if you decided to use the mixes as part of your menu plan. Whatever I can afford to have my family send, I will purchase from the US, but please know it’s a long shot. I will do my best to eat lots of fruits and veggies as they are plentiful here, but other things, I will need substitutes or recipes to make them.

    I feel confident that you will be helpful to me and I appreciate all that you are doing to help understand the life of an obese adult or child. Thanks with all my heart and all the best to you, Drew!

  • Drew,
    What you have decided to do in a way makes me feel grateful, because you are actually putting yourself in the shoes of an obese person. I have been overweight all my life and I was the fat one in my family and recently i noticed my 2 brothers gaining weight. seeing this terrified me since I know what it’s like to feel out of breathe by just speed walking a small distance, and all the confidence that you lose because others judge you and the worst judge of them all is yourself. I have recently decided I HAVE HAD IT!! I will be enrolling at a gym near by and changing the way I eat and getting rid of all this weight that has stolen so many many moments from my youth. I am only 18 years old standing at 5’5 weighing in at over 300 lbs and I will stop at nothing until I and my siblings are at a healthy weight for our age and height and living a healthy life. I am glad I came across your website and I wish you the best of luck on your journey back to the happier and healthier you.

  • Hi Drew, I have just learned of your story and think you are extreme and nuts LOL but Bold and brave at the same time. You will gain so much more than you sought out for.. I believe. To want to have more understanding and empathy for those out of shape to Prove it can be done…fit 2 fat 2 fit is amazing. You are doing it already. Inspiring others!! I have my story too. I am a Navy Seals daughter and had high physical expectatins my whole life. I became a high powered aerobics queen and personal trainer. Fitness was my life and I loved being a gym rat. After marriage though I got out of shape after my second daughter. I suffered 2 herniated discs and did epideral injections of steroids. I puffed up like a balloon fish. Then got pregnant again…for the last time with our son. Needless to say he is almost 4 now. God did heal my pains and I have been able to workout, eat healthy Cleanse my body of the chemicals from built up toxins due to all the pain meds. It took me a very long time and quite a few “phases” of “progress then relapses” with self control and discipline. Im not as tight and muscular like I used to be before kids and my injury…but I feel leaner. I hated the bending over the most when I was fat. Ha! I was 164 now Im 124 and only 5’2″. Once you start to lose the weight and feel good again…..you do everything possible to not allow yourself to slip backwards to that far obese lazy place you are now “ever” again. No offense intended just being truthful having come out on the other side from Fit2 Fat 2Fit myself. I wish you the best….It is hard work but its Fun too…right! Take care, Cat

  • Wow. You’ve taken on quite a task. I don’t expect that it will be easy for you to lose all that you gain within six months. I started out 230 lbs overweight and joined a martial arts school, something I absolutely love (lost 30 lbs on my own before joining) and now I am 10 lbs short of 100 lb mark…it’s been almost 2 years. I still battle fat foods and cravings, after the “honeymoon” period and plateaued for 8 months. I suggest you change your workout routine and diet after three months with the goal to shock your system to lose weight, that is if you happen to plateau. What you are doing is awesome. Can’t wait to see your results!

  • Drew, thank you for putting yourself in the position of someone who has to go through the daily struggle. I commend you because you have gained, and will yet gain more, understanding. I love your serious yet sarcastic blog approach. I’ve been obese since I can remember and have, with my busy schedule (working 8-5, running my own business part time, volunteering), I’ve become more obese, even though I have “fitness spurts”. Anyway, I’m definitely following you on Twitter and wish you the best in this monumental challenge!

  • Drew I just learned about what you are attempting, and i couldnt be happier! Im a fellow fluffy brother and ive tried it all. Luckily I was in sports my whole life so weighing 285 isent too bad. I still play my regular sports and stuff, but i need to loose this weight! I’ll be following you along the way! Thanks alot Drew YOUR THE MAN! lol

  • I guess that when you have been overweight your whole life, the physical difficulties aren’t so much difficulties but more like the norm. You start noticing how much easier it gets when you lose weight and think in retrospect, but I do agree on the emotional and mental aspects of losing the weight. Losing weight makes you gain confidence like crazy, makes you a happier person and those physical activities you took for granted, like tying your shoes or walking up the stairs without losing your breath, become easier to do! I have lost 41 lbs and am still 60 lbs away from my goal weight, but I will keep going hard and losing the weight!

  • Hey Drew

    Just stumbled upon your site while reading a croatian newspaper. People also know you in Europe now :)
    Your journey is inspiring man…To gain so much weight, just to see how it is to be fat and then lose it again..just perfekt for people like me, i also was like 79KG when i was working out, but then gained weight and till today still weigh 115KG…I started working out now, but the nutrition ist the most important, and that’s what i’m lacking on. Thank god i found your website and i can do the training like you do it..

    Wish you the best dude!

    God bless and take care.

    Ivan

  • Okay so I was on Yahoo earlier today and saw an article about a personal trainer making himself obese on purpose. I had been debating hitting the gym today. On Tuesdays I normally go in the morning but due to other things going on I had to postpone it till later in the day. Well when the evening came I was tired and knew I should go but was seriously considering calling it a night. However, after reading that short article. I was motivated enough to get up and just go! Laziness and tiredness aside. I think you are doing a very great and noble thing for all those people who are overweight. It is a struggle! For the most part, I had always been relatively thin but then I began gaining some serious weight. It got to the point where I was 185lbs! and only 22yrs old. It was ridiculous and I hated how I looked. Very discouraging too. I just turned 24yrs and I have lost about 40lbs. I want to get my body to its natural stage but it is not easy. It is so much easier to gain weight and so much harder to lose it! I want to lose another 25lbs but these are more difficult to shed. I know that the main issue is my eating. I have to improve and change that because it’s the main problem, not the exercise. I exercise 4-5 times a week, doing weight training and cardio. Hate the cardio but love the weights especially free weights. My goal is to be fit, not necessarily skinny but toned and fit. You are a great inspiration. Putting yourself through that, I can only say I admire you and in behalf of many many others I also want to thank you. Best wishes and I will definitely keep checking your posts especially when you begin your journey back to being fit. Like I said I still need to shed some pounds off and lose that weight is harder than originally. And what better way than following the advice from a personal trainer who personally knows the struggles of being overweight and trying to lose it. Once again thanks Drew. Thanks for being a great inspiration.

  • WOW what can i say…. even though your a man…. and i am a woman…i can relate… I am the heaviest i’ve ever been in my life time and i am only 21….. i just read all of your blogs and i am like in awe of how your doing this to understand why “we” (meaning people overweight) have a really hard time stop eating. I am at a point in my life where i am uncomfortable in every aspect about myself….i don’t fit in anything anymore… i don’t feel beautiful anymore and i feel like my boyfriend is going to start feeling bad about me. I have lost 17 pounds but because i was weight 220 it doesn’t seem like a big difference in my body. I am totally rooting for you…. your a total inspiration for me and I feel like now i know i can get the body i want to have because hey if you went from fit to fat and are planning to be fit again…. i can do it too GOD BLESS!!! :)

  • Hello there,
    First off i want to give you props on being so brave for putting your body into this situation. I’ve been following your updates on your weight. I want to thank you for putting through this because I myself is overweight and this is motivation to work out and keep fit. I was just wondering, how are you going to feel when you see stress marks? I know even if one lose weight, stress marks will still be visible.
    Keep up it man.

  • I want to stop and sincerly thank you for what you are doing. As I read this page I began to cry. It’s not easy to find personal trainers who have actually been in our shoes ( fat ppl). It’s difficult for me to relate to personal trainers because many times I don’t feel they can realate to my story. Many of them have never even been fat. What I think is most important about what your doing is that you are also teaching your daughters to lead by example. Your teaching them to put that they can be considerate of others when they place themself in others shoes. Being fat comes with diffrient emotions and you are not the worst father of the year. I loved to read your story, and I would love for you to be my personal trainer. :)

  • Hope you can come back successfully. I read about your story on Yahoo, and was immediately interested. My mom was morbidly orbese, and then got the gastric bypass surgery. It’s been seven years, and she steadily gains weight becuase she can’t get past her addictions/emotional associations with food. I also LOVE sugar so I know what it can be like.
    What about fat cells never going away? Do you think it will make it impossible to get back to where you were?

  • Drew,

    Interesting what you are doing here. One thing, if during your fat2fit stage, you are not working full time sedentary job, then this entire experiment is meaningless to me. Most people who are overweight are too busy with just living their life to dedicate enough time to getting in shape. This is NOT a point to be overlooked in your experiment. Your aim should be to show others that they can lose weight and get very fit even if they only can only afford to dedicate a short amount of time out of their hectic schedules to exercise.

  • Ok you are seriously my hero. I finally feel like I can relate to a person who may teach me to get fit and be healthy. I never even want to work out with other people because I’m afraid they will be frustrated by how out of shape I am. I don’t even remember what it feels like to have high energy and NOT be too lazy to make a sandwich. That is my life and I’ve grown very used to it. I’m glad you understand these challenges. You are doing an amazing job, and documenting this is going to be something great to look back on. I am rooting for you! Perhaps also because it’s helping me to root for myself.

  • Hey Drew when I saw this story on Yahoo I was super excited to see exactly what this was all about. Being a woman in my mid twenties I have always struggled with my weight. I watched as my Mom did crash diets, yo-yo diets, and bizarre radical ones also. This essentially caused me to become very self conscious about my weight. It’s nice to see that you are taking time out of your life to understand the different struggles that people overweight deal with. Many tend to think of people who are on the heavier side as being simply lazy or slobs but this is not the case at all in many people I have come to learn. I recently had my first child and within 7 weeks I have lost almost 50 lbs. Granted it sounds wonderful but it was work! it’s a daily struggle but I intend on going strong and keeping up my efforts! Your story truly is an inspiration and absolutely refreshing to hear. Thank you so much for helping so many people with your journey! Good luck in these next few months!

  • Drew,
    I actually know how you feel. I hurt my back in May of last year from of all things exercising, doing squats. I cracked a bone in my spine which was due to my lack of vitamin D, but thats another story in itself. Nonetheless my doctor told me that it would heal on its own if i did absolutley nothing, just rest and let it heal. So i did just that. Couldnt go to work for 3 months so i just sat around at home, did light work around the house and ate very unhealthy. Like you i felt i had a “pass” to do just that. Well in 3 months i went from 235lbs to 255lbs. This made me feel like crap. I can trully understand some of your comments about nothing fitting right, having a hard time bending over to tie your shoes, clipping toe nails, etc,. I am happy to say that once i got the green light i got back in the gym and started eating healthy again. Grilled chicken with lots of green vegetables, salads and lots of water. No sodas, sugar, bad carbs like white bread, white rice, chips, etc,. I am now down to 225lbs and feel great. I felt like crap with a 20 lb weight gain so i can only imagine how you feel right now. I cant wait for you to start back to getting healthy again. I look forward to following your progress and feeling great about yourself. What a difference it makes!! No luck needed, obviously you know what it takes. I just hope this inspires thousands of people to eat healthier, exercise more and live longer. Look forward to seeing your progression from someone who has lived it.

    Adam/Austin TX

  • Drew,
    I do not normally leave comments on blogs but I am so very inspired by you, Drew. What you have journeyed into (and eventually out of) has made me want to actually make some positive changes with ME…I am morbidly obese (375 lbs) and although I’m only 40, I feel as though I move like I’m an 80 year old woman. I don’t want to be 80 yet. I want to feel like the champion soccer player that I was when I was in high school. I want to sweat for the right reasons; not because I am gasping for air as I reach the top of the stairs. I want to buy clothing at a regular ol’ store, not at the FAT GIRL CLOTHING websites. I want to feel proud to be me. I want to know that I am not embarrassing my daughter or my husband because I have quit caring about ME. I want to begin a journey, too. Thank you for inspiring me. (I’m now going to throw away the beef jerky that I was eating before stumbling across your story on Yahoo.) :) Blessings to you, my friend!
    Jenn

  • Drew,
    I just found your story on yahoo and I am now in tears. I am 305 lbs, and I was once a model. Yes, model. My gorgeous 23 year old husband is married to me- 33, horribly obese and it is a constant strain on our marriage. He and I have been walking, eating healthier and my weight is NOT going down. It went up. =( My heart is shattered. My husband is terrified for my health and he is scared for me. I am having heart issues, I am borderline diabetic ( seriously, it is BAD), and my feet hurt CONSTANTLY bc of the weight I am. I want to walk, but the pain is so great that I cannot walk long. I grab onto furniture to take pressure off of my feet bc the pain is so great when I walk. We want to have a baby and I am in no way ready healthwise and I am not getting younger. My husband married me “fluffy” and I have always felt infeior bc he is fit and I am like the female pillsbury dough girl. I have a 12 year old with autism and I tell her to not be like me. when she trieds to over eat I tell ehr I don’t want her to look like me when she gets older and that is WHY I encourage her to be healthy. I know what happened to me and I thought I would always be slender. My weight never fluctuated til i had her. then i gained 90 lbs. My comfortable weight is 162 and I’m 305. God help me. =( I have acid reflux issues CONSTANTLY. I read it can lead to cancer. I am FREAKING out. I eat tums like they are M & M’s. I get headaches. My teeth are now decaying. I am falling apart. I once had braces, perfect teeth, and a curvy body that was healthy and fit. I want to wake up from this nightmare and unzip the back of my body so i cna slip out of this fat suit. this is not me!
    I never thought this would happen to me. I have a pretty face still, though I have a growing bulge under my chin I try to hide in pics. I am huge. My husband is now convinced i am going to die on him. I am NOT kidding. He just increased the life insurance we have on me as all of the proof I needed to know he is genuinely scared. He is slender, and a firefighter. We eat the same things, and I stay HUGE. it is causing a huge strain on our marriage. I was once …so very different. I felt beautiful. Not now. I have no energy. I see my reflection and I am so big now. I once had the tiniest waist. I am scared. I don’t want to die. I can feel my heart skipping beats. I am tired of my feet hurting. Having no energy. I want SO badly to lose this weight, and be ME again.I know what you mean when you say you want the old Drew back. I promise you, the cravings will never go away. Once you know what you are missing, you will Always miss it. No matter how much you desire to be healthy…food is a drug. an addiction. I want to do this with you. I want to get fit. My life depends on it. I will tolerate the pain, if I have to place a wash cloth in my mouth to tolerate the intensity I know will be there. So be it. I honestly wish you were here so we could train together. I’m scared to do this alone with no trainer. Cannot afford one. I need help, like so many. I am going to keep up with your blogs. I know you don’t know me, but in my heart I want to do this with you. I hope others out there join me, and join you in taking a stand for our lives- for our spouses- for our children. God bless you Drew for having the courage to do what you do. If you change just one life out there, it was worth it. I pray I cna be at least 1 life altered permanently by your journey. I am praying for the strength to do this with you…

  • Hi Drew; I want to say what you are doing takes alot of guts (literally). I am a carb junkie…when stressed I lean toward my carbs which include mostly cereal but not necessarily the sugared up kind..more fiber with doses of Agave Nectar which they say helps sugar spikes. But I can eat alot of cereal. I think in part managing your stress level makes a huge difference the foods you “crave” Less stress equals better food management. But it is a vicious cylce as you feel stressed being overweight…so you feel comforted at least temporarily by some pre-packaged carb induced product. Do you think they like us in food coma…unproductive, low energy drones? I have been going to the gym in the last month for 3-4 times a week…strickly cardio for about 1 hour. It has made a difference mentally..you feel more in control of yourself and the outcome of your body. The eating part is more challenging…I empathize with what you are going through. It is a mental hang-up and you will find yourself quickly by going back to your old routine..you need alot of support and by the looks of your followers you have that. Thank you for trying to see it from an overweight persons point of view…We think we are stuck like this…and the truth is it is a choice we have to be willing to make to get healthy, motivated and energized by good foods, exercise and happiness….I want to say good-bye to size 14 and hello 10′s again… it is only about 30 lbs to get their…but it seems like more….Be well, be strong and believe….you have every tool and then some to be the lean mean Drew again!

  • Drew,
    I love that you are doing this. I was 247 now I’m 185. It has taken me two years to lose. I have started going to a gym. But when your new at gym all the different gym equipment is Intimidating. I can’t wait to read how you eat to lose your weight and to hear details about the gym and your workout. I hope you mention what women could do as well at the gym as I will try to keep up with your journey. I’m 47 and watching how strong and lean some of the women are there makes this a goal for myself. My husband is very fit and your right about not being in shape affects your partner. Thank you for doing this and good luck.

  • Drew,
    I found youyr website while browsing yahoo news today. During my child hood and thru my 8 awesome years in the military and a few years after I had ZERO problems with weight. I could hope on a scale and tell you I would weigh 176lbs and more often than not I was dead on. However job careers changed, got married to an awesome wife, and have a great job now sitting at a desk writing software for the Sheriff’s department. Problem is I am now 240, and am by all rights Obese. I have hunger pains all day long, and cant find energy, and mentally feel like dog-doo.
    Last night I got with a work associate, and he is training for the Batton Death March Marathon, a memorial marathon march of 26.2 miles thru the sandy desert, I decided that I would train with him. Unfortunatly I cannot go on the marathon due to family plans, I will be training along side of him. I am going to be checking this site often to follow you on your progress back to FIT, while I myself attempt to get back down under 200lbs. And perhaps the next year I can do the marathon. You are inspiring, and I hope that we will both attain our goals.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Drew, I admire your self challenge. I used to pretty fit. Then, a few broken bones, kids, my business, herniated disc, planter fasciitis, and being 46. My metabolism just isn’t kicking in. I eat approximately 1800 calories a day, swim laps, walk when my back lets me, and lift very infrequently, my back won’t let me do much. I’m very interested in how you lose the weight. I do believe your metabolism will help you a great deal. Also, the lack of restrictions son’t hurt either. But I will be following. Need all the help I can get.
    Todd

  • Drew,

    I’ve been following your journey and at first thought that it would be an easy one for “such a fit guy”. But you now feel the mental and physical issues that I feel every day. It’s not a good feeling… I plan on working alongside of you in your journey from Fat 2 Fit. I hope that you post what you eat, how often and what exercises you do to get fit again. I also hope that you take into consideration that most “fat” people that haven’t worked out their entire lives can’t just jump into a workout routine. With your back ground, it will be somewhat easier for you to get back into the groove. So, if you would please take it easy on yourself and the ones of us that will continue to follow you. I wish you luck in your marriage, fatherhood and your journey back to being fit.

    Richard

  • Wow! An incredible journey. I appreciate that you wanted to see what it was like for other people. Can’t wait to see the journey back. You will end up a much better, more compassionate trainer and person for it.

  • I’m not as fit as you were but pretty close to it. I’ve never been fat but hear it all the time of how awful it is. I would never do what your doing, I’m excited about following your fat2fit stage. Best of luck to you!

  • I find what you are doing really amazing because I don’t think that anyone who works out on the regular can understand how hard it is to turn around and start working out and eating right just like that. I was wondering whether you are going to have daily posts of what you eat and what kind of workouts you are doing up online? I have been trying to motivate myself to lose 30 pounds for a while now but I feel like if I can keep up with someone it would motivate me more to do it.

  • Hi Drew! I found reading about you and what you’re doing absolutely fascinating!
    As someone who has always been overweight, since being a child, I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced what it’s like to be fit rather than fat. Unti I was 18, my age was how much I weighed in stones. 8 stone at the age of 8, 15 stone at the age of 15, etc. I got married at 19 and managed to stay at 18 stone, then had two babies and ended up 21 stone 3lbs at the age of 21. I’ve done a variety of different diets over the last 6 or 7 years and haven’t gone over the 21 stone mark again. I joined a gym three weeks ago, and have been goin three times a week and hopefully I’ll be able to stick at it and eat better in order to break the curse and become healthy. I’m going to keep coming back and seeing how you’re doing with the Fat to Fit part… Just reading that you’re going to do it is inspiring. For as long as I can remember, people have always said I’ve “got such a pretty face, if only you weren’t so big! You’d be beautiful!” I’ve never known what it’s like not to be big, so I have no comparison, and it’s hard to motivate myself by remembering what it was like before putting weight on. I’m looking for encouragement wherever I can find it. I’m sure it’ll take me longer than 6 months, but hopefully one day, I’ll be fit too.

  • Wow! I’m seeing this for the first time today. I think what you are dong is amazing because most people that have been fit their whole life don’t completely understand what an overweight person goes through. I will continue to follow your progress, and can’t wait for your “fat” stage to be over. It’s gong to be great to see someone like you, with all that knowledge, show us how to do it. Thank you Drew!

  • Greetings

    Hi. Drew, I am Mohammed (Environmental Trainer) from the UAE.

    I stumbled upon this article about you and your fitness expedition.

    From one kind of trainer to another, I highly applaud and commend you on your inspiring journey. Very respectable. I am sure this will give you a greater insight and open new horizons of understanding to better work with your clients and as you put ‘your followers’.

    I look forward to your input on the meal plans and exercise pattern on your return 2Fit, and your results and observations. I shall share this with myself, my family, friends, and whomever.

    You are tackling one of 6 aspects of wellness or the state of well-being :)

    Sincere Regards,

    Mohammed

  • I’m also a PT (however, not as fit nor as smart as you were/are) and, quite simply, I’m going to be in tears if you come anywhere near your physique of 5 months ago since it would be the most awe inspiring demonstration in the history of fitness.

    Please be safe Drew. You might have the buring desire to lose the weight and stimulate and regain some lost muscle. But I think a catch-22 exists: Your brain might tell your body what you want it to do, but an unhealthy body will be subborn as hell.
    I’ll be sure to tune in when you appear on the Tonight Show.

  • I’ve been reading through your site after seeing a news article about it on yahoo. Although your food challenges are a bit extreme in nature (I am fat, but can’t eat more than 3 or 4 pieces of fried chicken or 3 doughnuts without feeling like I’m going to hurl), I am glad that you get to see what being fat feels like. I have noticed that your challenges involve gorging (how much one eats at one sitting), but the real fat pounds come from grazing slowly at food or sugary drinks all through the day. I think I’d like to see you do a challenge that lasts, instead of one day, or one meal, one that lasts one week. One week of eating two large meals (most overweight people skip breakfast, and then eat more at lunch and dinner), and then snacking on candy bars, pop tarts, sugar-based sodas, etc., in the hours between your meals. Also, try eating some really sweet stuff just before bed. Have 3 brownies and some almond milk about an hour before you turn in. I live in the South, and, instead of soda, we tend to drown ourselves in sweet tea. I suggest trying drinking that (trust me, you can drink a LOT more tea than soda as the carbonation tends to make you feel full.)

    Sweet Tea
    Just take a large pot of boiling water , add two family style tea bags to it, 2 cups of sugar and stir. Let cool for about a half hour and remove the tea bags. Stir and pour into some pitchers filled with ice. Serve.

    Another food challenge you might try is one from my childhood. I am half-Slovak and my Grandmother would make this dish every summer when we would have an abunance of garden lettuce from our garden. In Slovak, it’s called Squackie and Shelata (my spelling might be off), or Lettuce and Bacon.

    Take a bunch of garden lettuce and wash it, pat it dry. Set off to the side.

    Take a pound of bacon and fry it up really crisp in a pan. Remove bacon and leave grease in the pan. Take 2-3 tablespoons of flower and mix in with the bacon fat. Add milk (I know you are lactose intolerant, so use whatever is the equivalent of 1/2 to 1 cup of whole milk) and stir until you have a grey-brown rue. Let thicken and then crumble bacon back into thickened mixture. Pour over lettuce and stir. Serve.

    Although this might sound disgusting (my sisters credit this dish with them being able to eat an entire leaf of lettuce without chewing), you can convince yourself and try to convince your wife of its merits by saying that you are eating a “eastern european” salad.

  • I just read about what you are doing on the internet today. I have done some pretty extreme things to lose weight including surgery, I never really get healthy or fit. I remain terrified of the gym and being around fit or athletic people. What you are showing me is that you guys are human too. I really hope you don’t have any health problems from this but you will be a much better trainer after walking a mile in your clients shoes, many miles. I think you are seeing that the weight itself is only a small part of the disease of obesity. I wish you much luck. I hope that your wife is keeping a journal too, it would be interesting to know what it is really like for someone’s partner. I hope you are considering putting your whole journey into a book later on. Best Wishes to you and your family.

  • Drew,
    Wow I wish I lived close enough to you to join up with you during the “get fit” stage… I am 6′-1, 46yrs old & 238lb!

    I started my efforts to regain my physic yesterday and made the typical mistake of pushing myself too hard, finding myself breathing heavy and shockingly weezing while trying to recover from the 1.5mile treadmill walk/jog . . . going to the doc today as I fear the damage is done and now Im more depressed then I have ever been!

    Wishing I had a work-out buddy “male” to bond with and make the journey with

    Good Luck to you, heres hoping your journey to being fit isnt as hard as mine appears its going to be!

  • I’m not usually one to add my two cents but WOW! This is great that you are putting yourself “in our shoes”. I’ve got 50-60 pounds to lose and I really identified with your water softner comment!…it’s as though I wrote it. When you start your 2fit phase, please offer exercises that are low impact for the knees…mine are pretty bad…maybe they’ll improve once the weight drops but initially it is not really an option. I live in the Chicago area so providing a host of indoor exercises would be helpful for those of us in “winter country” during the next 6-months. If you can do it, then I can do it.

  • Really looking forward to seeing you go back to fit, you are where I have been for the last couple of years, after my son was born stopped going to the gym and have fleeting moments when I want to go back, but starting from square one, again, is very off putting. Also looking forward to seeing your dietary changes and how to eat, I do think that is the major problem. I know I have no idea how to eat, when to eat, etc. Thanks for doing this!

  • Hey Drew – I’ve been following your story for a few weeks now and will be continuing to follow you over the next few months on your journey back to fit.

    From a personal level, I know how hard it is to go from active to overweight very quickly. Growing up I was always relatively fit – not 6 pack fit, but healthy. A few years ago, my thyroid went kaput and I gained 40 pounds in less than 6 weeks! It was devastating to me emotionally, mentally and physically.

    After a few months of wallowing in my own misery, I realized I wanted my healthy image back – both in my head and on the outside. It took a lot of mental strength and emotional support from loved ones particularly my husband, to get back on track. Now, I’ve lost the weight and have entered the fitness industry (as a PT, Fitness Nutritionist and Zumba Instructor) to help others struggling in a similar situation. Having the experience of being overweight has given me SO much insight that I’ve used to help others – and I hope you’re able to use this experience in your future too

    Anyways – after all that rambling, this is what I really wanted to share. It is going to be hard to drop that weight, your body is going to fight back and want to keep that weight on, you’re going to need to rely on your friends and family to help you in the next phase of your journey when your strength is lacking – but it IS possible to turn your life around again.

    You’re going to be a great example for your clients and I’ll be following your journey over the next few months. Try to stay positive over the next few weeks and you’ll make it through this!

  • Hey Drew-

    I am inspired by your story and your journey. I have never been in the shape that you were however, I was close. But, I didn’t want to have such a strict diet anymore and the past 3 months have been quite the offseason for me.

    While I have maintained by workout regimen, I have still managed to put on 25 pounds of mass (basically eating what I want). The results are relatively solid in terms of muscle mass. My friends and family are commenting on how big I look but to me, I just want to go back to being lean again. While I haven’t taken it to the level that you have, I do get the ridiculous cravings for the foods that I never used to eat and it is hard to just cut it out cold turkey.

    But, I have a solution. I was a follower of paleo before my mass gain offseason and I am going back to paleo to really kick it in gear. Yes, many use the holidays as a time to gain, but my season is now! And, for the rest of my life. I know it will be more difficult to lose the weight especially metabolically speaking but it will all be worth it in the end. Keep up the good work! You are inspiring thousands by doing what you are doing!

    Paul

  • I stumbled on this by “accident” of which I think there is no such thing in this case :) I’m so encouraged by what you’re doing. I have tried many times at the gym to work w/ trainers, often so discouraged when they feel it necessary to point out that I’m out of shape, that’s why you can’t do that. Its frustrating to hear have someone who is SO in shape point out the obvious reason I’m there…if they only knew how long it took ME to come to terms w/ myself to even get INTO the gym. The sad thing to me, is that I’m out of shape and SLIGHTLY overweight for my height…it makes me question what they say to people who are obese that they work w/ and how THEY feel!

    I have so much respect for you doing this. The power you will have to empathize w/ people that you work with will have more impact than you could possibly imagine. My prayers are w/ you and your family, as I know what affect weight gain has on a marriage, even when you know it’s only skin deep. I hope in the long run this strengthens your marriage and your role as a father. I’m enjoying following your journey and look fwd to the results :) . THANK YOU!!

  • Sir,
    Thank you for doing this, I hope you figure it all out and get through this with everything better then you started. From my point of view what you are doing is the only way to help overweight people like me. I have never been really fit that I recall, I have always been kinda lazy. Your journey that I will now follow will hopefully show people like me how to change. You have decided to walk the talk.
    Thanks,
    Dan

  • this is very interesting to me. i hope it all works out well for you. of course…. you should try working in a burger joint 12 hours a day…. not about to bring healthy food (there’s a freezer, but no microwave or any employee break room.) and only having 30 minutes for a break. 90% of the time, it’s easier and cheaper to get the 50% off on the timecard and just eat the food there. then, of course, add children that need all of your free time (being a single parent) and a gym that doesn’t have childcare hours condusive to said single parent’s schedule. working 12 hours a day with 1 day off a week… getting home and all you want to do is crash…. able to eat only 1 meal a day. these are everyday struggles for people.

    good luck to you and i hope you can find a solution to these kinds of things…. since i have yet to find one.

  • I would love to see an actual documentary of this whole journey. Hope you have lots of video. I am inspired. I am on the road to trying to be more fit. The food cravings and choices seem to bog me down and are the hardest part. I do well, then I do not so well. Up and down, up and down with food cravings. So I am really interested in following your fat to fit part of the journey.

    How many of out there want to do this simultaneously with Drew??? I know I do. Can’t wait to see the food side of the diaries.

  • At least you still have your sense of humor!

    I think what you’re doing is amazing. I am actually both amazed and a little revolted at the same time. ;) It’s like a car wreck…you just can’t look away. No doubt this experience will change your life and the lives of thousands of others. I think the problem is that people fall into habits, and it’s difficult to know what to eat and what to do to effectively workout. There are just SO many options.

    I will keep reading (mainly because you’re hilarious), and because it’s oddly fascinating. :)

  • The biggest thing I have found after returning from a serious ankle injury 2 years ago this Feb. Is the weight is not coming off as fast at is did in my 20′s or 30′s. I am close to where I was before the injury but the weight has remained the same. I am looking forward to watching how it works for you, I am in my 40′s.

  • I just found your site and your story. I cannot say I am proud that you are making this journey because I don’t like seeing you go through the same emotional and physical challenges that I have being overweight. I have delt with my weight for more than 16 years and find time to exercise difficult as a busy of three children. I would love to work with you to accomplish my goals of becoming fit. It is hard to believe that 20 years ago I was a long distance swimmer and now I am over 100 lbs overweight. Depressing!

    Thank you for your story!

  • Hey Drew keep up the good work. This will benefit alot of people including myself. This is my first time to this site (got here via yahoo)and my question is when is the deadline? Is it the end of this month and also will you list the meals and workouts that you will do?

    regards
    5’11 264lbs

  • I have to say that I am amazed at your discipline in doing this grueling journey. I would have quit just weeks into it. I can’t imagine what your wife is going through either. I am really pulling for you to be strong the last month, complete the fit 2 fat aspect, and then destroy the fat! Good luck, this has been an awesome blog to follow.

  • Hey Drew,
    I actually heard about your website the day before I was about to start the fad HCG diet. I’m a 33 year old former water polo player who actually likes working out. However, with the stresses of a high-pressure job and a promotion almost a year ago, I’ve gone from working out 4x a week to 0x a week. Needless to say my diet has gone out the window as well. The result? I’ve gone from 210lbs/34 inch waist to 260lbs/44 inch waist in the last 11 months. My ego about how heavy I am and how weak I know I’ve become has kept me from hitting the gym (which I continue to pay for, by the way.) I just thought you should know that I will be starting your Fat2Fit plan with you and will follow it verbatim. Since I’m 6’0 and similar in size to you,I think this could be the perfect way to get back in shape. For added pressure, I’m planning a trip to Mexico next May where I can debut my new “beach body.” Thanks for all the guidance.

  • Hello Drew,

    I’ve only taken notice of you today. What you’re doing is very inspiring.

    I myself indentify a lot with what you’re going through right now.

    What you should consider on doing, was, once you start the “get 2 fit” journey … to detail what you’re doing and the plan you’re following.

    I feel eager to go along your side and become fit during those 6 months as well.

    Are you planning on detailing what you’ll be doing on your journey like the plans and such?

    I bet a lot of us would follow you.

    Thanks

  • I have to give you a lot of credit! It is amazing to me that you care so much about the problems of obesity and being overweight that you are willing to experiment with your own body. Surely you will have the first hand experience of both extremes (fitness and overweight) to be able to communicate with people in ways that they understand. Few (if any) people understand what it is like to experience both extremes of fitness; the emotions, difficulties, and rewards.

  • I will continue to follow your journey. All of the issues you describe are EXACTLY what I feel. I am a 29 year old mom of 2 and am a whopping 195 lbs at 5’2″. I don’t see the horrendous image in the mirror I expect to see with those numbers but I see it in pictures. I try about once a month to change my life. I try to eat well and to find time to exercise and when I do I am AMAZED at how much of a difference I feel. I have seen both sides of this coin and know which I prefer. Unfortunately, I continue to go back to the unhealthy lifestyle that is so incredibly easy to live. I am hoping that your story (already inspiring) will help me see how easy it is to live a healthy life style which I love so much.

  • Hello Rob, I came across this blog while logging into my yahoo account at work. To see what your doing is amazing. I am hoping that when you begin the Fat 2 Fit stage, you will keep a DETAILED weekly blog of exactly what your shopping for, eating and amount of exercise. Also I was curious if you have a “9-5″ job. I think many people who do things like what you are doing do not add the fact that while at work for most of the day, we are limited to the amount of time we can spend in the gym when we factor in family time and jobs. So if you could be detailed with your going from fit to fat,it would be like having a work out buddy! Thank you for everything you are doing.

  • This is an amazing journey your on. I too have done something similar to this and its crazy to see the results it has. I lost nearly 50 pounds two years ago and since moving back to my hometown and getting married, I have gained all back. I’m doing exactly what your doing in a sense. In shape, to fat again, and now in efforts of getting back fit. I can relate so greatly to what your going through and the emotional and physical aspect of it. Best of luck. You have a new fan in me. Will be keeping track of your progress.

  • Hey Drew,

    I literally just found about your “journey”! It must be colosally difficult to put your body through this, never mind the mental toll. I didn’t even think about the effect it would have on your family life until I read your post. I already have an immense amount of respect for you. I have played sports for most of my life. However, to be honest I am extremely lazy about going to the gym! I haven’t really played organized sports (trained with a team and coach) since highschool and have been moderately overweight since then. I thought I had about 10-15lbs to loose but after seeing your before and after pictures I think it’s more like 20-25! I have decided to follow you and try to make a change in my own life.

    Take care and all the best.
    HD

  • I am just now following you on Twitter. I see you on the Yahoo front page. I think what you are doing will inspire people to change. I have been trying to change for the last year. I am overweight by like 120lbs. That’s a whole person. When I was younger I was skinny and was in sports but something happen to me 7 years ago and I figured that if I made myself ugly nothing would ever happen to me again. Well I am sick of being fat. I am trying to lose weight. I am eating right and I know I could get more exercise. I cannot afford to go to a gym right now. I am starting back to college this next week so my schedule will be very tight. I have evenings to exercise. I have been using Zumba but have not seen real results. I cannot wait to see your plans so I can use them. I want to lose weight for myself but even more for my daughter. I want to be able to get out doors with her every chance we get. I cannot wait for your journey to be fit again. Thanks.

  • As I read this blog I find myself saying “YES” to almost everything you mention. The food cravings, being starving in just a couple of hours after eating, hating how ugly my body is, not being able to be comfortable in clothing but to scared to try clothing on because everything fits badly and I get depressed all over again. I hate stairs, hate that I can’t play with my 11 yr old boy, hate that he’s embarrassed to be around me at his school or around his friends because of my fat ass. Cant reach my feet to put socks on, rub lotion on my feet or even tie my shoes. I glimpse in a mirror and about vomit everytime I see myself. I am so glad you are raising awareness to the mental standpoint of being obese. It’s truly a sad place to be. It is worse than being addicted to smoking. And I know because I recently quit. Carbs, cheeses and pastry are of the devil and my biggest struggle. I know I could succeed if I put my mind to it but that is just it, It has such a strong hold on the mind that it seems impossible. You have been healthy before so I don’t think it’s going to be a struggle for you to lose the weight. But again, I’m thankful for you spreading the word. That it’s not just out of pure laziness or eating all of the time. So many mental factors play into being overweight and finally you are giving that attention. Sure one can get gastric bypass but unless you are in serious therapy it will never work.

  • Drew, just found your blog today through yahoo. Awesome! Are you going to blog exactly what you are eating when you start the ‘fit’ stage? If so, I think it is an absolutely brilliant opportunity for other people who want to get fit to follow along with you. I think that just about anyone looking at your “before” picture would think, yeah I want to look like that. Getting there in just 6 months by following your example is a great way to do it.

  • Dude!! You’ve got a huge pair of stones to try this!! Having just lost 45lbs myself(303 -> 258)my last MD appointment I know how hard it is to stop eating all of the “good foods” and start eating healthy. Keep your head up my friend!

  • Drew,

    Hope your doing good. I know that being big is a hard thing heck I’m 19 yrs old and around 300 lbs but I also walk about 2 miles a day so I guess that I’m walking both of the lines. But Just want to let you know that what your doing could help so many obese/slightly overweight people with losing weight but I also know it’s not that easy you have to have the attitude the drive the mental capacity in order to shed the weight, thats why I know you’ll be back to your old self it’s basically because you have the attitude the drive and the mental capacity.

    But I wish you and your family the best on the rest of this journey and hope seeing you back to your old self I’ll keep following your progress just to see how everything is doing. Good Luck, Take Care.

    Everett

  • I also just saw your story on the Yahoo homepage today…very interesting! I think it is pretty cool what you are doing, really I do, and I look forward to wathing you get back to YOU!!
    This may have been addressed before since you have been doing this since May, but I feel compelled to mention this….although I am overweight..okay..obese…I do not eat a dozen donughts, a bucket of KFC, drink regular soda, keep Catpain Crunch under my bed (or even eat Captain Crunch for that matter!!!)….I eat wheat bread, when I even eat bread, Kashi cereal or plain oatmeal if I am having cereal,several fruit/vegeez during the day, diet soda, although I do try to drink twice as much water for each diet soda I drink, don’t eat fast food much and if I do, I often get grilled chicken breast without the bun…I eat a lot more healthy that many…most…of my skinny friends! I just don’t want “fit” folks thinking every obese person they come across is aching to get home, kick off their velcro shoes and plop down into their easy chair with a half gallon of Haagan Daas to rest and have a snack before making fettucine alfredo (which I have tasted only once in my life…and thankfully didn’t like the cream sauce!!) for dinner!!!! I am certainly not an eating angel, but it really isn’t that bad! But yes, I am still obese and every day is an attempt to turn that around. I know i need to exercise more…I lack more in that area and I am trying to work that out too!!
    Phew..I need to stop!! The take home point of all that is just this…not all fatties live horribly unhealthy lifestyles…so there has got to be a little more to obesity than just gorging on unhealthy foods while being a couch potato!!!
    Best of luck to you!!! Looking forward to seeing that six pack posted again next May!!
    J

  • I discussed your challenge with a friend who thought your premise for your program (wanting to teach other obese viewers how to eat healthy and get fit) is flawed, simply because while you have made yourself fat, and will get fit again, your genes have been programmed from the start to be succesful with getting re-fit and eating healthy.

    He continued on to say that for most fat people who have been fat since childhood, they don’t have the same factors to get off their behind and make the changes that you plan to blog about. I agree with him to some extent. Your thoughts?

  • Drew, I just learned of your journey of fit2fat2fit this morning when I read the artical on yahoo.(So this post will be long) I was instantly pulled in because I am overwieght by about 50lbs and at 36 years old I am having a very hard time just getting motivated to lose the wieght. The wieght gain started many many years ago with the simple 10 to 20lb fluctuation each year and turned into a slow gain. This type of wieght gain is mentioned in many post on your blog and compared to your sudden gain. I am very curious to find out if trying to lose 50lbs that was gained slowly over several years is the same as trying to lose 50lbs gained in such a short time. I hope for my sake and many others its the same as I am going to follow your progress back to fit and do my best to mimic your mooves. After looking over your pics as you gained wieght I do have a couple questions. I read where someone asked to see more photos of different areas and you replied about this not being a porn fetish thing…I did chuckle and the guy did come off wierd in how he requested the info but I am curious, the photos you show stick pretty much to your belly and its gain, I dont need to see more photos but have you noticed any wieght gain in other areas? My wieght gain is showing all over, bigger face, bigger legs, bigger rear,flabby arms, hell I even have to buy wide shoes when that was never a problem before. And of corse the infamous stretch marks which I know you said you havnt seen any. I cant help but think hows that possible, I gain 50lbs and have stretch marks like crazy, you went from super thin and in shape to 70lbs instant fat and no stretch marks. Maybe its just a genitic thing. Please dont take this as me calling this all bogus or fake cause I am not. I just have questions cause I want this to be more real than ever. I want it to all work out for you cause I am sure if it does it will motivate me again to get back in shape and stay in shape. With all that being said good luck on your journey and good luck to all those out there that plan on following Drew in getting back in shape.

  • I just found out about this blog today and I’m fascinated by it. I can’t wait for your Fat2Fit journey to start. Will your new diet/fitness regimes be geared mainly towards men, or will they be easy for women to follow as well?

    Best of luck!

  • Dear Drew,

    You are truly an insipration. My life stuggles within my relationships because of my weight has been tough. I always thought it was just me, and that my fiance could never understand with him being a fitness King. I emailed him your blog and hopefully he’ll understand my struggles not only from a males persepective but from someone who is natually into fitness. I am intrested to find out the long term effects of your experiment, especially on how your wife reacts to your transformation. So much of my self esteem always came from how my mate felt about my body. And so I wonder if you feel the same right now? They say you have to love yourself, even when your fat, skinny ect. But is that really the case when you feel so awful being overwieght?

    Good luck on your journey,

    -Down 28lbs and counting!

  • Drew,

    Just learned about your journey not too long ago and have so many questions to ask. But i’ll be joining you on your journey going back to being fit.

    I think that you are the missing key to unlocking a healthier living lifestyle that has me stagnant. In any case…Go back to being fit now!!!

    James

  • I didn’t think somebody will do this to himself. But I guess I was wrong. I’m not overweight (maybe 10 pounds), but I’m out of shape and I have a big belly. If you can go back to your old self, I know I can do it to. In the name of millions, I thank you for doing this. Good luck and best wishes from Romania!

  • Respectfully, I understand what you are trying to do, but think you are making a big mistake. A person would (hopefully) not smoke crack, to “understand how the addict feels”. One would not, develop a smoking habit to better empathize with those suffering from emphysema. While your endeavor may garner you a lot of personal attention, I think your agenda sets a bad example for people truly seeking ways to remain fit and healthy. I question whether obese people seeking to get healthy will seek out a person who deliberately makes his or herself overweight to help them get healthier, over the person who simply made the choice to get healthy and stay that way. Further, the “Morgan Spurlock” approach to publicizing a health problem may create health problems for you down the road that you cannot anticipate right now and may not be able to reverse later. Again, “the train has left the station” so to speak with respect to your agenda….but I hope that as you abuse your body with doughnuts, pizza, pancakes and the like, that you will think about who will truly benefit from this endeavor and whether there may have been a better way to advocate for “healthy living”.

  • I think what your doing is great. HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL PHOTOSHOPPING YOUR IMAGES. SOME OF THEM LOOK REALLY FAKE. GOOD LUCK MOVING FORWARD IF THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING. I BELIEVED UNTIL I SAW SOME SERIOUS FLAWS IN YOUR EDITING. I WOULD LIKE SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THIS RECENT FAT GAIN. AND NOT JUST THE TONIGHT SHOW COMING UP.

  • Drew,

    Great side you have. I’m from the Netherlands and have the same problem. I’m was overweighted 68 pounds. I’m very motivated because it’s my own decession to loose weight. Lost 28 pounds (6 weeks) and still going strong. My goal is to have lost al my overweight at april 2012. I’m looking forward to you trainingprogram. Good Luck.

    Edwin

  • Just a quick note on getting yourself back into shape: be careful of the psychological parts of the addiction. The physical cravings are tough enough, but your mind will start playing tricks on you, telling you that it’s okay to cheat just this once, and it will sound totally reasonable in your head. After once, your mind will tell you that you’ve already cheated, so why not another and you’ll get back on the wagon the next day. I know you can do it, but be ready. It’ll be hard.

  • I have to say that I just found out about your journey and I think this is an amazing thing you are dong here. My husband and I have both saved your blog to our favorites and will be waiting to read more about your future experiences with this. My husband is the same weight as you will be when you finish probably, and the same height and he would love to follow you on your journey to be fit again! Will you be posting what you do daily to lose the weight and the bad habits? That would be awesome! Thank you for sharing this part of your life. It’s very inspirational!

  • Wow, Drew! I just heard about you and what you’re doing. I’m impressed and a little scared for you, I’ve been overweight for 15 years and now that I’m 40 there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. I’m interested to see if you can do it, beacuse if you can do it, maybe I can do it. Good luck and God bless you on your journey.

  • Hey Drew,

    Man, I admire what you are doing. I am presently 190 and 5’10″, my doctor is concerned about blood pressure: 140/85 and
    believes it is directly related to my weight
    gain over the years (54). I have never been
    an athlete, just a lucky skinny guy that everyone used to feel like feeding. Every day I seek inspiration (I am a life insurance agent for a very well known AAA rated company, talk about stressful!). Physical fitness has been on and off for me, but I can see what is happening with my body and attitude and don’t want to go there, it is a slippery slope. Lead on!!!!!

  • I cant wait to follow you on your journey back to being fit. I’m about the same measurements as you are right now ( height, weight, measurments ect) and I need the help to get in shape. There isnt anything that I can stick to….. Im sure watching you and doing what youre doing will motivate me.

  • I was blow away when I heard what you’re doing. I have MUCH respect for you and your decision to do this to yourself. This is going to make you a better trainer.
    So many people don’t understand what it’s like to be overweight. I used to be fit as well until about 10-15 years ago. I’ve been overweight ever since and can’t seem to stay motivated to lose weight. I have all of the emotional issues you talked about including the strain on my marriage.
    On a happier note, you have definitely inspired me! I’m excited to follow your journey back to being fit. I’ve hired a trainer and I’m slowly trying to heal my body and mind from this ‘disease’.
    I’ll be right there with you along the way! I can’t wait to hear about all of the positive changes you’ll be experiencing. Best of luck to you!

  • Just ran across your blog, and gotta say I’m truly impressed. It takes a lot of conviction dedication to turn your life upside down like this.

    Can’t wait to see the transformation back to fit! Good luck bro!

    All the Best,
    Merrick

  • Holly molly, sometimes Yahoo gets stories and links worth looking at. I can not believe you actually wanted to put yourself through this – I do realize the dedication for a future cause, and I think it is awesome and much needed, but isn’t all the insight of how hard it is to go through stage 2 had been done by so many people who did just that – were fat (and much longer in life) and addicted to food and being lazy and got fit and healthy? I am applauding that you want it as a PT (as an LMT and a scientist, I find it helpful to also be a runner and having gone through injuries as I can relate to aches and pains), but truly I’d be too afraid to do such an experiment. Since I’ve been fat, and yo-yo’ed in a smaller ways through my “fit years”, ridding off food challenges and shedding even a handful of pounds is always much more difficult than putting on. As hard as it is to get up every morning at 5 am, fit an exercise routine, eat broccoli and chicken breast, it is harder – and scarier – to face the “fall-out” and super-focus needed to get back to it.
    More power to you. I’ll be following your journey back and wishing you best.

  • just caught on to your ongoing project from yahoo. you are brave for doing this and wish you all the best. i’ve personally struggled with my weight and and will be following you every step of the way moving forward. I too hope that you will post your work out routines & meal plans so that i can join you in your journey from being fat2fit. cheers!

  • So……i saw this post on yahoo and i have been looking for SOME WAY to get motivated. I am really interested to see how you get AND keep the motivation to lose weight when it is so much harder to exercise.

    Do you think it will be hard for you to start exercising and dieting again?

  • Drew, I came across your article yesterday on yahoo and was touched as to how someone would deliberately go through what millions are going through in order to help them. You have taken your passion to help others to another level, and that will impact a lot of people in a positive way. I was always athletic, went to college on a full athletic scholarship, jogged 2 miles daily until the first born (over 16 years ago). I was mentally able to get back to my size 8 at 5’10″. Then after baby #2 and #3 (now 7yrs old), I wasn’t able to get motivated, esp. when you have to cook breakfast and dinner everyday for a husband who doesn’t gain any weight (lol). I want to lose 30 lbs and Thank God, I am healthy. Had a physical a few months ago and everything was fine except my vitamin D was very low. You have motivated me to begin my active lifestyle on Nov 5th as well. I will keep you posted on my progress and I will be watching you on 10/28/11. Stay blessed!! Melisa C. Durham NC

  • Drew…Thanks so much for doing this! I was fit and in great health, then got pregnant with the last baby, didn’t gain a lot with pregnancy but afterward….so I am about 60 pounds heavier than I was…I can’t seem to get motivated to get back to where I was. I can relate to a lot of the things you said in your blog….I am hoping by following your blog, I will get motivated when I see you doing it to reverse some of this.

  • Drew,

    I applod you. You are obviously thinking of helping others, not yourself. As a person who has gone from fit 2 fat 2 fit 2 fat again (LOL), your right food is an addition just like a drug. When I went through these stages it was not on purpose, however that addition to food is so strong…my concern is, no one knows who will get the ADDITION aspect (just like someone who gets addicted to drugs while others don’t, my field of study is Biotechnolgy). My hope is that you come out of this without any future issues of food addiction. I will be following your blog, what your doing is inspirting and a very selfless act to help your fellow man. Good luck with your journey, I look foward to a successful out come.

  • I don’t know how you should take this or if it helps, but you’re still extremely attractive with all the weight put on. I don’t know what it is… maybe it’s just you. Good luck

  • Drew, I just found this site through a post a friend on Facebook, and all I can say is wow.

    I think it’s incredibly brave to do this, especially in a culture that demonizes weight gain–and especially in Utah. I was raised LDS, and I’m all too familiar with one of the standards being to keep oneself in shape. It’s also commendable that you’re doing this in an effort to better understand your clients.

    That being said, you’re having a hard enough time with it, imagine what it’s like to be female and dealing with weight and the body issues and social ostracizing that come with it. There’s tremendous pressure for everyone to fit, but particularly for those of the “fairer sex”.

    I’ve been overweight most of my life, and I’ve been through the bouts of self-loathing, the determination to fix it, the shame at failure when I realize that I don’t really know how. You mentioned in one of the earlier posts that you felt like you were hiding yourself behind this front of being fine with what you look like. That’s an everyday battle.

    Even harder is realizing that you don’t, can’t believe people when they tell you you’re pretty, or that they only see you as a person to help them out of a tough spot or in an emergency. It’s nice to be relied upon, it’s heartbreaking to realize that that’s all you’re ever going to be unless you make some drastic changes.

    Being in college and so completely fed up with the way I feel like my life is going, I was ready for some drastic changes. I’m glad I found this site now. When you start the journey back to fit, I’ll be there with you, cheering you on and trying my hand at it, too.

    Bravo–and good luck.

  • I am new to this site and find it fascinating. I am someone who has been fat2fit2fat and am starting my new routine and your site has inspired me even more.

    When I was fit I remember actually saying out loud to another fit person “why would you ever give up being in shape and feeling so good.” Ha Ha Ha the laugh is on me. For me it was the death of my husband, foreclosure, bankruptcy and a ton of other emotional and personal life issues that come with this bag of tricks life had in store for me.

    I know with out a doubt you will get back into shape. You are like the many obsessively compelled people I would see in the gym eating only chicken and rice before a show. Literally being a little bit brain dead from the lack of carbs in their system. I am not one of those people as many of the fat people out there. I at one point got myself into a routine of 2hours in the gym three times a week when I was loosing my weight, but that is as obsessive as I got. I did curb my calories down to 1500 kc but did not go to 1200 kc that my trainer wanted me to do.

    I would love if you limit your O/C behavior on your recovery. Eat a little better. Go to the gym three times a week for an hour or so. You will already have an edge with being in such great shape just six months ago. I would love to kind of follow along with you on your recovery. I would love to see how you gradually bring in the change.

    Well Wishes and thanks for doing this it is a great experiment!

  • Well, my earlier comment is still awaiting moderation but I wish I could recall it and rewrite it. When I wrote it I had only checked out the photos and some of the blogs. I have spent the last couple hrs checking out the videos and I must say, if I wasnt completely amazed before, I am now. I still want to know if Drew has noticed wieght gain in other areas that typically dont show. Drew also mentioned in one of the wiegh in videos that he could not perform something due to his wieght gain but he wouldnt say what it was, that he would mention it at a later date. I am very curious what that was. Did he mention it and I missed it or is he still waiting to announce it. Being that over wieght can really affect many things you do in everyday life. I know a lot of people will chime in saying that they are over wieght and can do everything they want to but people have to remember, their wieght issues probably came on slow and been around long enough that they have learned how to work around the wieght to some extent. Gaining 70lbs in such a short time period is a shock not only to the body and health but also to the person who has to live with that wieght day in day out. For those people who are overwieght by 50 or more pounds and feel they can do things like normal, try losing those pounds and feel for yourself how much easier your everyday life events become. You will be surprised and I am sure as Drew starts his fat2fit phase he will be pointing these things out. Thats all for now. Good luck Drew and to all of those people who are fighting wieght issues.

  • This really hit home. Since getting married and having a new baby me and the hubby have both packed on the pounds and really it feels like we’ve lost interest in each other. I’m now doing weight watchers but he isn’t motivated to do anything. It’s frustrating because I want to get my sexy back and I want him to want the same for himself. I find myself starting to lose interest in the idea of us.. I just want the “old us” back. :(

  • I just stumbled on your website and realize you are doing in six months what I did the past several years. You inspired me to start to lose the wieght. I hope I have the mental toughness to follow through!

    Will you be posting a regimine that you are following to lose the weight (eating and exercising?)

    Thanks again for the motivation!

  • Hi man! Today on a Romanian website, they presented your project and so i got here. I think that what you want to do is an excellent example for people that want to lose weight but do not know what to do. I hope that you will keep you promise that you made on May 7, that you will explain for free all the exercises, meals, programs, etc.
    Anyway, the fact that you “gave us” 1 year from your life, i think is amazing.
    Regarding your wife, she does not have a reason to be upset on you, she must be proud of what you do ! We are !
    I will follow you, cause i am overweight and together with you, hope to lose this life !
    Good luck!

  • Thanks for doing this! Seeing you prove that it is possible to lose the weight is going to help a lot of people prove to themselves that it can be done.
    Now that you are about to start the journey back to a healthy weight, can you please share a few ideas on what your plan is? I need to lose the same amount of weight you do…. and if you say it’s possible to do in 6 months, I would really appreciate your thoughts on how to get started. Thanks!

  • I just learned of your story yesterday. I will plan to continue to follow. As a woman that just hit 40 and who just 4 years ago had 6 pack abs and was 25 pounds slimmer, I have just about given up on getting back to where I was. My life is different now, and am not obese, but I am overweight and I am out of shape. I have struggled all my life with weight issues, either too light or too heavy. Now that I am 40 and working full time, a mother of 3 busy children, I no longer have the time work out the amounts that I used to, but I would do anything to get back to where I was. Since January I have not dropped a pound and I work out nearly every day. It’s so discouraging and I am starting to feel like no matter what I do, it won’t matter. I would love to see you post your diet and excercise journal when you are working your way back to fit. And any suggestions you have for a 40 year old woman that is 150 pounds and 5’3″ would very much appreciated! Good luck to you and thanks for doing what you are doing.

  • Good luck Drew. I too am on a similar journey – except Im alreadt at your stage and I need to get it off! Good luck – I’ll be following your blogs!

  • Man alive, I had no idea you could go from that fit to that fat in such a short time…that is the most shocking thing I have ever seen. Good luck to you and I wish you success on your trek back to being fit, it looks like a large mountain to climb.

  • When you start to get fit again in November, are you going to post a grocery list online and a weekly menu for each meal? I’m excited to do this with you. I have 25 pounds to lose. I have a two year old daughter also, and would love to wear her out for once :)

  • Drew,
    I recently heard of this amazing project you are doing and after reading your blog I am really impressed. I was in an accident in college where I was a pedestrian hit by a car, I went from being super active to not being able to do much of anything. My husband (who was then my fiancé) joined me in sitting around while I went through numerous surgeries and needless to say we both put in weight. We have finally lost weight, I inspired him more than he me, and it makes a huge difference. Once people see that it is attainable and that you don’t have to do crazy things to accomplish it it makes them want to try too! I have my dad loosing weight, his coworkers, my husbands coworkers, my friends, neighbors, and all it took was showing that it could be done. Even though you are giving up a lot now you are going to accomplish a great amount of good for a lot of people! I also think that your ability to keep your sense of humor is what helps many people to be able to deal with it and laugh and not feel ashamed. Way to go!

  • Drew… looking forward to the reverse EFFECTS… I can’t wait to start working out “Virtual” with you when you start your work and eating routine… I think I’m more excited than you are… LOL. You have no idea what you are doing for people.. you are doing a GREAT SERVICE… thank you.

    -Troy
    [email protected]

  • Wow, Drew, I am actually facinated by all this. I really want to see how you are going to do it.. I wanna do it too!!! I am 6’3 230, and i want to be at like 210 or 200, but i havent found the way to do it! Seeing you will definitely teach me.

  • I saw YAHOO picked up your story! I was amazed that a trainer/ fitness buff would carry this all the way to the end! Bravo Hold fast only 3 more weeks! YOU CAN do it!

    I can’t imagine how you must feel… You must a new degree of empathy for folks who battle this all the time. I workout everyday in the early AM, I can not imagine not working out for nearly 6 months! As well as eat all the crap, processed foods!
    You deserve a great number of clients for they will have a trainer that fully understands their plight.

    I bulked up once to 270lbs, (5’10″) however I worked out everyday and was trying to gain muscle at the same time… I understand the stairs a a chore and the tying of the shoes being a heroic effort. I pray that you blood pressure and heart stay health after this AND most importantly your ‘test’ level returns. THE HORROR!

    Well, your back ground with ensure that you travel back to once you came and maybe a bit more muscle to show for it!

    I will pray for you!

  • Drew,

    I just found out about your journey. I have to say I am totally impressed by your attitude and willingness to see what it is like to be overweight. I have struggled with it my entire life, peaking at 350 lbs in 2007. I got on a plan and lost 125lbs and thought I was done with worrying only to go back to some old habbits and wind back up at 320. I have taken control again and Iam determined to get back the weight back off. Off to agood start and back down to 306 in the last few weeks. Your story is very inspirational and I am looking forward to tracking your way back to fit. This post hits alot of how I feel daily right on the head. Those that will get the chance to work out with you in the future are going to be very lucky, as they will have the guidance of someone who really knows their trials and tribulations. I hope that the last month does not take too much of a toll and that the getting fit stage is a great success….Thank you for what you are doing and the understanding it will give you!!!

  • Drew-
    I wanted to say thanks for trying to get to know what it is like being large. It gets wearing at times, from people looking at you weird at the grocery store to the awful comments tossed at you.

    I have been overweight for most of my life, and again I am working my way down the scale. The last few times I ether did for social pressure, or to be “good looking”. But this time it is for me, so I can move with ease and be more healthy physically.

    Should I have done this earlier, yes! But the awful thing about it all is the reactions of others. The comments, put downs and the like. People would never dream of saying the things I have had told to me to thinner people. It makes a person just want to hide and just bag the whole weight loss adventure as I call it.

    Touch on that if you can sometime, what it was like to hear the negative comments? Does it make you just want to give up the whole thing? Will be interested to hear.

    In it for the long run-
    Kathy

  • So I’m late to this game but all these people “applauding” you is a bit much. Yes…so now you know what it’s like to be fat so you can now pity those of us who have struggled for so long because you just didn’t “get it” before. For someone who loves to exercise and eat right and do all the right things for so long, I’m sure it will be a bit easier for you to get back on the wagon and lose the weight. If you succeed, you’ll immediately take on the tone “See how easy it is? What’s your problem?” that so many thin people and trainers like to dole out. As someone who has recently lost 70 lbs (who was always heavy before that), I think while your intention may have been sincere, not everyone is so enamored. As as for people so “inspired” by everyone who had those pesky 30 lbs to lose to be perfect (and yes, I know I sound bitter), they have no idea what it’s like to be “obese” and have very little hope for the future.

  • Hi Drew
    I am a girl at 260, i used to be fit and now I am fat and your descriptions above are so on the spot with how I feel. I am always tired. I really hope I can get motivated by your fit journey. I really need it. I just can’t seem to get going anymore.

  • Maybe this has already been asked, but… I am curious on what foods were you eating and how much of it when you were in shape. I think this will help a lot of people see the difference.

  • I just saw your article on Yahoo! This is awesome! I’ve been struggling for years to lose weight. I’m not obese, but not where I should be. I look forward to reading your feedback on your journey back to being fit. Maybe it will inspire me to be better at sticking with it. Good luck! :)

  • Dude,

    I am sitting here, literally and figuratively, waiting for you to hit your 2FAT goal so I can follow you step by aching step to your 2FIT ultimate goal. me and my man-boobs (moobs) are anxious to begin the journey as a recent BMI had me at 37%!!!! At 46 years old I know it is going to be tough as I have never been 2FIT to start with, but hopefully following your lead I can find where I last left my metabolism and get on the road to dropping 70-80 pounds of blubber. I’m stuck here in Germany but believe I have all the tools that I need to get started. Elliptical-CHECK, BowFlex Pro 3000-CHECK, kilometers of Bavarian woods to run in-CHECK. My family has voted, and they want me around for years to come, so I’m ready to see if it can be done. It has gotten to the point that my neck reached 19″ and I was just diagnosed with severe sleep apnea due to ‘fat’ alone being the culprit in closing off my airway at night! 87 times and hour to be exact! So, it’s either wear a mask shoving 15cm of O2 done my gullet for the rest of my life, or get on board your 2FIT train. As long as you post it, I will be there stride for stride. Good luck and see you at the finish! I’m excited for you and myself, hope you don’t mind me piggy-backing on your journey!

    Good luck and best regards,

    Rod

  • I give you a LOT of credit for taking this adventure and I also want to use this as a motivation for me. I have the hardest time trying to lose 40 lbs, I keep saying .. I’ll make it to the gym tomorrow or I’ll eat less tomorrow. I can agree with your emotions and I wish you the best as I will follow your blog on a daily basis to use it as a tool to make my lazy but get up and do something about my weight.

    Thank you

  • Drew,

    When I seen this article on the front pages of Yahoo, I was like no way!! The risk that you have taken is crazy, but understandable and I applaud you for doing so. The stuff that you have mentioned in your blogs are right on the money. It hurts to hear your child say that your fat. Yeah L laugh it off but inside it leaves me rotten to the core. Being ex military doesn’t help either because you are forced to workout and hold a certain standard. When you have to work 12-15 hr shifts the only thing i can think about is eat to keep awake and sleep to get rest. My wife has done all the crash diets and so forth and they work for her and she maintains it with no problems. That is until I get hungry and then she follows suit. If I can maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle I know she will be able to maintain hers.

    She is 4 months into her 9 month deployment and everyone asks her does she compete in fitness events. I’ve asked her not to send me a picture because I want to be surprised when I see her in 5 months. I have already started to work on myself but its getting boring for me and like always I tell myself that i could be doing something else. I workout but my diet is horrible and I need a definite change.

    So I am rooting for bro and I believe in you and your goal. Your last set of photos you put up is an exact replica of me with the exception that I am 5’11. I am positive that you will get back to your starting photo and I am tired of dreaming to look like that. So i am in the seat behind you all the way.

    Cheers!!

  • i came across your link on tumblr, and i have to say as a person who has gone up and down my whole life from fit to fat to fit to fat .. mostly from seasonal depression and other types of depression in combination. I sat and watched your video and cried not for the fact you were going to gain the wait …. that someone was making an effort to understand … it’s not easy … i plan to watch you and follow you … you have given me some serious inspiration and hope .. thank you … as a gay 40 yr old man it’s a harsh cruel world once you hit 30 and 40 … and well when a gay man hits 50 it’s much like a cemetery … LIFE ENDS… as most know it, due to the shallowness of the gay culture…. so again thank you … and i’m looking forward to this adventure…

    Jon

  • Drew,

    I am intrigued by what you are doing and like most folks on this blog I too was once fit and have let myself go. I would like to drop 40 to 50 lbs and be a better role model for my wife and my two daughters who are both very athletic and in shape but I have a hard time keeping up with them. I do not want to be like that anymore. Waiting to see you second phase of this so I can follow along and maybe get focused again.

    Good Luck

    Rafa

  • I wonder if your wife will leave you if this was a permanent weight gain, or if this was a longer weight gain. Just wondering, because of a lot of fat people don’t get love they deserve. We are all fit under all of the fat.

    I do have a fiance that loves me for me but we have seen our pictures and we have gained weight, we are actually starting our own weight loss. I can’t wait to see you get back on track. I’m sure when this is over, you will see another side of weight loss and obese people trying to lose weight. I’m sure you will be a bit more understanding of what it is for someone to go to your gym (example) and have you as a trainer and instead of push push push, you can do it (without knowing what it’s like) you actually know when the person is saying their knees hurt or their shoulders hurt “I gotta take a break” that they are not trying to cop out (a lot of them) but are telling you the truth.

  • Drew,

    I just heard about your story yesterday along with thousands of other people. Right away your story impressed me. That A fit person would actually attempt to understand what obese/fat people have felt like their whole lives is a great thing. It will give you a greater understanding with you clients and help us all.

    I have been battling with my weight pretty much my whole adult life. Everything you said that you’ve felt this month is how I feel everyday. With my husband, our relationship, our daughter (also 2) the chaffing, they mood swings down to the bowl of cinnamon toast crunch I had this morning. Everyday I feel like I am not this person.

    Looking forward to following your Fat2Fit portion of this journey. Hopefully we can all learn something from you.

  • Hey Drew,

    Good luck on your adventure! I look forward to seeing your daily diet and exercise routines and how you progress. It will definitely inspire me to do the same.

    Take care,

    JB

  • Hi Drew,

    this is a great piece of work you’re doing. I think many people see, fit people with ripped bodies and figure, “that’s a different body structure than mine” or “oh, they’ve had to work their entire lives to look like that.”

    A couple of years ago I got flustered with my own physique and decided to go hard on myself. I dropped about 15kg (I guess about 35 lbs) in about 4 months. I think I overdid it as it was more like an all out sprint. Since that time, I got exhausted with the effort and actually stopped… eventually gaining back most over the next 18 months.

    I look forward to you providing an example to pace myself against. I hope you provide enough detail regarding your diet, exercise and statistics… I’d love to follow and pace myself against your example.

    Perhaps you should add an album for followers to post their own pics to show whether your progress is being replicated.

  • Drew-

    What a crazy journey. Not many people would attempt what you are, but thank you for trying. I myself am 27 and have been obese my entire life. It is hard emotionally to the point where you close yourself off. Good luck with becoming ‘fit’ again. I recently have lost 80 pounds! Still have about 70 to go but it is amazing to see a difference! I wish you the best!

  • I wish half the trainers and naturally thin people out there would do what you are. Anyone who has never been fat has no idea what it’s like physically, let alone emotionally. At least as you move to the 2Fit stage you will have a better understanding of how it feels to struggle, your motivations to your clients will never be canned responses or faked empathy because you will have been there. And I’m sure there will be thousands of us who will follow along, but are to scared/ashamed/mortified to post pictures of ourselves, or share our failures. Thank you to you and your whole family for allowing us into your life.

  • I just started following your blog. I am so excited to read about your upcoming journeys in getting back on track. I have been overweight for so long and recently took a local 12 week body makeover challenge and won in the most inches lost category. I have a new appreciation for people who walk the line of fitness and well being. I have been through all those withdrawals and struggles of quitting the bad food and still have them! I hope this last month goes by fast for you
    Meegan

  • Would be very helpful to see actual pre and post testosterone blood levels. Post mentioned they were low but how low compared to your fit levels.

  • I don’t think I could have found your blog at a better time. I’m by no means a fitness junkie but I do know that I feel better when I get up and move and eat well.

    I’ve been proud that I’ve stayed within my BMI over my 35+ years, even after having 3 kids. Last summer when I seemed to be gaining weight without explanation I panicked. Seems I am pregnant. :|

    So I’ll be following your journey because all of your physical, emotional and mental symptoms are exactly what I’m feeling. I’m terrified I won’t be able to drop the weight at this age and do not want to feel this way the rest of my life.

    Thanks for what you are doing, I know it will be great motivation.

  • I just found out about your story yesterday and I am already a follower. I can relate so much to what you are going through. I am a 30 y/o mother of 2. I have gone from skinny to overweight in 4 years and I have really struggled to lose this jiggly belly and dimpled booty (gross, I know)! I think about it everyday and I am lucky to have a husband who still thinks I am beautiful (I say “ya right”. I just want to feel good about myself again, it’s my dream to be in a pair of shorts and rockin a bikini next summer. Another part of me also wants to prove to everyone who may doubt me that I can do this and actually stick to it! I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YOUR STORY AND WISH YOU LUCK! YOU ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION!! :)

  • Drew,

    I just found out about your plan from Yahoo.com today. I’m really excited about what you are doing and I think it will benefit me greatly. Eight years ago, I was skinny and healthy and loved to be active. Then I found out I had a pilonidal cyst below my tailbone.

    It took five surgeries and three years to remove and heal properly. Not only could I not exercise, I could not even sit or bend over. I had to have my wife pick things up off the floor for me. Needless to say, it was basically a forced fit 2 fat. I went from 185 lbs to 260+ (I stopped counting). I am a graphic designer, so I sit all day on the computer. And since I have never been good at figuring out what to eat and when, I have not been able to get back 2 fit. I can identify with all of the things you are experiencing. Lack of energy, problems with tying my shoes, irritability, etc. But I am definitely scared that I will not be around for my wife and kids if I do not get healthy.

    So, no pressure, but I am hoping that you will have the appropriate understanding of how hard it is to get back 2 fit and many helpful tips that will help me to gain victory in this and not just lose a couple pounds only to quit again!

  • Hi Drew. Thanks for posting your thoughts and observations regularly. It is quite interesting to see how your mood and eating habits have changed so drastically. What I will never understand is those who purposely gain weight due to their liking of a chubby figure: those called “gainers”. I have known a few gainers before, and being an overweight guy all my life, I feel sorry for these people who think it seems like a good idea. I think they should read your blogs first before they decide to take that road and possibly end up miserable.

    But gainers aside, I wish you the best of luck in the next phase – many of us who are overweight are eagerly anticipating your transformation back to fit. :)

  • Pingback: Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit: Personal trainer gains 70 pounds to better identify with overweight people (with video) | Bob's Business ... Blog

  • This post will probably be lost among all of the other posts. Kind of like my life. I got out of the Army a few years ago and went from about 195 lbs to 166 lbs in no time. I am in my early 30′s and depressed. My wife and friends have all pretty much given up on me getting back into shape and pulling myselef together. Which at first did not bother me. Drinking is about all that makes me happy these days. A couple of weeks ago I had my usual to much to drink and wound up in the hospital with multiple injuries. The pain killers I’m on have cut my appitite so much that I have litterally lost 20 lbs since the 29th of September. I did not think this was possible. I quit taking the Pain killers 2 days ago and my appitite has returned. Last night I consumed my usual meal for three and went to sleep. I am no doubt heading right back to the me that I have become. It makes me sad. When I was in the Army I taught my oldest boy to snow skii. He was 7 or 8 then. He wanted to learn to snow board like me. I told him I would teach him that next. For the past three years, I have ben to fat and tired to take him. Every year I promise him that I will be in better shape next year and “we will go for sure then”. It makes him sad, but he believes me every time. I think he is the only one that believes that I can become me again. It is hard for me, to know that I am going to let him down. Somewhere along the line I lost all of the strength that made me me. My son use to look at me and I could see something twinkle in his eye when he was amazed that I could do something that he considered impossible. It made him smile when I would tell him that he had it in him too. He really believed me, it made me proud because I knew he would be great some day. Sometimes he tells me stories about what we use to do together, he has litterally told me that he was proud of me. It is like he is telling me to “WAKE UP DAD!! I need you back”. And then I feal even more tired because it seems impossible at this point. There is no hope.
    Sitting here on my couch surfing the net with my broken bones, I stumbled accross your website.
    They say I should be mostly healed in 6 to 8 weeks. (from Sep. 29) I should be healed up about the same time you begin fat to fit.
    I do not know how to tell you how I feal right this moment. I will share this with you.
    This ends now. I will coach my kids sports teams again. I will teach my son to snowboard. I will stop killing myself today. I know you don’t know me but next month, it’s you and me. If you can do this, so can I.
    This is one of the biggest inspirational moments of my life.
    Thank you.
    I want to forget this me ever existed. This is not me. For my wife and my kids. For me. I will be me again.

  • Drew, saw your ad on yahoo….interested in what your trying to do…..read your methodology about the process……liked the idea even better….read some of your blogs….it’s offical, i can so relate to what your saying. I’m sure you’ve gotten massive response now that you’re a contender and everyone loves a success story. so best of luck to this venture, i saved you to my favorites and will be checking in on you daily to see how your weight loss journey is going, i’m planning to mimic closely to what you are doing, so by you being successful i to will be….don’t let me down…no pressure….best of luck man!

  • I’m interested to know how the fat2fit portion goes.

    I know you’re definitely ready to get back in the gym, where you’re comfortable, and get back into shape but a question for you about a problem I have:

    Because of the self-esteem issues related to being overweight, I find it hard to go to a gym because I worry about being judged or I just get discouraged by all of the thin people around me making it look so easy. Unfortunately I work around 12hrs a day and have little time for activities that would be considered exercise that I would enjoy more (hiking, rowing etc).
    At the moment its just me and a little elliptical in a small club house at my apartments.

    Question 1: How do you stay motivated (other than wanting to be in shape) when you feel crappy?
    Question 2: Suggestions on how to feel confident at a gym when you’re anything but (as it seems the most accessible and logistical way for me to exercise given my work schedule)?

  • Drew I applaud your dedication to people! That’s exactly what you are doing. Dedicating yourself to others. Bravo!
    As I sit here eating a large bag of peanut m&m’s, I can’t help but be inspired by your journey. Don’t worry…I had an apple for breakfast. LOL! (sarcasm is used to cope with my depression about being 80lbs overweight) Being a nurse, I have a scientific thought process and I can’t help but wonder how different your body will process weight loss, when you go fat2fit, than others who have been over weight for several years. I am looking forward to following your journey. Tonight I will be talking to my husband(also overweight)and see if he would like to start making changes together. Good luck on your journey and thank you.

  • I had to do a double take when I read about your salt experience. I’ve lost a little over 40 lbs since about the time you started heading the other way. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how much weight that really was until recently my BF asked me to pick up a large bag of dog food on the way to his house. I’m in the parking lot fighting to load this bag, look down, and see 40 lbs on the label. I was literally frozen on the spot for a minute while I processed that I had been lugging that around on my body for the last 4 years! I felt happy and disgusted with myself at the same time. It couldn’t have come at a better time because I was starting to get complacent. I just discovered your blog today and can’t wait to see how you get back to FIT!

  • Drew – I can’t wait until you start the get fit journey (and I bet you can’t either) so I can follow along and get rid of my after 35 fat A..

    Very cool and thanks for taking this journey dude!!

    Michael

  • Drew: My roommate clicked on the link on yahoo and I just read a little about your mission! I wish I could follow you and do the fat2fit portion with you (I still have about 30 lbs of baby weight to lose), but unfortunately I just found out I’m pregnant. Do you have any advice for pregnant women for light weight exercise? It would be much appreciated… I’m really nervous about starting pregnancy with an extra 30 lbs on already…

  • Hi,

    I spent my entire morning reading your posts from where you started to current. It is very apparent that your journey has been eye opening. I must say that it was eye opening for me as well. I am morbidly obese, there is no other way to put that out there… and I can relate to a lot of what you have posted.

    As I have been reading your posts, there are a number of thoughts that have gone through my head… most regarding what is yet to come:

    -Have you been “fat” long enough, where you are uncomfortable to go to the gym… because of the stares, and the way that your body now moves?

    -If muscles have memory, does that mean that you have an unfair advantage?

    -Have you gotten to the part of being fat, where the idea of movement – is quickly responded with a thought that involves the word “can’t”?

    I wish you all the luck in the world.

    Katie

  • Dang dude…

    Just reading your post made me tired with despair! I’m about the same size as you (6’3″ 255-260lbs) and Samoan, so I know about being big (although a lot of peeps say I’m small for Samoan)!

    Anyhow, I’m a runner and run marathons, 5Ks and 10Ks, but just can’t get disciplined enough to stay consistent with the nutrition and work outs to keep the weight off. Trying to get down to 220, but damn, I hit 247ish and I taper off with the rewarding and break periods… so frustrating. Looking forward to following your journey back. Thinking about committing to do it with you. Fa’afetai tele (thank you very much) for the inspiration!

    JP from Carson, California

  • Dude..this is awesome…i just read about it the other day….I’ve got your website on lock and I will definitely be following your journey…..I’m also going to apply it to my regimen…

    I’ve been in the gym, out of the gym, back in the gym on and off for about 6 years now…after 2 or 3 months, i’m finally back in the gym…tryin’ to pull those abs of mine into sight….it has never happened before and I guess I get frustrated with it, which causes my “off” days to kick in…but i will stick it out this time and apply some of your advice….

    I think this is a very bold journey to take and I admire the patience you have in taking it on purpose….if you are anything like me, it must have been hard for you the first few weeks….if i miss the gym for more than 2 or 3 days, I get very self conscious…I look forward to your journey back to fit and I will surely do my best to join you….

    God bless…….C Dubya

  • As a fat man, I really appreciate what you are doing. I will be very curious to see how much time each week you must dedicate to the fit side to get back in shape, and what you do.

  • Man…
    I just find this site today when i saw it on yahoo news.

    Incredible.
    When i saw haw you looked 5 months ago …. amazing.
    Now you look like me . But identical like me , and i am 123 kg for a long time now.

    Even my wife said that body wise we are almost identical.

    I hope i can make this transformation of you into a conquest for me but i do not know if i have the determination , time , power , money , mental strenght to do it.

    I am really curios if you can do it in 6 months , thow it looks like imposible to me.

    And one question if you know.

    Do you think that the fat that you took in this 6 months can be considered the same like the fat of a recular Joe fat who is like this for the last 15 years ?

    Or …. the rest of us fat people, you think that we can lose in the same time like you the waite ? Sorry for the bad english in some points since i am not from US.

    Thank you.

    Wish you all the best and i fell i am lucky to have found your web site.

    Alex.

  • Dear Drew,

    First, I want to thank you for the happiness that you have brought me simply by being the inspirational individual that you are. Spending the last few hours reading through your journey has resonated with a piece of me that I thought couldn’t be understood, and seeing everyone’s comments as well has made me feel – even a little – better about myself, and more confident that things can change.

    I also have a two year old at home and have felt the despair at not being able to keep up with all that limitless energy. It bothers me because, like you, I was also in incredible shape not so long ago. When I became pregnant I put on as much weight as you have, and never could get rid of it all. Typical story I suppose, but at any rate, following along with you for the rest of your journey will hopefully continue to motivate and inspire me to return to the person I know I can be – and am at heart.

    Thank you so much.

  • Drew,

    This is awesome…I don’t envy the journey you will have back to fitness. But compared to how you are feeling now, I know that you can’t wait to make that trip. Everyone that has had any interest in losing weight needs to follow you as you get back into shape. It’s amazing how your confidence and demeanor in public improve just because you feel better and have control of your weight and body.

    Good luck with your last month and get ready for those first 3 days of withdrawel from sugar and carbs…it’s a little brutal.

    Todd

  • Hey – I have my calendar marked for November 7th….I think that will be the day you start returning to normal? I – too – have allowed myself to get out of control. Last year I biked daily and ate sensibly. This year – crap at work, my dad died, trying to sell 3 houses… I am now at 212 lbs as compared to 190. I am really looking forward to being in tune and working with you to get back in shape as you will inspire me to do so.

    Thanks!

  • Drew,

    I echoe everyone’s comments – “way to go, keep it up, you’ve inspired me” – all of it.
    But, Holy Macanoli!!, you rock for intentionally doing this to your body – for our great good!!! After four kids (three pregnancies – throw in twins for those counting), I’ve gone from a single fit chick, to a overwieght frumpy wife/mom. It’s tough, to get the motitvated and keep motivated w/ day in day out chores. Fitness is not my profession – so I wonder if you’ll keep that in perspective as you whip yourself back into shape. Will you workout for 8hrs a day like biggest loser – or will you do the real world workouts – 1hr, at best, everyday?

    It is easy to become a hermit and avoid social events, make excuses. And the days I’m feeling good about myself, and then see pictures and think, dang, where’s that skinnny girl I saw in the mirror!

    So – i’m looking forward to the tips, meals, plans – whatever! I’m going to get a head start on you – hopefully, I’ll be in the throws of complete workout addiction and be on my way back to my fit life from my single days!

    Ahhhhhh, fitness, you can not escape me!

  • I am totally amazed by what you´re doing, and looking forward to see fat 2 fit part!!

    Just checking in to congratulate you for doing these, and to give you just a quick recomendation. It might be a little late (I just found over the internet you were doing these), but would have been interesting to have some more info about the changes on your body, as body fat and muscle mass percentage, among others, that can easily be obtained with a tanita scale that costs around 100 dollars, to know not only how much weight you gained and how your measurements increased, but also how the muscle mass you had deteriorates.

    You can still do it on the Fat 2 Fit stage, cause trust me, you’re gonna be very frustrated when you weigh-in and realize that you´re not losing pounds altought you’re reducing sizes, because fat is bulkier than muscle.

    My girlfriend is a nutricionist, and she´s always giving me a hard time when i gain a little extra pounds, and she had one of those inquisition artifacts…

    Sorry for the lecture and the bad english, best of luck, keep going!!

  • You know, I’m 316 lbs as of this morning. I logged on to my G+ account and someone had shared your blog. Thank you. Thank you for taking a hell of a risk with your health and your emotional strength to do this. I’m sure you’ve found slight addictions forming and that’s the real dangerous part. Imagine, you’re doing this for 6 months. I’ve done this for 15 years. Every day is a fight to not stuff my face. Trust me, I’m watching your site very closely because I want to see just how big you get. And then I want to see just how easy it is for you to lose it. I also hope this will give you and other personal trainers and nutritionists an insight that isn’t normally there. What it’s like on the other other side of the scale. What it’s like to be Obese. So thank you! and good luck! :D I’ll be cheering you on!

  • WOW! I just found out about you through the yahoo article that was on the main page. I must give you kudos for trying to understand a larger persons perspective, not only in trying to lose the weight, but the life they lead. When I was younger I weighed a nice 120, but after moving in with my now husband, I gained 50 and then 10 from each of the two girls we have. I have to admit its been a struggle and I find myself very self conscious about the weight. I did a cleanse a year ago and lost close to 30 lbs. During that time, I learned about organic eating and after the cleanse I ate about 80-90% organic, grinding my own flour, making my own bread, corndogs, pizza etc. and didnt gain anything back. I had done a good job keeping the weight off until we started construction on a house and then moved in which was about a 6 month span of time…in that time we started eating junk again and all the weight is back, then add to it I work in an italian restaurant..ugh!! ENOUGH! I am ready to lose it all and get back to my beloved organics, but the damn junk food IS very addicting…even though i know what it is and how bad it is..its so hard to not eat it once you start….I will be following your journey now too and hopefully losing weight with you. My question, what was your diet before? organic or convential food? I am sure quite healthy…but curious. I find I can eat a mix of healty with the occasional homemade goodies (like pizza, cookies, hotdogs) and keep weight in check when I am doing it organically…good luck with the rest of the fat portion, so much of what you said is very relatable.

  • Hey!

    This is such a great blog. Your writing and insight is great. You’re putting your body through hell and helping create some empathy for a large percent of the population.

    I’ve always been fat. I’m on my journey to fit. And sir, your blog is a great inspiration. I look forward to your posts.

    It’s weird the adaptations we make in order to accomodate size and weight… not running, not climbing stairs, keeping food on hand, changing how we walk and sit, changing our interactions with people, when the only change we need to make is diet and exercise. WHY is that the hell-beast?!

    Anyway, You’ve given a lot of food for thought here.

    Big Fat Love,
    Nanette

  • I ask not to pry or be rude, but just to be matter-of-fact since your appearance has changed so much:

    Has your wife refused to have sex with you since you’ve gained such a large belly?

  • Parabéns pela iniciativa de saber o que passa uma pessoa fora de forma, pessoas como você faz a diferença, espero que depois de passar por tudo, possa ajudar muitas pessoas a sair dessa roda viva em que vivem. Parabéns e que Deus ilumine seu caminho.

    • Probably a lot of readers here don’t speak Portuguese (neither do I), but Google
      Translate renders Ricardo’s post into English this way:

      “Congratulations on your initiative to know what a person goes out of shape people like you makes a difference, I hope that after going through everything, can help many people to get out of this treadmill in which they live. Congratulations and may God illuminate his path.”

  • I am curious about your thoughts around the fact that not all fat people are that way because the are just “lazy” and “eat whatever they want” — there are psychological issues at hand with overeating, and I am curious how you think this project of yours deals with that and effects people with deeper issues going on. Not to mention the fact that some of what you write is sort of belittling to those people (“My 2-year old found me attempting to see if there was actual “Strawberry Shortcake” in her doll” and “To comfort myself I’m going to sit on the couch with my Ben & Jerry’s and watch “Chocolat” with Johnny Depp”) These kinds of remarks are things that skinny people think fat people think and do. You seem quite arrogant actually, especially if you think living 6 months as a “fat person” will give you the true perspective of dealing with the deeper issues associated with being heavy… not sure if you really are understanding the emotional and psychological side of it really…

  • This may sound like a stupid question Drew but have you noticed your ‘johnson’ doesn’t appear to be the same size? When I was 50lbs heavier it would retreat into my body due to all the excess fat on the outside, especially when sitting down. Strange fact but one I noticed after losing significant weight. Another reason to stay fit.

    • Haha, that’s funny but a very true observation. It does get smaller because of the extra fat around that area. Maybe now you can start a new website, “how to grow your *** by losing weight”

  • dude, I don’t even know you and I’m hooked! i’m not even going to go with that you can do it stuff, you will. what i am surprised at it how you condensed so many emotions that many experience in a life time to 5 months.

    this should be required reading for everyone.

    :)

  • Growing up I faced the same issues that you are facing, and I think in your profession you will be able to assist people to lose weight and also make it less painful through the struggle that it takes to being fit.
    I definitely take my head off for you

  • Drew,

    I really relate to Chere. I was always on the bigger side, but was an athlete through high school and into college. I was never able to lose the baby fat and have 6-pack, etc, but was extremely fit and strong. Strength-wise, at 185 lbs I could bench over 335 lbs and squat over 550 lbs. On top of that, I was running a 5:15 mile, and could do two miles under 11 min. I was a three sport athlete and my training was “work” in every sense of the word (except I didn’t get paid). I hated running and lifting and the way I felt afterwards (like I had just been through hell), but I loved competing, being part of a team, and winning.

    Once I got to college, things got tough. My metabolism seemed to stop dead. While in high school I could each a Hostess fruit pie after school, go home drink 2/3 gallon of skim milk (happened most every night), polish of most of a frozen pizza and not gain anything. I think I probably put away around 4,500-5,000 calories a day, and actually lost weight in-season. In college, the weight came fast. I was cutting down to around 174 lbs for wrestling, but by the start of my sophomore year I weighed 220 lbs–even with in-season and off season workouts. Eventually, I got up to 260 lbs, which seems to be where my body wants to be.

    Like Chere, I’m used to competitive training. When I started working out again a year and a half ago, I went from 265 to 230 within about 5 weeks time. It was two-a-days, about 5-6 days a week, coupled with a diet similar to your “Calories Before” diet. When I got to 230 lbs, I sat there for about 2-3 weeks, before I finally decided that, still 40 lbs short of my goal weight, the effort wasn’t worth it. I was eating a lot of food I didn’t like, abstaining from a lot of food I did like, and I felt like crap after every hard workout. I still worked out, though maybe 3 times a week, and tried to make good choices with food, but wasn’t nearly as strict. A year and a half later, I’m back where I started.

    The problem, I think, is something I don’t think you’ll experience during this experiment/learning experience. Instead of having years of a healthy life-style ingrained in me, I have years of an unhealthy living. I think in the same your current disposition feels temporary to you, for many of us, there’s always some doubt buried in our minds that being fit is temporary for us. That we’re not naturally fit people, we’re just fit right now.

    I always get to a point where I just wish I didn’t have to order the worst tasting (most tasteless) thing on the menu when we go out to eat, cook/eat steamed anything (aside from potstickers), or get up at 5am to go the gym before work. I wish I could eat out of the bag instead of portioning myself like a high school girl eating with her friends. I wish I could give into my desire to be lazy, sit or lay around and just ‘be.’ And eventually, as always, I give in.

    On the other hand, I really appreciated reading this blog post in particular. Some of the mental challenges you listed are things I can readily relate to. I think feeling like there is someone who understands, to some degree, is encouraging.

  • Hi Drew, great blog, just found it. I cannot wait for you to start your jorney from fat2fit. I’ll promise you I will begin my as well!!!

  • Olá!

    Acabei de ler uma matéria do seu blog num site aqui do Brasil. Achei meio que loucura isso que está fazendo … você é determinado, vai conseguir o seu objetivo, e eu, vou passar mais vezes aqui no seu blog para acompanhar e torcer . Parabéns!

    • (Thanks again to Google Translate — but this is my last time)

      Hello!

      I just read an article of your blog site here in Brazil. I thought that this kind of madness is doing … you are determined, will achieve your goal, and I’ll spend more time here on your blog and hope to follow. Congratulations!

  • I found you through reading an article on the Daily Mail today. What an inspiration!! I’ve been reading through your blog posts and your progression into what is basically, my hell. I’m in shock seeing someone like yourself willingly throw yourself into this horrible way of living. It just hit me like a sack of bricks reading about your mood swings, the laziness… Holy S$#%, that’s me! I used to be fit not too long ago. I’m 6ft and 250lbs. It took about 10 years to put the 70 lbs on but I still remember what I used to be like. I want that person back as well. I quit smoking in January and I’m ready to quit being a pig. (Man that hurt to type!) I would like to follow you on your path back to a healthy being. Finding this story and your mission is inspiring and I plan to share this with others. Thank you

  • I find this whole project immensly interesting. You’ve taken this perfect body, a body that is firm, toned and well trained…just to turn around and gain as much weight as you can in 6 months…to then turn it around again to peak performance.

    My biggest concern is…what if it is harder then you anticipated to get from fat to fit? As someone that has been over weight and lost 70 lbs, it seems you are playing with fire. I’m soooo excited to see what it takes to get you from fat to fit, and on what timeline.

    As much as you love working out and eating healthy, aren’t you going to miss being able to eat any food you want or just being lazy?
    We all know weight loss is about calories in and calories out. That is the easy part, the difficult part is getting past the mental road blocks and emotions associated with the eating.

    I appreciate your guts to do this, I hope in the end you find the answers you seek.

  • Drew, I can’t wait to see you fit again. You had the perfect body and I am sure you will be looking better than when you started this whole project. Moreover, this will enable you to give a better advice to those who struggle with weight, since you have been through all these. This is amazing.
    Mónica

  • I recently gained 60 pounds from a medication and have had SO much trouble trying to lose the weight! I used to be 180 pounds, four years ago, and now I’m 230 (down from 240). I will be REALLY interested to see how you lose this weight. I used to run relatively long distances, 10 miles or more. The weight makes it difficult to exercise the way that I used to. My blood pressure has gone up, too. I’m going to try to eliminate anything sugary or starchy from my diet to see if that will work for me! Excellent project.

  • everything you say you feel, i feel. i hate it. i need a change but for some reason can’t push myself. i use to be fit when i had a trainer. how i let that go, that i don’t need a trainer. i want to be fat2fit.

  • Drew…..I just spent the day going over your past blogs…(being retired gives me the time to do that) I used to think I was too old to start exercising and getting into shape but I’ve decided to follow you and your eating/exercise routines on your journey back to fit. I’m only 60 but want to lose the belly that’s taken a lifetime to get. Thanks for the inspiration.

  • I think what you are doing is incredible, and can really speak to alot of people. I know what its like myself to weigh as much as you do currently and it is crippling. i was 14 years old, 5’6 and weight 260 almost 270 and i was misserable. I decided to lose weight after i kept getting tormented at school, was tired of all the physical problems and pretty much just looking the way i did. I’m now 18 almost 19 and i weigh 130 pounds. :) the second part of your process is going to be tough for you for a little bit but! you can do it, it is doable. after the first 2 weeks of the diet you’ll start getting used to it and can make the change over alot better and you’ll get back to your old self again. Good luck and i look forward to reading more of your posts becouse what your doing is gonna speak to alot of people. :)

  • I am really eager to see you go back the other way. Seems such a disgrace to mess up the fit body you had . . . I hope you can get it back completely. Now that will be truly inspiring. :)

  • I just came across your website yesterday and read through your blogs. I wish I would have found it sooner. It’s really great what you’re doing and an inspiration.

  • Wow, I just found out about your site via Free the Animal. You are indeed doing something great putting yourself in ‘Fat’ Shoes. I’m looking forward to your weight loss advice. Good luck with the turnaround coming soon!

  • I only just recently discovered this journey you are on and I am so glad that I did. I have struggled with my weight all of my life and have been losing for the majority of that time. About 3 years ago I went through a hard core plan with cardio, clean eating diet and exercise and it was fantastic, losing about 60 pounds and reducing my body fat % by half, but as time went by I gradually slacked off and eventually was back in my same rut as before gaining it all back. I am now back in the gym and trying to eat right again to get it back in order, but its so hard. I am really looking forward to see how you will reverse back to your fit stage to see what your eating and how your exercise. Thank you so much for doing this.

  • Thank you!!!! You are giving a voices to a problem that face sooo many of us. I found traing for tri was my way to lose weight and get in shape. I hope this blog give hope to others.

  • As person who has been morbidly obese their entire adulthood, I can sympathize with your situation. I live this every day. While I won’t publicly state my weight, I am in the very top category of obesity. I started dieting and exercising on Sept 1st, giving one last try to losing weight. I’ve lost 16 lbs since then and I’m determined to keep going. I found your website via Yahoo, and I’m curious to follow your journey thru weight loss. I personally can’t wait to be a thinner size, as I don’t know what life is like at that stage. Since I am a full time college student I spent most of my life at home, taking classes and avoiding people and social situations that make my life uncomfortable. If you can make it thru gaining all this weight, you’ll have a new perspective when you lose it. Good luck on your last month, don’t give up yet, your almost there!!

  • I think it won’t be hard to lose 70lbs when you just was fat for 6 months. Thsi is a fact: You are used to do exercises. I would like to see someone normal, 2 or 3 years being a fat person losing 70lbs in 6 months. I think it will be very hard.

  • Drew,

    I found your website through your YAHOO interview and I have to say I am simultaneously intrigued, appalled, and motivated by your selfless journey. When I came to your website I was shocked by the before and after photos of you after only 5 months. I was even more shocked after looking at your photo gallery logging each week of your journey – it only took 2 months to completely lose your tone and definition!

    When I looked at your current photo I see ‘me’ standing there. I have the same belly, hips, thighs, etc. I’ve always wanted to be defined and ‘cut’ like you were but didn’t think it was possible. YOU have shown me that it certainly is possible. I can now see the ‘fit’ man inside my unfit body and am going to do everything possible to get that man out! I’m going to follow your journey from this point on and see if I can match you on your return to fitness. Thank you, thank you, thank you for having the courage and willpower to do this for those of us who struggle with fitness.

    Owen

  • This morning my co-worker told me about you and I couldn’t wait to get home to look at your website. What an incredible idea! Best of luck to you. I will be following the rest of your journey. Hopefully many people will be inspired by your efforts!

  • Drew I think what you are doing is wonderful,I am an overweight mother of 3 beautiful children, and I dont have the energy to play with them. I have tried the gym and have had the personal trainer who expected me to be able to do things I cannot. I wish more people in this field could actually relate to what it feels like to be obese. You have given me hope that change can happen. I truly look forward to following your journey back, I will be doing it with you. I hope to play soccer with my kids 6 months and 3 weeks from today. Thank you for stepping outside the box and truly trying to help others like me!

  • Hello Drew,

    Your case has just been publised on a major website in brazil, so by now you should have lots of new Brazilian followers!! I admire your courage to take this challenge, it’s pretty impressive…..I just want to wish a good luck on fat2fit…..I have no doubts you can do it!!
    Ps: what hell were those two huge burgers?? I was sick watching it….

    Wish you the best!

    Leo

  • Drew,
    I just found out about your journey via Yahoo News. I am 51 years old and have been overweight for the past 18 years. I really want to follow your journey and start losing weight. This sounds very exciting and interesting. I feel you will be able to inspire me to lose the weight.

    Tony

  • Drew, I feel your pain and so does everyone who has been and is overweight. The fight never ends; when I think of all the years I have fought this battle sometimes winning and sometimes losing it makes me sad. Now, just turning 67 a week ago I have been fighting the good fight down 15 lbs in 7 weeks. I don’t want to live the remaining years of my life overweight–not because of vanity but because age has slowed me down but the weight has slowed me down more! Stay Healthy! Live Life Full!

  • Hi there,
    I’ve gone up and down on my my weight. Lately more down than up! I’m probably the same weight as you are now. I’m hoping to be able to follow your plan to get into the shape you were when you started. I know I would love to look like that. I know my wife would love it too :-)

  • I have to admit, I just found out about you. First let me say that I am very impressed that you decided to gain the weight to get in the head of overweight people. I happen to be one of them. For years, I have struggled with my weight. I’ve been up and down, up and down and right now I’m up. I feel your pain with being out of breathe, being self conscious and I do believe this will help you understand what we (fat folks) go through. Hang in there and I can’t weight (pun intended) to see how you go about losing the weight. BTW, I have subscribed to your youtube channel too. Take care.

    Felicia

  • Hey Drew!!! I saw ur blog on Yahoo today..I must say congratulations to u on ur endevour…U are a very strong person to do this..I myself was once 144 pounds and lost most of my weight doing the HCG diet and I am down to 110 now. I feel great! I commend u for what you are encountering because I know losing all the weight I lost I would never want to go over a pound of my weight goal…I dont know how u are doing it…but i congratulate u… I am trying to get my husband to follow in your footsteps. He weighs 293 pounds and I can relate to your wife having issues with his body type..Its very hard for me to have an intimate relationship with him and sometimes I even say such mean things to him knowing that it is hurtfull hopiing he would change his bad diet routine. But I guess it is just as hard for him to loose the weight since he use to eating all those processed foods. Keep in mind Drew, we werent always like this. ten years ago we were hot teenagers… I guess a lifestyle of genetics and routine plays a big part in getting the way we are…But hopefully one day he will change his eating and dieting habbits. till then we gladly await ur fit2fat2fit workout and eating plan so i can possible get him to follow you as he transforms himself…Great luck to u in your journey and thanks so much for doing this

    • My wife struggled trying to get me to drop from back when I was 290. I would get upset and angry at her for stating the obvious. Why not mention nicely to him that he used to perform intimately much better when he was lighter and explain to him how important it is to you that you want to be more intimate with him. I’ll tell you that I have since lost around 30 lbs and have so much more energy and now have no problem in the intimacy department. I decided to lose the weight when my wife explained how important it was for her that I lose weight. Maybe it will help in your case as well. Most husbands just want to please their wives.

  • Drew…Do you think that you’re going to be able to get fit again in the same amount of time that you spent getting fat? Do you worry that you’re going to be able to squash all cravings of all unhealthy foods once you go back to eating healthy?
    I’m not trying to bum you out. You obviously have the knowledge and motivation to get fit again… I’m just wondering what’s going through your mind as you prepare yourself to get fit again. Best of luck to you.

    • I agree, it takes longer to lose the weight then to put it on and it would be a real disservice if he goes into a 5 day a week routine instead of what most people can manage. That being the 30 minutes 3 x a week on a good day.

  • Hello Drew – wow! First of all, I heard mention of your “experiment” a few days ago and I just had to find out if it was true. I have to say, while I applaud your determination to somewhat relate to those you’re trying to help, I can’t help but worry about what you’re doing to your body. Even being obese for a short amount of time can impact your life long-term. I would know – I’ve been overweight as long as I can remember and was actually considered “morbidly obese” or maybe “super morbidly obese” 10 months ago (although I never saw myself as being that bad – I will still active in sports and playing softball). I have lost 85 lbs from my heaviest and i still plan to lose around another 50-60 (fingers crossed).

    Now, while I worry what you’re doing to yourself, your children, your wife, may cause long term side effects – I’m glad someone finally gets it. I use to hate that my size 2 yoga/aerobic teaching stepmom would tell me what I needed to do to lose weight (weight watchers at age 13 – nice!). I know she meant well but I couldn’t help but think, “you’ve never been fat – how do YOU have ANY IDEA HOW I FEEL OR HOW HARD IT ACTUALLY IS TO LOSE THIS?” But please keep in mind that many of us that are or have been obese have deeper issues than our unhealthy relationship with food or a gym. Many of us hide in our food because of childhood traumas which opens a whole knew can. An addiction to how alcohol or drugs make you feel just isn’t the same. We don’t have to have alcohol or drugs to survive. We do, however, have to have good to survive.

    Obesity is a dangerous creature. While I can say, losing the 85+ lbs has been feeling SO MUCH BETTER both physically and mentally. I still have a LONG journey to go.

    No doubt you’ll get TONS of coverage for doing this. I hope you’re able to relate just how hard the journey is to the public. I’m excited to have found you and look forward to following your journey.

    I’m at a bit of a stall right now and I cannot wait til you work on getting fit again. Maybe your new diet will help prove as a jumpstart to my continued loss. I need one.

    And on a side note – I really hope your “fat” stage doesn’t do to your skin what 20 years of fat did to me. Looks like after my loss I may be heading under the knife so I can actually look good after all this hard work :(

    GOOD LUCK! I’m pulling for ya!

  • I feel your pain man. With a sedentary desk job and poor eating habits I gained around 100 pounds in about 4 years. I’m finally getting back on track, best of luck to you and your family. I’m also really enjoying your blog, keep up the great work.

  • Drew,

    I came across your story from my girlfriend and honestly I think your nuts!! but at the same time. I am going to go threw the same video lifestyle routine change from fat to fit with you just to be the one of many who believe in you. i am a exercise science major at montclair state university and I feel that what your doing will motivate people way more than you think! I haven’t worked out consistently in 3 mounts and I believe that what your going threw feels 100 times worst than what i”m feeling lol. i’ll be ready!!

    Akeem J
    @DatDude2Nice

  • Hi Drew! It’s always nice to see someone experiment with life and it’s really great that you are sharing your experiences with everyone. As you work through the next stage of your transition, please be sure to continue adding notes about emotions and thoughts as well as your physical accomplishments. It is inspiring to me and others who are going through difficult diet/exercise moments such as stagnations, relapsing, plateaus, etc. God bless your wife for going on this journey with you! Best of luck to you both.

  • I am new to catching up on your journey. This post gives me hope. I had a baby about a year and a half ago and then got married this past summer. I have always been 5ft 4in and anywhere from 80-90lbs…until I had my last son that is. I found food so comforting when I was put on bed rest. I now struggle tremendously with trying to eat healthier and loose weight. I now weight around 150 and while that is not obese it is still 60-70lbs over what my body was used to. I have noticed all the physical, mental, and emotional states you have as well. It is so nice to know that there is hope and that I am not the only one facing this difficult journey. Thank you!

  • Hey Drew-
    Thanks for sacrificing your former awesome bod for those of us who haven’t always been in shape. As a new reader, I was wondering if you plan to provide meal plans for both men and women or will women need to figure out how to adjust the amount of food? Can’t wait to see your transformation.

  • Since I saw your story on Yahoo – I’m very interested in your journey back to fit from fat. Most talk the talk, very few (and not counting Richard Simmons) do the walk. As someone who dropped from 320 to 250 (and I have 50 to go) I want to see how you lose your 70 and see what issues you run into. Unfortunately for me, I am type II diabetic, and my knee’s are shot, so running is not an option for me. Because I have crushed disc’s in L3-L5, some exercises are out for me as well. But – the diet – yeah, I can get down with that – because what I eat on a regular basis is pretty much akin to tree bark and vegetation (Fiber with a side of fiber). Low carb, cut out all white – and hoping to get down to 195 or 200, so I can get off the meds. That’s about my only real goal right now – get off the diabetic meds. Wishing you the best of luck Drew, and I will be watching your progress!

  • No need to wait until November… you can stop now. When you said, “I guess I’m just sick of feeling like a different person. I want the old Drew back. I know he’s in there somewhere,” you hit the nail on the head. That statement shows that you have found your way into a fat person’s head and you now KNOW what it’s like to be fat… not just like putting on a fat suit or something, you are living it and feeling it and you’ve arrived. We ALL feel like this. We look back at what we used to be (whether it was 6 months ago, or 20 years ago), and we wish we could be that person again. And we despair that we may never get there. After 4 children, I’ve got about 75-80 extra pounds that I’m just dying to get off. Your revelations about your new fat body are nothing new to me… welcome to my life. I can particularly empathize with the inability to play with kids the way you wish you could. Finding your web site is the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” and I’m DONE with being fat. Tell you what… since you’re clearly not going to quit the fat phase early, and since I have more to lose than you do, I’m going to get a head start and go first. I’m going to do it with T-Tapp.com, and eating 2 days God-made, 1 day man-made. My goal is going to be to beat you to it. Doesn’t that sound fun?! :)

  • wow dude
    i just saw you on an article on yahoo and i been going thru your website and i think this is an amazing thing u r doing im loving the whole story and transformation so far and i cant wait to see you get back to ur old self deff gonna keep posted to see the transformation back to fit… me as an aspiring fitness professional i dont think i wouldve had the guts to do what you r doing man… keep it up and good luck

  • I’m 24 and growing up I’d always been lazy about my health, convincing myself it didn’t matter to me that I was 40 lbs overweight.
    Well, severe back problems forced me to change that mindset two years ago.

    I lost 45 lbs in 4 months simply through a change in diet and I was amazed at how much better I felt. My back problems didn’t improve, but I can only imagine how bad off I’d have been without losing all I did.

    Now, my weight is slowly creeping in the wrong direction and I’ve been needing motivation. Your story has given me just that. Thanks for inspiring me to again take seriously what I eat. It’s crazy how quickly it can get out of hand. I hope things go well for you and yours will be a success story, an even better on than mine. ^_^

  • Dude–your story has reached the Daily Mail!
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2051021/How-personal-trainer-obese–understand-fat-feels-like.html

    Now people in England are probably going to follow you on your journey too. I commend you for literally sacrificing your body for your clients. As a woman who has been pregnant twice, I can somewhat identify with you. I eat clean and workout 10 hours a week, after the first pregnancy I bounced back no problem. After the second, the last 8 pounds won’t budge no matter what even now 3 years later. I think hormones come into play there for women. As a man I think you should have an easier time losing than a female whose hormones could do some long term damage. Good luck, I will be following you, and I think you can inspire children too. I am showing my daughter your clips so she can see what a junk food driven and sedentary lifestyle can do.

  • Those addictions are the worst part; they get complicated. I hope you don’t have the cravings and addictions long enough for them to really set in deeply, because they’re a nightmare.

    Food can be substituted for sleep when you just have to stay functional. You don’t sleep as well when unfit and not as active. It’s harder to be active when tired and unfit, but you get less fit without activity. So you’re more tired, and you eat more to stay functional during the day. It’s a nasty cycle.

    Worse, food produces a temporary high that’s addictive in its self and also helps briefly put negative emotions aside… often negative emotions created by unhappiness about food/eating/fitness.

    These two things interact to create a really nasty trap and a real mess that takes a HUGE amount of discipline to break out of.

    I’m glad you’re learning from doing this, but for your sake I hope you don’t get to experience the full force of these problems. It’s horrible, a constant drain on energy and will that you don’t have enough of anyway, and nobody deserves it.

  • I just started reading your posts today. My wife was at work and saw this on yahoo and thought, ” hey that sounds like an everyday thing with us”. I just turned 28 today , prior military now full time student and stay at home dad to my now 4 month old daughter. im 6’2″ 285ish pounds, (i say ish because we have a digital scale and i don’t think its happy when it gets crushed by my near 300 lbs) Im tired of being fat, whats worse im tired of looking like my father 50 and the spitting image of santa. Im afraid that soon ill be like him where i can barley get out of bed, walk, or hold his grand children. Im not even 30 and i cant walk a mile without 2 knee braces and a few 5 minute breathers. like you said, i only eat 2 meals a day and by the time i get my lazy a** up i can eat a 6000 calorie meal then its back to my lazyboy. i dont want my daughter to see me and feel like i feel when i look at my father. im going to start following your progress and when you start your “back to fit again” i plan on following your work out routines and meal plan. So here’s to you and me both “Raises a Yoohoo in salute” Cheers!

  • Drew-
    I found your story while browsing the news during another late night at the office and I cannot tell you how inspired I am. In the course of about 8 years I went from being in the best shape of my life to the worst shape and am 60 pounds overweight. The worst part is that I don’t see it in the mirror, but pictures are the worst and show the truth. People used to ask me if I was a bodybuilder, now I have no idea what they think. The hardest part for me is that I used to get a ton of attention and got hit on everywhere I went… meeting people was never a problem and I had more phone numbers that I knew what to do with. Now I never notice anyone looking at me. One thing I saw that you wrote was that your testosterone has plummeted, and recently I found that mind was equivalent to that of an 80 year old man (I’m 42)… and I never even thought that weight might have something to do with it. I cannot tell you how much you’ve inspired me to get back to my old self. Denial can be such a powerful weapon, and since you haven’t begun the losing stage yet, I’m determined to do it with you. I’m glad you’ve said you’ll be posting your diet on your site because that’s the thing I have the most trouble with… for me it isn’t eating too much, but I’m a big time meal skipper and then when I finally do get hungry at the end of the day I scarf whatever I can find. Love the candy. I’m not much of a cook (and despise fish) but w/my Foreman grill I can probably keep up with you. I just have to set my phone or something to remind me to eat. At this size it isn’t much fun to have people watch or know you’re eating!! What’s hard about being fat is that it normally happens so slowly and we change so gradually that our new habits literally creep up on us. In your case you’ve accelerated the process but 6 months is a long time and it doesn’t take long to notice how people treat you differently, the reduction of energy, etc. Brother, you’ll have all the material you need to write a book when this is finished and you’ll make one hell of a trainer. Best of luck to you and I’ll be following in your footsteps so don’t let me down!!
    Rick

  • This is very inspiring! Thankyou!!!!! Not only will you be fit again, but rich and famous too! Go get em’ champ I’m rooting for ya!

  • I did the same thing back in Nov. ’05 when I got my first job out of college..went from a 24 yr old. 6’1″ 190…could dunk a basketball and run 5 or 6 miles like it was nothing to gaining 90 lbs in 9 mos. Basically, I was eating the same amt of calories I had when I was in college but I wasn’t working out…]I didn’t do it on purpose, though. I had never cooked for myself so I ate out a lot. Also, there was only 1 gym in town and it closed before I got off of work. I didn’t work out in the morning because I didn’t want to get up being tired from working the night before. I could tell I was gaining weight but I didn’t think it was that much. I went to the doctor summer ’06 and much to my surprise, she said I was 280. I broke down and cried right there. I felt the same things that you’re feeling mentally, physicall and emotionally. I vowed I was going to lose the weight and I would never let it happen to me again. It’s been 5 1/2 years and I still….haven’t lost all of the weight (225). I’m not far from being back to 190 or less but it’s been a challenge over the years. I don’t know what you do for a living but for 3 of the first 5 years I was a store manager and sometimes I was working 80 hours/ wk, yet I still found a way to workout atleast 30 mins or so. Maybe it’ll be easier for you. The past 3 years have been a little easier on me as I only work 40. It’s still tough, though. All I can say is good luck. You’re going to have to fight urges and cravings that you’re now use to and if you slip even a little bit, your body will pack that weight back on so much quicker than it did before as your metabolic rate has probably slowed down to a crawl. My advice is stay focused and determined…the longer you keep that weight on you, the worse off your knees, ankles, and hips will be. :) I know this because even at age 30 and only 225 lbs, I can barely touch the backboard. Good luck!

  • Woah !!! I saw your article on Yahoo and was intrigued…I was always pretty slender and active growing up and ate whatever I wanted.In my mid twenties I started injectable birth control and gained 60 pounds.I joked with the doctor that that stuff works by making you too fat to sleep with! LOL
    Anyhoo..I lost that weight pretty easy by stopping the shots,exercising,and getting rid of soda pop.
    Fast forward ten years later and it’s crept back on me after a baby and a knee injury.It’s different this time though.I have half the energy than before.I feel so ashamed that I let it happen again.I avoid pictures because,I am self conscience of my double chin.I have like three pictures with my own child! I look in the mirror and just want to cry.
    It’s so much harder to lose this weight with ten extra years and less muscle.My daughter is three and I dread the park (terrible!) and going outside because,I get hot and overtired in seconds flat….I feel like I’d be a much better mom if I didn’t wanna sit down all the damn time !
    I commend you for putting yourself out there.My husband and I just gave up and we know we need to do something.We don’t want to end up like our parents.We both feel old and ugly.It really does put a damper on your love life!
    I also wanna say that I feel so much better knowing it’s not just me who craves this crappy food! I still love soda and I swear I used to smoke back in the day but, soda is harder to quit!
    It’s really sad how as a society we have let food get so far from the source.How people eat and eat and eat! I didn’t realize that eating one bad thing really does make you crave another…It’s opened my eyes!
    I wish you the best and will follow you through! I’m not gonna accept the bad habits my family and I have adopted anymore.Just because you eat a salad with Hamburger Helper doesn’t mean your healthy! =)
    I am taking control! I am excited to see what you can teach me! Hang in there and keep it up! Your a brave dude!
    An inspiration!

  • This would make an awesome documentary good luck with your journey and getting back to the newer and improved Drew. The old Drew wont be able to touch the new Drew. BAM SHAZAM!

  • Hi Drew just wanted to say I think its great what you are doing and im looking forward to the weight lose plans. I recently lost 16KGs and I seemed to have slowed down im hoping your plan can help me lose the other 8KGs I wish to lose. Good luck with the lose you have my fall support.
    And Thanks

  • WOW! This is a great story. I was very fit and active until my husband and I started having problems which ended in a divorce. I went from being a size 5 and really fit to a size 11 and really unhappy. I just started back at the gym 2 weeks ago and started to change my eating habits. I do agree that it is a lot harder to lose when you are bigger. I really need something uplifting to keep me on track. I’m very glad that I stumbled across your website.

  • drew not to be a dick dont get me wrong i know that it takes alot to gain the body you once had but also takes alot to revrse this chalenge could not be completed by just anybody what i cant help ask myself though is that you had the body that people only dream of like myself i have a major food addiciton and have recentley hired a personal trainer to get into to shape i have been working my ass of and have no where near the body you had i have also addopted a vegtrtian lifestyle which i think will help with the weight i know iam rambling i will say this i give you hella credit for walking in someone eleses shoes but man you worked so hard to get where your at and i just dont unserstand why you would do this to yourself anyways best of luck on your transformation hope you do well looking forward to reading your tips

  • Hey Drew. I just saw this website on thedailywh.at in the topics of the day. I must say I’m quite surprised with this and am very interested as well. What’s amazing about your pictures, from where you were, to where you are headed, I’m where you are at right now. I’ve never “looked” like you did at a buck 96, but I had a hell of a lot more self esteem at 200 than I do now at 255. I was training for a triathlon when I got a hernia and I’ve just gone down hill since. No motivation, finding now my clothes don’t fit, embarrassed to go to my classes thinking people are looking at my funny. I can’t stand it. I’m going to follow your progress now, because I can understand how you want your old life back. I’d like mine back too. I just have no motivation to get back to where I was before. I find your story inspirational and I can’t wait to see how you fair out after you are done getting fat. Only one suggestion I can make before you go back to working out, find an In and Out. Go for the 4×4 animal style, fries animal style, and a shake. Never a better meal in the world.

  • All i can say is WOW!
    what a great experiment!!! respect to you Drew!
    What a difference!! Do ya think you will get back to how you was in 6 months man?
    I am so lookin forward for the meal plans! i need to drop around 2 stone,(28 pounds)!!
    top bloggin! good luck all the way from Manchester! England!!!

  • Wow, my cousin linked this for me and I must say, you’ve got serious guts (no pun intended) tackling such a crazy assignment. I went from being 96kgs, sitting behind a desk everyday (which I do again for the next 4 months) to 78kgs, as a junior CQB instructor to our military here. I am just doing the admin for now and already I’ve gained a few kgs :/ Think it’s time for a bigger kettlebell haha

    Good luck! Keep up the great work! I’ve started a regiment while on these 4 months behind a desk (or suicide might become an option)… but I’m really excited to follow the transformation – maybe I can keep up without suppliments :P

  • Drew,

    I think that you have issued a phenomenal challenge to yourself. One that will enable you to relate to your clients, and all those struggling to achieve a “fit body”.

    In other words, they say you don’t know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. I commend you for putting on 70 pounds worth of shoes and starting the walk.

  • Wow! I have only just found out about this story and I for one cannot wait to follow your journey back to “Fit” again! I am a slender person but lack the knowledge of the right diet and exercise plan to go that final step of toning up, so cant wait to see your healthy meal and exercise blogs! I am very excited! Well done Drew and the very best of luck! x

  • I had a baby 10 months ago and have yet to truly find the motivation to get back in shape. I am 40 pounds heavier than pre-baby and I’m a little under 5 feet tall, so it makes a huge difference. I am so disgusted with myself as I have size 4 clothing in one closet and size 12 in another closet. I currently live in Israel, even though I grew up in Kentucky. I don’t have many friends here and it was my friends who I credit my staying in shape, we used to go the gym together, play tennis, run, play basket ball, etc. Now I am living abroad with my husband and daughter and kind of feel stuck and lack motivation. I came across what you are doing on Yahoo and am I very much inspired. I am hoping that by following you and your journey that I can begin to create my own journey. Thank you and good luck.

  • I just found this blog and CANNOT wait for the next 6 months. I, too, am in the process of trying to get fit after gaining 60 pounds due to life circumstances. Since January, I’ve lost 40 pounds, run 5 5Ks, a 10K and a Half Marathon (slow and steady!) Due to some hip weakness, I have started PT, which made me realize how important strength training is. I still have 20-30 pounds to go but I feel so much better already. I can totally relate to the additive quality of the food you eat and how it’s a giant cycle that can spiral out of control. Good luck in your journey, I’ll be following your blog!

  • This will be very inspiring when you start in November. Just seen article in UK paper this morning. Have emailed your website around the office today. Good luck, you come across as the type of chap who will make it back. Good luck from UK

  • You’ve made a valid point here, 6 months ago me and fiancee split, he was overweight and much of the emotional and physical symptoms u describe were him. I put it down to his personality. He was hard work and blamed me for everything. It’s a shame we broke up but after reading this I am beginning to wonder. Sadly he wouldn’t open up about anything. I started going to the gym 3-4 x a week while with him but he didn’t show any interest himself which was fine. I didn’t ask him, his weight never bothered me. But now I wonder. I saw him looking at a rediculous diet book in the local shop recently, one of those meat only ones, so now I really do wonder. keep up the good work.

  • Hi Drew.
    I saw a link to your blog in the icelandic web-papers today. Your are something else… a real inspiration! I feel for you right now though, and know what its like. I’ve been fat all my life and turning 30 and still being fat, knowing that I might not even have another 30 years left if I kept it up, really made me think.
    In the past 5 months I’ve lost 52 lbs (68 left) by doing nothing but changing my diet, and I’m constantly looking for inspiration to help keep me motivated. You’re it man. I’m joining a gym on november 1st and your blog now being in my fav list I’m gonna watch and learn from you while I embark on my fat2fit journey =o)

    Best regards from Iceland – Rockzy

  • Drew,

    Keep going, you’re nearly there! I’ll be celebrating for you on 17th November, when the weight loss begins and you can regain your life -which you will.

    This will be a life changing experience and it be good for your clients to have a PT who who isnt just talking the talk, but can empathise and has been there and is living proof that you lose weight and truly feel great. More than that, it’ll be an inspiration to many more people who follow your journey – including myself.

  • Hello Drew, I am morbidly morbidly obese 49 years old. 5′ 8″ 365 lbs. I have probablr gained and lost 1,000 lbs in my life time. I read through your past post and it was eye opening to see the changes that you felt that you were not expecting. I have actually had your Fuddrucker’s challenge as a meal. So it may have been a challange for you but just a typical meal in there for me.

    Yes I read what everyone said about when you lose you will have the advatage of still having some of your muscles, the knowledge that you can live on that kind of food, absence of long term baggage, etc. I think you will have another advantage that you may not be aware of. You already know how to cook healthy and you know what you and your family likes. How do you cook fish, have it be moist, and still be healthy. Of course my wife likes bland food and I like it spicy which also makes cooking interesting. Having said all that it will be interesting if while losing the weight some more light bulbs come on.

    Also to see if once youv’e eaten like this and you go back to your healthy lifestyle how many new things might be kept. I.E. will you have a snack with your wife a little more often, or will one of these junk food snacks find it’s way into being a snack every once in a while.

    I have to tell you that drinking a spinach shake sounds gross as hell to me.

    I see you took a few sips of your wife’s spinach shake. I am wondering if you have been doing this all along. If you have not then I would ask how did it taste? Did it taste as good as it did before? Ddi you notice any difference?

    I lost 3 lbs last week and am on my way to losing again this week but it ain’t easy. It is a struggle each and every minute. That’s right minute not day.

    Good luck.

  • Hi Drew ,information about your journey came also to Poland ( Europe) – I really admire you – it is the best way to show people that they can go fast very quickly and they can lose weight hopefully as quick and healthy as possible.My story ; was always Ok but 2,5yrs ago had to take medicine (steroids) and gained almost 15kg ( sorry but dont know exactly how many pounds it is) Even having healthy eating habits and some regular exercise it is really difficult if your body must take this type of medicine every day.Hope one day I could put it away and go back to my old fit me again.It is really hard for me to look the way i look – especially that after steroids medicines your face looks like full moon. I cross my finger for you :) I wish you a big success in losing weight,all the best for you and your family.

  • Dude… saw this website over here in the UK.. i definitely wouldnt call myself obese, or possibly even that fat, but have gained weight since May till now… and just started going back to the gym last week, so you’re challenge has come at a good time for me as I’m going to use you as my inspiration to get fit and eat healthy, so I’ll be checking this site everyday to see how your getting on and using your tips! Fingers crossed I can get to a good level after 6 months! Having said that, I could really do with a donut right now!! :)

  • Wow!! I am glad I saw you on GMA this morning.
    I have gone from fit to fat due to a medical issue and after age 40. Your blog is inspiring and I think it is great that you are doing this to have more empathy for your clients. I wish you well on your journey back to fit and I will try and take that same journey with you. Soon to be fit fan!!!

  • I understand that you’re doing things this way because you want to gain a lot of weight quickly, but you need to be sensitive to the fact that obese and overweight people don’t generally store food under the bed because the bedroom is on the second floor. Most of the time, overweight people eat at the same times of day as thin people, and often eat the same amount or less calories than thin people. The types of food eaten, hydration and exercise is what makes the difference.

  • I have done something similar with my body over the last 15 years. However I have had 7 kids. I got my body back after #3 but with numbers 4-7 I simply haven’t had the time or the energy. Now I need to drop 70 pounds. I think I will join you on your journey back down because I am tired of not being fit and feeling good.

  • This is so inspirational. I can relate to the emotional and mental aspects mentioned above.

    Thanks for doing this and I can’t wait to see you get back into shape, I’ll be taking that journey with you. You are helping a lot of people out there including myself. Thank you so much for taking on this risk and I know that once you start losing the weight, the rewards will come in a hundred fold.

    Truly inspiration buddy!!

  • Drew,,,,please be very careful! Protect your back. Lord Forbid you get hurt and physically can’t get back to where you were before! You are playing a very dangerous game!!

  • I am really late to the party here but I think I’ll be along for the rest of the ride.

    In August 2010, I began a weight loss journey of my own from 305 lbs. (and this was after being a relatively healthy 220 for most of my life before ballooning up from working in food service for 8 years).

    Over the course of the next 6-7 months, I dropped down to 247. However, 2011 has been a terribly stressful year, filled with many emotionally draining moments that I won’t get into here, and I am back up to 270. I’m not going to be 271.

    I’ve been looking for some type of plan for a guy my size to get back down to a fit 205 or so… You’ve obviously been an inspiration to many people with your decision and journey from fat to fit and I hope to accompany you back to fit.

  • Thank you for doing this, I always thought my destiny was to be fat. I plan to follow your journey back to fit and learn from the you on how to eat properly. I have tried to teach myself, but it is so overwhelming, eat this don’t eat that, use these supplements, don’t use those, good carbs bad carbs….blah blah blah. Watching you will be like watching GETTING FIT FOR DUMMIES. because you already know what is good and bad for your body. You know where to start, you WILL know how hard it really is. Thank you and also thank your wife and family for standing by and putting up with this experiment!

  • Drew, I think what your doing is amazing. I have learned so much from you. I have been slim all my life and could never understand the difficulty of certain family members who get winded just walking/shuffling to the mailbox, a whopping 25 ft on flat pavement. You have helped me understand the changes the body goes through, and the causes of them. I had no idea that being overweight actually causes hormonal changes on top of the typical high blood pressure and cholesterol.
    We are approaching your final week of getting fat, have you eaten chinese food? I know it is high in sodium, and you already have high blood pressure. If you think it would be better to stay away from it, I understand completely and wouldn’t want you to endanger your health any further.
    I am very curious about your journey back to fit, and have one request: would you be able to do it from a regular healthy diet and exercise perspective? Without those protein shakes and bars, and extra vitamins, kind of like a lower income approach. Especially nowadays, average people cannot afford special dietary supplements to help lose weight and have the energy to exercise. That would be very helpful.
    Again, thank you for taking on this amazing challenge and sharing your journey. It has been most educational and inspirational, and I think also shows compassion.

  • Hi Drew

    I am following your transformation, this is truly amazing, no other personal trainer has ever committed themselves so fully. I can’t wait to see your daily transformation back to fit I plan to follow you to the letter.

  • I have been overweight all my life now at 39 and three kids (8,6,4). I never thought of myself as” FAT”, just overweight. When shopping, I never had a problem about going to the next size up in clothes. I just bought what fit. I just ate and never thought about calories. I eat EVERYTHING, nothing I do not like. I will even continue to eat something that was not good, but it was still edible.

    In 2009, I lost 40lbs and received lots of attention. Went from 185lbs to 145lbs at 5’1” I became aware of clothes sizes and actually saw myself as THIN…WOW! I started receiving all this attention that I never had before. This became over whelming. Because I was never thin before, I was not experienced in how to live a “thin life.” I sabotaged myself and gained back all my weight, plus 5 more lbs. Even though my weight is not that high, I can totally relate to people who weigh over 500lbs.

    Today, I came across your story and I think it is great what you are doing. Stepping into the shoes of an overweight person is very hard to do. Life is so hard being overweight it is both psychological and physical. Personally, I believe it is more psychological than physical.

    I hope my story gives you more of an insight on the overweight life. Today I will take a step in the right direction to start my new life again. We will succeed together

    • Hi Kathy,

      I read your blog reply and can relate to your weight loss and gain. Hopefully, we can both get back on track. Not feeling good about your weight is definately causes great psychological distress. I too am 5″1′ and weighed 120 two years ago from discipline on a good diet and routine exercise. Now I weigh 160 and feel drained all the time. I let myself go and need to get back on track, but it is very difficult. Good luck in your journey.

  • Drew,
    I just saw you on GMA and I am totally inspired by you. I lost 60lbs a year ago by eating right and jogging daily, but I have gained about 25lbs back. I know why I gained it back but it’s so hard to get back on track. Please understand that sometimes even when you know how to do it, and how good it feels to be that thinner person, sometimes you lose your way and can’t seem to find it again. It’s like watching yourself drive off of a cliff. You can see and feel the negative changes but you can’t seem to stop the momentum of the crash. Just listening to your story makes me feel like I can find my way back. If you can do it, so can I! I can’t wait to get started!

  • Hello Drew,
    I just wanted to write to you and say its amazing how your so willing to try and walk in our footsteps and see what its like to have to go through our daily lives of being overweight and trying to lose the weight. I have been overweight all my life and was starting to workout till I ruptured a disc in my L4. I was told it will take a while to be able to start working out again but I’m determined to lose the weight and start working out again as soon as I’m able to. I seriously applaud you and what your doing to show us guys that while yes it is a very hard job to lose the weight and keep it off that it can be done with the right willpower, help, assistance from others, and exercise. I plan to follow your efforts to be fit again and hopefully I will learn a lot of pointers and advice to use towards my ability to shed my weight off for good. Thanks and wish you the best though I know you will succeed.

  • i just want to say I found out your website just today through reddit. It was very interesting to read back on your blog posts and understand the relation of fat and mind. I’m going to follow your journey end and restart from now on. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts as a fat person losing weight!

  • This project of yours is extremely motivating for me. I have struggled with my weight since high school. At one point I weighed in at 230lbs at 5’9″, I lost 65lbs in the course of 6 months and unfortunately I have been on yo-yo diets and have gone from 165 back up to almost 195 pounds in a years time frame. All of your mental and emotional feelings are spot on with how a lot of overweight people feel.

    As for the marriage issues, I have to agree with your point of view on the problems and tension it can cause.

    I am proud of you for taking on such a hard project and am excited to see how you progress on your way back to fit. I hope to use you as added motivation and guidance in achieving my goals as well!

  • Just found your site/blog. Good luck on your journey.

    I was one of ‘those’ who when gaining a pound a month, didn’t think it was so awful .. until it happened several years in a row. Yeah. BLEH.

    After several years, I was diagnosed with diabetes, and prescribed oral medication. I did fine w/ that (or so I thought) for a few more years. My glucose levels were declining, but not to where my doc wanted them to be. I was also told that my cholesterol and BP were ‘too high for a diabetic’ They weren’t HIGH, just too high to be with other ‘comorbidities.’

    Weight Watchers, gym membership, Nutrisystem …. yeah … I’d done ALL of them, and could only lose a few pounds at a time. And then, even maintaining my diet/exercise (or increasing as I could), the pounds crept back on. [Tell me, how does one GAIN weight eating 1700 calories a day when your (medically tested) Basal Metabolic Rate is 2450?!?! ] Sometimes … just sometimes … trying to ‘eat right’ and exercise is not enough.

    The straw that broke this camel’s back was when I had to go onto a basal insulin — to help lower my sugar so that my pancreas could keep up. When even that wasn’t helping — and I was severely depressed, and crying each day — I finally talked to my doctor about other options. We’re talking BIG GUNS here.

    I had weight loss surgery. Specifically roux-en-y gastric bypass. IT SAVED MY LIFE! I’m 150 pounds lighter. I’m approaching my ‘goal’ weight of 180 pounds — which, for my 5’8″ – 5’9″ frame is STILL overweight, but MUCH MUCH better than the 300+ pounds where I started.

    I do wish you much luck with your journey. May you return to your previous weight/health with no ill effects from this ‘experiment.’ And, may you understand and have compassion for those who try … and fail … because while their spirit is willing … their bodies just don’t cooperate with them. [And contrary to what you might see on The Biggest Loser ... screaming at a fat person does NOT motivate them to exercise. It usually motivates them to drive to McDonald's and pound down far too many calories ... and then discard the wrappers because they're ashamed that they let you get to them!]

  • I watched your story on GMA this morning, and I have to say, “how inspirational”. Over the past 2 years, I have let myself go in terms of my weight, appearance, motivation, etc. At first I choked it up as some sort of mid-life crisis since I am 40. I have been feeling depressed, overweight, unmotivated and I know this is NOT ME! My husband and I use to be gym partners for years and he is very supportive. I have been yo-yo dieting, working out here-and-there, but have not stuck to anything. I am 5″1′ and weigh in at 160. My previous weight was 123. I truly feel I put MYSELF on the back burner, so to speak.

    Your story is just what I need to get back on track and stick to a plan for MYSELF, as well as, my husband and children.

    Thanks so much for undertaking a GREAT project. I look forward to Nov 17th. Good luck and kudos to your wife for all her support during this time. She too is helping tons of people like myself.

    All the best!

  • Page is now bookmarked. Oddly, I read about your project on BBC news but whatever. Point is when you start on the road to health, I won’t just be following your progress, I am going to be making some progress of my own. In my book, it takes a lot of courage to do what you’re doing. I suspect you’re going to inspire many others as well.

  • Drew,
    So what you’re saying is Drew is doing the “Dew”? Eating chips at the same time? Have you also started playing the XBOX?

    Kidding aside, are you serious about the acne problems? I’m in my 30′s and still have skin problems. But I haven’t been keeping in shape since I was in my early twenties. Back then I still had the skin problem, but I thought that was just the way my body is.
    I’ve tried everything. Everything to get rid of it. But now I realize I haven’t been in the best of shape for a long time. Your blog gives me hope. Thanks!

  • Your experiment is so inspiring. Your honesty and openness is divine. As a newlywed, my husband and I spend more time on the couch eating lavish meals washed down with a bottle of vino. Therefore, our physiques are becoming rounder. This has placed a tension on our relationship and my mood. We are lazier, less active and altogether becoming different people. Thank you for putting yourself out there, sacrificing your time and body, and being willing to carry people through a journey back to health. I look forward to following your back to fit stage!

  • Hey Drew,

    I’m really impressed with you doing this, and am eager to see how you do on your to fit stage.

    I’m a 24 year old male, 6’0 350 lbs. I am grossly overweight, and its due to really bad eating habits (fast food, soda, etc) and working at a computer all day.

    I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life, and around 8th grade, my mom helped me get setup on a fad no-carb diet, which helped me to go from 230 (at 5’10) to about 190lbs. I joined up with the Marine Corps JROTC program in high school, and I lost even more weight, and for the first time in my life was running, working out and feeling good. Long story short, I tore my meniscus, and was laid up for quite a while. I sat around at my girlfriend’s (at the time) place watching TV, and eating junk.

    By my Junior year of high school I was back up to about 230 lbs, and by my senior year I was 6’0 250-260. 6 years later I’ve put yet another 100 lbs on top of that, and I’m done with it. Lately I had been wondering if I had some psychological issue that was causing my laziness, and lack of desire to do even the simplest of things, until I read this blog post.

    I know what its like to be hungry, but to ignore it because I’m just too lazy to get up and make a sandwich. Being unemployed, I wake up a few hours after my girlfriend leaves for work, crack open a soda, smoke a cigarette, and sit in front of my PC doing made up programming projects. I don’t eat anything, and if I do its snack food. My girlfriend comes home about 7 hours later and we eat fast food, or I cook at home (still high calorie).

    My girlfriend is very overweight, too. She weigh almost the same as me, but 5 inches shorter. She has thyroid issues, and plenty of other medical problems. She has no motivation to lose weight, blames it all on lack of will power, bad memory (blaming her medical issues completely), and plenty of excuses.

    I don’t have money to get a gym membership, and honestly am terrified of going to the gym. My brother is a personal trainer, but whenever I discuss a workout plan with him, he either brushes me off, or tries pushing me a bit too far, too fast. (I’m sure he’s an excellent trainer, but training family is probably the hardest thing to do).

    My point for posting this novel, (sorry for the length) is to ask, would you be willing to post a non-gym equivalent to your workout each week? Many of us are intimidated by the gym, and its not about the grunting “meat heads” in the gym that intimidates me. Its about realizing just how unfit I am, and the possibility of emotional breakdown in front of a group of people that intimidates me.

    Also, as you work on the to fit stage of this experiment, will you post how you are able to motivate yourself? Its easy for me to motivate myself to looking up diets and exercise plans, but when it comes time to do it, I make up excuses and eventually forget all about it.

    Thanks for reading this enormous post, lots of luck with your weight loss, and hopefully I’ll be able to get myself motivated to do the same.

  • Drew,

    Welcome to my hell. Eight months ago I was hospitalized with my diabetes out of control. When discharged the doctor to me , “Sir, if you don’t change, you will be dead in 5 years. I am married with 3 little children and that “woke me up”! Now, I started at 330lbs, I was in a waist of 52″ and a shirt XXXXL. Now, due to low to no carbs diet and daily “bootcamp” workout I am down 70 lbs, wear a 42 waist and XL shirt size. Not were I want to be yet, but at my heaviest I have been 380LBS and smallest (adult size) 230. BTW I am 6’2″ tall and was a football player for years.

    The reason I am telling you this is because it took my life finally being threatened to wake me up. Having been the “husky” kid in the family my whole life was easy, not one person expected me to do anything but be big.

    Thanks for doing this! I am going to now watch and follow your fat 2 fit stage to see how I can loose more weight and improve my ouw results. My feeling is that it took me a lifetime to get and stay huge, how long to get small?

    Good Luck, it’s a mental struggle more than anything when changing eating habits. My whole family, all five of us, made the change.

    Good Luck and God Speed!

  • Drew,
    I’ve also discovered your journey from the recent spotlight on yahoo. You’ve helped to inspire me further! A year ago I was 210 lbs (my heaviest), on my 5’8.5″ frame. Similar story to some above, work relocation and life changes got me down and as the lbs packed on they kept me down. I popped a button on a pair of work slacks and that in addition to the pain of them digging into me was a turning point. I started to realize the junk I ate, made diet changes and bought a treadmill. TODAY I am 180 lbs and back to a 31″ waist! Didn’t even have that in high school… I still enjoy the foods I like (in moderation) and while I’m not ripped I feel so much better about myself!

    KEEP YOUR HEAD UP! Tell your wife she’s a good woman… You already have your motivation and this Drew is only temporary. There is no telling how many people you are helping through this… Thanks…

  • Caught this on GMA and will now be following your journey. I hope it will inspire me to drop the 30 pounds that have crept up on me. As I am new to your website and experience and haven’t read everything, what has the reaction been from those people who knew you as the fit guy to this now not fit guy? What about strangers? It seems to me that since we live in a culture that is body obsessed and thin obsessed you most certainly would notice how differently you are being treated. Anyway, I look forward to seeing your progress and will be watching Jay Leno this Friday!

  • I must say I really respect you for working to find out what life is like inside the fat body. So many people just say fat people are lazy and undisciplined. It’s more than that.

    However, I do have a tip for you as you move toward taking the weight off. Having dropped over 40 pounds this year (I’m halfway to my goal), I must say that the first two weeks the cravings for carbs will be insane. If you can work through that, it will make a difference. Also, remember, you aren’t the man you used to be, so even little bits of exercise will make a difference. Don’t get caught in the cycle of berating yourself for what you can’t do as you work back to yourself; instead, praise the small victories–one will lead to another. Then, as you feel better, don’t forget how it feels to be fat.

  • Drew, just a little further to go. After that tear it up man! I’ve been slowly burning off the fat for a year and thought I was motivated before stumbling across your blog.

    Personally I could care less what I look like but want to have the cardio and muscle conditioning and know the appearance will fall where it may.

    You have a large crowd who just can’t wait for you to go all out when the countdown is done!

  • Drew, just found out about you from a yahoo article a couple of days ago. Like everyone else, i identify with everything you’re going through. I went from 175 to 255 lbs, standing at 6’2. NOT GOOD. Your experiment has inspired me to start my personal journey back to the “Old Me”, immediately!! I’ll be following your progress closely.. Good Luck with everything. :o )

  • Drew, I think your campaign of awareness is admirable! I truly hope the message gets out there that there is hope!
    I retired from the Army in September 2004. Over the course of seven years, I too have put on the pounds. Then I was 5’9″ 180 lbs. I have gained weight slowly to I am now 215. I look forward to joining you on your journey!

  • You are my hero! I am 53 and I have gained around the waist and hips and my thighs are a jiggly. I want my best body and I know I can have that even at my age. I want to blame harmones but the truth of the matter is there are times when I have uncontrollable eating. I can’t wait to start the journey back with you. I agree the food is 80+ perent of the battle. God Bless you. I am praying for your an amazing success for you because when you win and you will we all will gain inspiration.

  • I just saw you on GMA and HAVE to start following you. Thank you for doing this. It always means more when someone has been in your shoes and they are telling you to do 50 sit-ups and you can’t even do one! Looking forward to following your blog and journey!

  • Hey Drew,
    I work for a dessert company, I’m up over 70lbs since I got married. I caught you on GMA today and I got to tell you, you’re pretty cool. I can’t wait until you go back down because I’m ready to get out of this body and would like to make the journey with you…totally excited dude…thanks again.

  • Hi Drew,
    i was reading about you on an italian newspaper (corriere della sera) and i read about how you have transformed your body.
    But what most amazed me is that you loose your healty body in a very short period. I think that coming back will be very hard.
    But i think you’re doing a very great thing. Hope that 5th of november will arrive very soon and that you weight starts decreasing very fast.
    Good luck and hold on!

    Bye,
    Giulio
    Napoli – Italy

  • FASCINATING….Drew, I am a pilates/swim coach and work with countless types of people. I am so curious to see how your journey back will go so I can possibly help others with it. The challenge is daunting and exciting I am sure…!

    Hermine

  • I saw the piece on GMA today and was really intrigued. I am kind of tired of uber-fit people selling their “magic pill” or DVD to those of us who are NOT uber-fit. This experience you are going through will definitely give you the street cred desperately needed in the fitness industry. For me, it is not about exercising, that I can do and I do it often. I have been exercising fairly consistently for years and have tried several routines ranging from weight lifting, distance running and P90X. I actually dig exercising. My “Achilles Heel”, though is what I eat. That is why I never seem to be able to get that “OK-I-Could-Totally-Pose-For-the-Men’s-Health-Cover” look that I have been painstakingly seeking over the past few years.
    So, now that you have sufficiently trained not just your body, but your mind, to crave certain foods, I am excited to follow your transition back to fit. I am really interested in how you will train your body to resist the temptation to eat poorly – especially at those times when its the hardest (for me – watching TV after dinner right before I go to bed, I turn into a 13-year old male going through a growth spurt, but sans the 13-year old male metabolism!).
    You’ve come up with a great idea and I wish you all the best.
    Sincerely,
    Madison Roberts

  • I just saw your story on ksl.com and immediately had to look up your website.
    After reading this most recent post I am sitting here in tears. The timing of seeing this is just too coincidental. My hubby and I were going through old pictures last Saturday – pictures that we haven’t looked at in over four years. After two babies in three years, part time schooling and full time jobs our bodies are a far cry from what they use to be. So many of the things you wrote in this post are on my brain all the time. I hate being self conscious. I hate hurting – just sitting make my hips and back ache. My feet hurt. I’m so tired all the time. We’re both grouchy all the time. It has put a strain on our marriage. And even though my husband won’t tell me I’m fat, he tells me he wants his old girl back (meaning my old body). My husband use to have a body similar to your old body and I was tall and oh-so-slender. I’m know he has put on about 50 pounds and I have put on 46.4 (not that I’m keeping tracking or anything). We are going to follow you on this journey. And we are going to accept your challenge. But we are not going to wait for you – sorry. Yesterday I said tomorrow. Tomorrow is here and so now is the time.
    Best of luck to you. And thank you. For a personal trainer to take this on as a challenge is absolutely inspiring. Your wife should be incredibly proud. Can’t wait to watch you go 2fit again!

  • I saw your story this morning on GMA and I find this to be very inspirational. I used to be someone who was very slender, and enjoyed working out regularly. Several years ago, I sustained injuries to my knees and back that have continued to bother me over the years. Needless to say, I hardly exercise at all because I’m afraid I will further injure myself. I am currently about 35 pounds overweight and I am miserable. I’m tired all of the time, I’m very self-conscious about my appearance, I now have problems with my blood pressure, and I’m just overall very unhappy with myself.

    I have tried several times to change my eating habits only to fall back to poor eating when I’m stressed – which seems to be all of the time. I have come to realize recently that I have become an emotional eater which is just not me!

    I want to start exercising again, lose weight, eat better and feel good about myself again. As you put it, I want my old self back. I look forward to your journey back to fit – I am inspired and will be paying very close attention. Hopefully, I will finally see some permanent results!

    Looking forward to this! You are my inspiration!

  • I look very similar to you right now, and have for the last few years since a lower back injury. I’ve found every excuse not to exercise ranging from pain to outright laziness. Seeing the transformation to what you are now and seeing the similarities has convinced me to follow the transformation back to fit. I’ll be attempting to follow the diet and exercise you post to see the positive impact on my life in all the areas you are talking about.

    Thanks for doing this, it may be the catalyst I need to be back in my 2004 shape when I was 70 lbs lighter.

  • Now you know what a women feels like after she has had a baby, and although lots of women don’t gain a lot of weight while pregnant their bodies are still changed and it can take it’s toll on their personalities, and make them feel like somebody else. Good luck, I hope you can start those work outs soon, I will continue to follow you and look for tips, don’t forget about us mom’s who have husbands that work away from home and need exercises that they can do when kids are in bed or taking naps.

  • Hi Drew,
    In 2002 I started going to the gym at age 23 for the first time ever in my life. I was 230 lbs. in the beginning, and in 6-7 months I got down to 175 just through basic circuit training and cardio along with a better (not perfect) diet. When my wife got pregnant, I stopped going to the gym and the rest is history.

    9 years later, I’m now around 250 lbs. and no matter how much effort or enthusiasm I’m sometimes able to muster up to get back in shape, it always fizzles out. I want to be healthier for myself and for my kids as well, but just to reaffirm a bit of what you’re experiencing – it really IS hard to live like this and to make a change.

    I just want to thank you for having the courage to do this. I’m going to try my best to keep up with your progress on the way back down and make an attempt to mirror or adapt the process.

    Good luck and thanks again.

    Ken

  • You shouldn’t have done it. You just shouldn’t have done it. You don’t understand what kind of damage and altering that the processed foods and chemicals have done to your DNA. I’m no dietician, but because I’m heavy on fish, chicken, fruit and veggies, I have an HDL level of 151 (normal is 60-80). I am at zero risk of heart disease, high-blood pressure and stroke, not to mention, cancer BECAUSE of my diet.

    I just wish you hadn’t put yourself in harms way like that. You need to stop this now and get back on track and treat your body with respect. Talking to obese people would have given you a compassionate level of understanding.

  • I discover your blog today, it’s notice now in Brazil.

    I believe that you made a the most horrific choice in your life, you never com back to your earlier fit. Not equal and not so easy to sustain a slim body, you life will be more complicated forever.

    But good luck. Yeah I’m a fat2fit2fat

  • just stumbled upon this blog… Wow! Almost brought me to tears reading some of the entries, Drew. Truly inspirational!!! When I’m feeling down, lazy, crabby, consumed by food cravings, etc, I will remember your blogs and will use them as inspiration to hit the gym!!!

    I can identify with the food cravings and lethargy you’re feeling, and seeing so clearly through your blogs that regular exercise and healthy foods can restore your usual, happy go lucky outlook is a big wake up call!!! It seems easy at times to just be lazy and take the quick fix/easy way out, but seeing how it has completely affected every aspect of your life is truly a reality check!

    Thank you so, soooooo much for making this sacrifice and sharing your story, you are an inspiration to us all!!!

  • Drew,

    Let me start by saying you’re a huge inspiration to all those guys (and even gals!) who gave up on the way they look. To go from being as crazily healthy as you were and do this challenge is an extremely brave thing. I believe if you can persevere through the upcoming challenge of how you plan on getting back into shape, you will not only inspire thousands of people to do the same, you will single-handedly change people’s lifestyle across America. :)

  • I am really looking forward to seeing the reverse process. I used to be very fit from my childhood up till I went to college and then as soon as I graduated I was thin again till I had kids. Somewhere in there I started eating like my husband and slowed down so everyone in my family could keep up with me. Now I am over weight and want to get thin again plus my 12 year old daughter is heavy too and she and I have also been working on getting thin and fit together. So we are very interested in watching and joining in the journy. Thank you for doing this.

  • I’m wondering if there are any women trainers out there that might take on this challenge… I’ve always heard that men lose the weight a bit easier than women…I wonder if thats true! As a woman who has been overweight since childhood I am planning to follow your ‘recovery’ to fit with awe!! I know if you can do it without killing yourself or working out 13 of the 24 hours in a day then I have hope as well :o )

  • Drew, Did you ever have any idea when you started this “experiment” that you would recieve this amount of feedback and attention? It’s incredible! And your dedication to understanding the emotional and true physical limitations of being fat has given me the motivation to get my life and health back together. Thank you.

    I do have a question for you though: do you reccommend joining a gym or buying fitness equiptment/DVDs? And what in your opinion, are the most “filling”, healthy snacks one could utilize in there diet? I look forward to your transformation back to thin. This is far more inspirational that anything I have read or see before!

  • Hi Drew,
    I think it’s amazing what you
    are doing. To want to connect, at least inthe short term, and understand how an overweight person feels is a testiment to your empathetic nature and true deire to want to help people.

    I have a few fitness questions and hope you can help me a bit.

    I don’t eat all that stuff you talk about eating. I don’t keep food under my bed nor do I crave sodas or sweets or carbs on a daily basis. I don’t eat all of my meals from the drive-thru (although w/ a 5 y/o chicken nuggets are a must when we’re on the go)and I don’t have sugery or salty snacks at my dest at all times. I do, however, always have a stash of Greek yogurt in the office frige, or maybe a banana on my dest along with sugar free green tea.
    So, at age 45, I an 50 lbs over weight, size 12/14 with HUGE DD breasts & an artificial knee that keep me from doing any high inpacts activites. No, I didn’t have my knee replaced b/c I’m fat. It was replaced due to a degenerative genetic problem and started weakening when I was in my very fit & active early 20s. I do not walk with a limp & can do just about any other activity other than run, job, or jump up & down real fast.
    I also have normal cholesterol levels and an average blood pressure of 116/74, as well as a level and normal blood sugars.

    Why am I still fat? How fdo I lose that 50lbs? I walk some but admittedly do not exercise enough. riding my recumbant bike (best for my knee) is boring. What should I do to get fit while you are getting back to fit?
    We both have a journey. I’m following yours. can you help me get on the road to mine?

    Thanks,
    Kim

  • Drew,

    I think you’re amazing to do this. I just found this site but plan to follow it and you to your final goal of ‘fit’.
    I’m already in the process of losing weight/getting fit (a long road ahead) but it will be more interesting when I can follow you.

    From one who is unfit and fat,
    my heartfelt thanks

  • My wife told me about your story and I found your blog from ksl’s article just today. I am way excited to see you begin your transformation back soon.

    A few years ago I was ‘fit’ around 180 lbs. Slowly I began packing on the weight. Mainly from college and a sedentary occupation. I’m now over 250 lbs.

    Reading your blog posts reflect my exact feelings and frustrations. I’m tired all the time. I don’t have energy to play with my kids. I eat the wrong food, convenient food, fast food, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s just habit now.

    Recently I’ve started going to the gym. I want to find my 180 lbs ‘self’. I think what you are doing is very admirable and I look forward to your upcoming posts on your journey back to fit. I want you to know Drew that I will be watching and waiting for your posts when you begin that journey as I will try and follow your example at the same time to go from fat to fit.

    Thanks for your willingness to come to our side of the line so you can show us how to get back on to the right side of the line.

  • Drew,

    You say, “I want the old Drew back.”

    What do you say to someone who never had the “old me” to want back?

    For the first time in a decade, I’ve brought myself out of obesity into a state of being just “overweight.”

    I say that I’m terrified that I will, yet again, end up getting the “old Mr. Me” back. Because he has come back every single time in the past.

    EVERY.

    SINGLE.

    TIME.

    It terrifies me that I’m one injury, one serious illness, or one emotional setback away from a relapse. It took a decade to “recover” from my last one and get back to where I am today. There likely won’t be a next time, because next time, I’ll probably be dead before I make it back to a semi-healthy weight again.

    Although I applaud your effort to try to understand life from the fat person’s point of view, my journey isn’t something one can begin to understand in a year.

  • Hi Drew, I am truely amazed at your drive to help others through understanding. It takes a unique person to do what you are doing. I have been in the military for 19 years now and am 6’1″ and 270 lbs. I have been as light as 175 lbs when I was younger but I have put on a lot of muscle in the years since then. I was 206 six years ago and running half marathons but the deployments have been brutal on my body, eating habits, and fitness. I applaud you and will be following your progress in the search for regaining my fit body again as well. Good Luck and keep it up. You will have an understanding that very few trainers have these days.

  • Hey Drew,

    I’ve been overweight my whole life. At one point I managed to lose 100 pounds only to put 70 pounds back on. I wish you the best in losing the weight (which I know you will) because you’ve had the right mentality your whole life to look the way you have. I will definitely be following your lead when you start to lose your weight as I too need and want to lose 70 pounds. Good luck!!

  • Drew, really find you honest and such an interesting experiment… almost “performance art”. I’ll be excited to work along with you to lose weight once you start that phase in November. Are you thinking ahead to a plan for weight loss? If so could you write about it a bit.. how you’ll eat and work out. That would get me inspired and my head in gear to get my plan together. Good luck!

  • I caught the end of an interview you were doing on the radio and swore I was going to look you up then quickly forgot about it. I came across you on a website today and I must say that I have to applaud what you are doing. I think you will have an insight into your overweight clients that many in the personal training industry do not have. I am very overweight (about 135 lbs overweight) right now and find it a constant struggle to tell myself that I am worth the time it takes to work out. I have done two triathlons and will be doing my 3rd in November (yes with 135 lbs of extra weight on my body). I finally decided that I don’t care what people think and that if I look horrible on a bike I don’t care because at least I am on the bike!!! I live in your neck of the woods so I take advantage of the great bike paths and running trails. I just have to keep telling myself that I don’t care what people passing me in cars think and I can get through it. I am really looking forward to your turnaround so I can see how you are changing your diet. I believe that if I can get that part in line with the workout I will be able to drop this weight that makes working out so difficult. Thanks for making the sacrifice – and that is truly what it is, a sacrifice of your body and health to help those of us that struggle with this on a daily basis.

  • Leaving a comment on a website just seems so impersonal, but I have to say something. I’m just not sure what to say. I must have been hidding under a rock or something, but I just heard about you today on yahoo.com, and visited your website for fun.

    The “fat” you looks awkwardly similar to me. I’m 34, and I weigh 350 lbs, and I’m even too ashamed to tell my wife. When she asks my weight, I lie and say 330. When I met my wife, I wore size 38, now I wear 54+.

    I keep telling myself I want to loose the weight, I even signed up to a gym, but I never go… I always want to, but I never go, and sometimes, I feel like its because there are other people there, and I don’t want to exercise in front of people… but thats just an excuse, because I don’t exercise outside the gym either. I like to hide behind the fact that I quit smoking over a year ago to explain my weight gain, but thruth is, it’s just another excuse… I blame the non-smoking, the sleep apnea, the rain, my sore back, …

    Whatever, the point of this comment was to tell you that when I read your 0ctober 15th blog, you really hit some thoughts and behaviours right on. Things that I can’t even express, and honestly, now I want to know how you’re going to do it. I could say that I am going to follow you and let you inpsire me, but i would probably be lying to myself if i said i would.

    Sometimes, I think the only way the loose weight is to go on The Biggest Loser. Everyday, I wish I could close my eyes, and open them and have all the wieght gone. I don’t need the muscles, I just want my 220 lbs back…. sorry to go on and on, but i feel that you do understand what its like… with everyday life and all… whether its walking on the street, or in my own house. I have two boys, 4 and 1, and I can’t even play with them. I snore so loudly that I have not slept in my bed with my wife in 3 years… and hell man, I’m starting to cry right now. That’s the PMS kicking in.

  • Drew,

    I can not believe just how similar my experience of being fat compares to your own. I feel that I could be reading my own diary!
    I felt it was to do with me more than my weight.
    thank you for what you are doing it has had a great effect on my own efforts.

  • Drew, I thought this was an amazing story and can relate pretty well. Being LDS I went on a mission for two years, before I left I was very athletic and fit. I was sent to Brazil, and spent the first 3 months in a tiny complex. I gained 50lbs in my stay at the Brazilian training center, and being what regimens are on the mission it took me about 8 months to finally get it off of me. It was one of the hardest things I ever did. So stick to it and show everyone that it is possible! No excuses!

  • Wow I think this will give u such an advantage as a trainer. The only thing I don’t think u have right is that not all over weight people gorge themselfs on junk food all day long. Granted some do . I have been obese and have never consumed the quantities of food u do. Good luck to u excited to watch your journey back to health

  • Drew, I’m amazed at you taking this challenge on. And frankly, part of me is very very grateful. You see, I’ve been about 50 pounds overweight for the last 14 years. I know how to burn the weight off, but I totally don’t know where to find the motivation. Honestly I’m a little afraid to change, because of the unwanted attention the changes will bring from friends, coworkers, and hot guys who might notice I’m alive and want to go out. I know if I get thinner/fitter I’m going to hear from well-meaning people “I’m so glad you’re taking care of yourself now, you were really awful before”. Even if it’s true, it’s still ugly to hear – I know it, I don’t need it repeated. And then there’s the whole thing about being a single gay man in his 40′s.. knowing that someone who finds me repulsive today won’t in 6 months because now I’m “acceptable” physically.

    I’ll definitely be paying attention on your journey back to fit from fat. You see, I’ve never really been “fit” – I’ve only been either thin, or fat. “Fit” is uncharted territory for me, and I don’t know what to do with it.

    Cheers from Northern California,
    Alan

  • Hi Drew, I cried reading your blog. Everything you wrote in “Month 5 in Review” describes me perfectly. I am 100 lbs overweight. I’ve put this weight on 10 lbs a year for the last 10 years. This year I wanted to change and I’ve lost 15 lbs. Reading your blog has challenged me to become more disciplined and say “no” to the junk. I’ll be following your journey to look for inspiration and remind me to stay on track.

  • So, hi and thanks for doing this.
    Where on this site have you posted your return to fit regiment? I’m like 40 lbs over weight and want to pick up with you on your way back.
    I don’t easily see it and haven’t the time to read every blog and comment.
    Thanks again, Drew!

  • I have to say THANK YOU! What a great way to understand the other side. Thank your family too, but this is inspiring me in so many ways!

  • Dear Drew

    I stumbled upon your blog and journey whilst being on the lookout for yet another excuse not to go to bed although it’s 3am here in Switzerland.

    I am appr your height and size (the current one) and never was slim for that matter (well, maybe back in primary school… but i guess that doesn’t count=).

    And honestly, although I am looking forward to what you’ll bring on 5th November, I am a little concerned: Changing eating habits, amounts and times will probably be a lot more difficult for you than you imagined – but it will certainly be even harder for someone who was overweight and had years of training of not doing the “natural” thing. Hence the years of overweight…

    So, here is the question from someone lacking will power to start: How should I pull it off? Keep doing what you will be doing soon? How will I not loose track? How will I even like new foods, when I trained 30 years to not have them on my diet and eat 3x more than I should be eating starting 5th November?

    I know there is no answer – but please keep in mind, overweight people (for the most part, if there is no medical reason behind) lack will power and that’s their only problem. So if you’ll manage (and I wish you will), others might not have the stamina or physical predispostion (amount of muscles under your fat or your body’s “memory” of how it felt 6 months ago).

    All the best,
    Michael

  • If you’re not doing food challenges how about one of my old favorites – White Castle. In my prime I would routinely put away 15 burgers. I don’t think you have any White Castle restaurants in Utah but you could go for the frozen ones in the supermarket. Buy a big box and go for it. At this point you should be able to eat 20 with no issues. If you’re eating your way to the grave I couldn’t think of a better way to go.

  • Drew, I heard you on KSL today, and thought I need to check this guy out. Bot everything you have said has hit home with me. I am at a weight I thought I would never see. I am looking forward to seeing your plan and want to do it. Good luck, I know how you feel.

  • I just found your blog. I’m amazed.
    I’ve been up and down the scales for decades and I’m trying to build the momentum to get back in shape. Needless to say I’ve bookmarked this blog.
    Take care, I’ll be following you on your way back. As long as you’ll remember what you’ve been through (for a whole year)you’ll have an edge over other trainers : the one who’s been there, done that!

  • Saw you on GMA this morning & wanted to chime it – what you are doing really is inspiring so don’t listen to the naysayers. I’m touched and also fearful for your health. I’m 110lbs overweight and have had enough of slowly gaining over the years. I will be following this site, cheering you on. And I’m going to do my best to join you on your fat2fit journey!

  • Drew, I really appreciate what you are doing here and especially your honesty. I have wondered if my current health situation has more impact on more areas of my life than I realize. I’m thinking that I’m dealing with aches and pains, sickness, depression, etc that I don’t need to just by making better choices. But, frankly I am an addict of laziness not really believing the discipline will pay off… and I know that’s not true because of other areas of my life that are disciplined and I’ve become successful in. Half of me is re-inspired by you and wants to go on this journey and the other half is disheartened by the last three years of false starts. The long lost 6 pack 175lb person of me is laughing forward at the 220lb addict with a keg. I guess I’m glad you are stirring the fire again. Yesterday was the first day back at the gym, jealous? -Jim

  • Hey Drew
    All I can say is WOW!! Just saw your story on Yahoo and came to your site. I too was once young and fit but 2 kids a few stressful years and my once fit body seems like a distant memory. I look forward to following your story and perhaps get fit and stay fit with you. Thanks so much for “taking a walk in someone elses shoes.”

  • Hi Drew,
    Wow I can relate with what you are doing, but in my case it wasn’t purposeful. I had been a runner and athlete in high school and when I was in college went through a depression and gained 40-50 lbs(never would weigh myself) in 6 mos. I had an epiphany and at 24 moved from MN to CA and lost the weight in a year and started running marathons. I also became a personal trainer and competed in an endurance weight lifting event at Arnold’s Body Building Show in OH. At 41 I was in the BEST shape of my life. I ran my last marathon at 46 and since then have gained maybe 25lbs and if I don’t do something now, it is going to keep climbing. I turn 50 in Feb. and I would so love to be back in good shape. I know what it is like to be in GREAT shape and I miss it! I hope to follow you and use your inspiration to keep me going. Thank you for
    sharing your journey ~ might be just what I needed!

  • I go to a Lifestyle coach who has been stressing for months that diet is more important than exercise. I have a personal trainer and the eexercise is getting easeir, but the weight is not moving, because the diet is up and down.

    I will be avidly following you and making the journy with you. Maybe I will have that aha moment as you go through the second part.

    Thanks.

  • Saw you on GMA this morning so I’m not sure exactly what your plans are on the fat2fit portion but I have one request. I, like a lot of others I think, am planning to try to go fat2fit with you and I hope the exercise portion that you are planning includes alternatives for those of us that don’t have access to a gym or a lot of equipment.

  • Your funny I hope you make it thru the fit stage healthy and strong and fight those cravings… I just started working out in July and this past month I want sweet food soda and a lot of it… I really don’t know what’s the healthiest to eat I eat a lot of salad… GOOD LUCK you are amazing…

  • You are a superhero. No. Really. You are. I was always UBER fit. Then I had major abdominal surgery 5 years ago. The downtime did it. I was not prescribed any physical therapy and it just hurt too much too move for months. By the time I could get around a little more easily, I was a lazy, food junkie and I have not been able to stand back up. I put on 60lbs. Eating a bit healthier I have lost 30 of those lbs and put it back on several times. At the moment, if I could lose 30 lbs and get lean, I’d be over the moon. So, I am gonna follow you so close you’ll feel me breathing on your neck.

  • Wow you are one brave man running up here to join me in over weight land . On the way down I’m to join you, I’m inspired, I need to loose about 30 to 35. Lead the way and I will follow, good luck

  • Drew, I’m curious if you considered one physiological possibility before embarking on this journey. That is that once a fat cell is created, it cannot be destroyed. It can shrink, but cannot be removed without sucking it out (liposuction). As a person who was always fit, your body was never put into a position to need to create additional fat cells, as the ones you had proved to be sufficient. However, through this experiment of yours, you have significantly increased the amount of fat on your body. Given that there is a limit to how large a fat cell can grow, the body’s only response would be to produce even more fat cells. As a result, what was once a relatively easy thing to do (staying lean), may now become a more difficult task for the rest of your life. It is entirely possible that you managed to avoid this physiological side effect of gaining a lot of weight, but I was mainly curious to know if you had even considered this prior to taking on this challenge? If you had or had not, I’d be curious to see what you have to say about it one way or the other.

    Overall, I think it’s cool what you are doing. I know that for the most part this is a bit of a self serving move in hopes of advancing your career. However, I can see that there will be a positive impact on others if you succeed. So I’m not going to knock you for that, because we’re all trying to make the most of our lives (well, we should be at least). I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for your progression to see how this all turns out. Best of luck!

  • I just heard about your story today, and when I saw your before and after picture, I thought… WHY? Why you would do something like that? but then I thought about myself and looked in the mirror and I asked myself WHY? Why you let yourself go, why you gain all that weight, why don’t you try, what are you waiting for?… I really can’t wait that your gaining weight stage finishes and the losing weight starts, I will follow your blog, and believe me you will be an inspiration, if you can do it, for sure I can do it! All the best from Canada!

  • I was fit coming out of USMC boot camp 20 years ago. 195 lbs. and in excellent shape. I got out of the Corps 10 years ago at 203 lbs. In the past ten years came marriage, two kids, a job as a paramedic where we sit and wait for bad things to happen, all the while eating crap and having terrible schedules. Well, buddy. I’m at 275 now and will be joining you for the trip back to fit. Though I’ve carried my extra “fifth grader” around for nine more years than you.

    But I know it can be done. I started last year at 300 lbs and hit the lowest of the lows. Something had to change or I wouldn’t make it past 45. So I started doing triathlons. I’ve completed 4 now. I’m an excellent swimmer, because I swam in high school. An OK biker and a pretty sad runner! When I started training for my first one, I could barely swim 100 yards, biked 4 miles and nearly passed out, and did a half mile “run” that was mostly wheezing and walking. I did run the distance between two telephone poles…almost. Now I can swim a couple thousand yards without stopping, I bike between 15 and 20 miles at a time, and I can run three miles non-stop most of the time.

    I’m looking forward to joining this journey with you to lose these extra 50 – 70 lbs. and improve my tri times, as well as my whole life in general. Thanks for doing this. I know it can be done!

  • Hi Drew!
    I first read about your ‘experiment’ just this week on Yahoo. A part of me wants to hug you and another part of me thinks you’re nuts.

    I have been at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to weight and believe it or not, I have never really been healthy in a long, long time. When I was in high school, I weighed 115 pounds at 5’7; I was anorexic. In my college years, I was at 135, which is a good weight, but I smoked and had bad eating habits. Besides walking to classes, I never exercised. When I had my son, I gained 45 pounds and have been on the weight loss/gain roller coaster. I now weigh 234 pounds. I have done low carb, high carb, weight watchers, high fiber/low fat, and several other diets. I know I am addicted to some food, have the energy level of a sloth, and am totally confused about how to eat and what supplements I should take, if any. And exercise? I can’t believe anyone could be ‘addicted’ to exercise. Even when I was going to the gym and working out for a period of 3 months, it was a struggle to get the gumption to go and I never noticed any energy increase. Now it seems laboriously boring and I hate being this size in exercise clothes in front of people. I have no interest in sports, so I am kinda stuck as to what to do.

    At least you are putting yourself out there to see what it is like walking in other shoes. It seems to me, a lot of trainers have never been near to obese and can relate to me like I can relate to being Bill Gates. I am looking forward to reading what you are going to do to beat your cravings and get the ambition to go to the gym and exercise. I also like that you have to do it yourself; you do not appear to be rich enough to afford personal trainers, a personal chef, and all the latest equipment.

    I am sorry to hear it is taking a toll on your marriage and family. I am also sorry that in order to do this, your health is taking a toll. I do wish you the best of luck in completing this mission and that when it is over, your marriage and family relationships will be the stronger for it. I also hope that this will give you a perspective that you will never forget.

  • Talk about selflessness and sacrifice. Drew you are LITERALLY putting your life on the line to inspire people. And on November 5th, I will be thinking of you trying to get back on track every time I’m tempted to eat something unhealthy.
    I’ve always struggled with my weight – even though most have always said – why are you on a diet? It’s all relative and everyone’s goals are different. My husband’s a fit Army guy so the bar is higher for me. I often feel like I am competing. when I just want to be happy in my own skin. But my biggest epiphany came when I changed my mindset from an asthetic goal to a mental goal to be healthy and live a long and happy life. I saw a documentary of an 80 year old man who does the iron man. You would NEVER know he was 80! He looked and moved like a healthy 60 year old, owned his own business and travelled the country as a motivational speaker. He said, “if you want to be healthy at 80, you have to watch what you eat at 40″ He also said he never eats anything with ingredients he cannot pronounce. The typical 80 year olds we see are not inevitable. If we care about our health, we’d live long and healthy like Jack Lalane. The asthetics are just gravy. But who doesn’t like gravy! ;)

  • Hey Drew,

    Be gentle with your body Drew! I look forward to seeing you return to your former glory – but if we could hear more about how your wife is finding living with “obesity”. It’s hard to see someone you love live with obesity, so her insights will provide valuable support to all those out there cheering and supporting their “cuddly teddy bears” Yaaayyyy Drew! :)

  • i admit! i am a worrier! i’m really praying that you’ll be able to succeed in your journey. 2 more weeks to go drew! like in my journal which i’ve been writing my life since high school, i really felt your emotions and struggles and i really admire you for your courage. may you be able to overcome this and make the old drew come back. i felt like watching a telenovela about your life and im so into it. i just can’t wait for you to reach that last day of being fat and start going back to being fit. i’ll be joining you through your journey. i always take the good advice of everyone and hone it. im learning how to stay calm. all the best to you! : )

  • Hi Drew, what at awesome thing you’re doing, with such self sacrifice. Everyone is eager for the fit to fat stage. I hope you have prepared your web administrator and ISP for a lot of traffic on the 5th. You’ve just sacrificed so much time and effort on this journey, the 5th is going to be a momentous occasion with thousands of people viewing your site and I’m sure the last thing you would want is for the site to crash. Just a thought.

  • Drew – I think that what you’re doing is more of a publicity stunt than anything else, to be honest. I appreciate the fact that you will have greater insight into how it feels to be overweight, but there is so much more that goes along with it that I don’t think you’re able to grasp.

    Many overweight people are that way because of other physical, psychological, or emotional issues that you just won’t have to deal with on your journey. This is what makes what you are doing absurd to me, because without the underlying issues, I would be able to lose the weight!

    Yes, it feels terrible to be overweight. It’s hard to move around, you’re moody and you don’t feel good about yourself and have troubles in your relationships with others. This is all pretty obvious I would think. So then why not just fix it, right?

    Well this is what you are going to start doing in a few weeks, and you are going to go through all the “normal” struggles that anyone goes through while losing weight. Well I’m here to tell you that we can do that part. Try doing it with an underlying issue, then you’d really be in our shoes.

    Mine is emotional eating. I eat when I’m sad or lonely. Sure I can lose weight, I’ve done it plenty of times. I’ve done every diet and exercise program that’s out there. All of them can work in one way or another if you stick to it. But losing weight is not the problem. It’s the underlying issues that need to be our focus.

    That’s why I think what you’re doing is actually going to do more harm than good. When these people follow you, and they start to lose weight (again) and then fall back because of their underlying issues, how do you think your success back to your usual way of life will make them feel? Another failed attempt.

  • When I see before and after picture all I think about is : “Oh God WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?!? Why did you wasted such a perfect shape?!?”. I must say you are a brave man. But I still can’t believe you will manage to go back. But than again, if I didn’t see the pictures I wouldn’t believe you would be able to go from perfect to what you are right now in such a short period of time. I wonder how will stretched skin affect the new fit version of you. Can’t wait to see what will you eat and do to go back! Come on man! Hurry up!!!

  • Hello Drew,

    I am very intrigued with your decision to make this journey! As a trainer myself who has never been truly obese, I readily admit that I lack the ability to truly ‘empathize’ and ‘understand’ the psychological component involved in eating and weight loss. I am constantly saying it’s 90% psychological and 10% common sense. It’s the psychological component that is difficult to tackle.

    We all ‘know’ what to eat and we all ‘know’ exercise improves health. I’m am interested in finding out WHY it’s so difficult to make good choices, even in the face of devestating health issues like Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure.

    I cannot wait to follow your journey back to good health and fitness. I will encourage my clients to follow along as well.

    Thank you for your commitment to helping others trainers like myself and those struggling with weight loss. Have a blessed day!

  • Hey…well this story has made it all the way to New Zealand!! Very interesting reading, I can’t wait to see how you find the loss!! I have steadily gained 30kg’s over 5 years…blamed all sorts of things, rather than myself, but am coming out the ‘loss’ end now. Haver lost 14.4kg in about 16 weeks. The first few weeks, I mucked around and then finally it sunk in how I was the only one who could do this. I had to work my ass off! Literally! I count every single calorie that goes in my mouth! Suddenly I have to justify it all. But my biggest lesson was, I will have to do this forever. For me, if I do not justify food, and count the calories (even to maintain) I know it will go back on again. Food is not a ‘treat’ anymore. It is fuel for me to function. Yup, one day I will relax it and eat a few naughty things, but it will no longer be a thing I just do. I will lose it all, and I will keep it off!! I wish you the very best of luck and look forward to following your journey!

  • Drew…I’ve been impressed by your performance…because it IS a preformance.
    I’ve never had a body like yours, while I’ve always struggled against being overweight…
    You’ve been brave…you wanted to forget your body, the feeling of being cool, of being admired, of been sexy and strong…just to feel on yourself what being fat, very fat means…
    November is close and I’d be in your next client when you’ll show him/her your past (fit/fat/fit)…he/she will understand that you’re the right person, the right trainer to help him/her…
    Be proud of your self as your wife, your kids will be of you thinking what you did…
    You’re giving an example…
    Your emotions, your mental status will play a role in the next 6 monts much bigger than all the aerobics/diet/weight you could do…
    Once a big friend who runs in the desert with yous a bottle of water and few nuts told me: train you mind before you train your body, train your sould before you train your mind…
    The desire will be your trainer..

    cheers

    Marco

  • Stumbled across a news article about you on Yahoo! News. I may not be as ‘overweight’ as you are but I definitely can relate to some of the external stress factors that you mention. Good luck with you sir. I’m looking forward to your FAT 2 FIT phase!

    All the best~

  • Hello,
    that´s great I have seen this site for 5 minutes.
    I´m one of the gey they have do the same obut a longer time.
    i was fit, 10 years ago. And now i fight with my body, because I´m fat.
    it´s hard and long this fight. And i have test a lot of things to go fit again. The way to go is not fun. I have lost 30 Kg and then become again 40 kg. so Ißm go forword and back to Startpoint.
    In the next time I will check your site.
    Ok you have a training Body that go faster back.

  • @from Italy

    i read about you and your crazy adventure.My opinion ? your a stupid.First of , cause if you loose all your weight so fast the result will be a lot of skin in excess.
    Second,you will have the time to do this;normal people usually work 8hours plus time for his family,childs and so on.If you have 1/2 hours the evening for do something maybe you are too tired.
    Is 30 years that i’m overweight ; why ? cause my family, lifestyle, cause i love food and more less gym.
    The point is not to loose fat , but hold the result in the longest time !

  • I’ll follow you from Italy!!! I read a news on a site of my country and now I want to know your experience.
    I find it’s very difficoult for you but now you know that you have a new fan very very far!!!!
    Good luck!!!!!

  • I would first like to say how admirable it is that you would go to such lengths to try to understand what your clients are going through. I am 38 and have been on average 80lbs overweight my whole life. I have lost 50lbs many times using many many different diet and exercise techniques, but always go back to my old ways and gain back even more. I believe you will understand most of the physical challenges of losing weight but you are addicted to fitness and healthy eating….and you will go back to exercising everyday and loving it. Your not going to understand the emotional part of losing weight. I am addicted to food I use it when I am happy, sad, for socializing. I can tell myself not to eat something as my hand continues to put it in my mouth. How do you get past that? I know how to eat healthy, I know how much I need to exercise, my husband threatens to leave if I dont lose weight so I have motivation. I beat myself up emotionally on a daily basis about what food I should eat. And there is always tomorrow to make better choices. But years go by and I don’t change. Can you offer any advice other than wiring my jaw shut?

  • Next week you are going to start the process back. I belive you can do it!!!. Also it is a good example for this king of people,same like me!! :) , that alway the next monday is the day to start doing diet!!

    Adrian

  • Next week you are going to start the process back. I believe you can do it!!!. Also it is a good example for this king of people,same like me!! :) , that always the next Monday is the day to start doing diet!!

    Adrian

  • I’ve witnessed everything Drew talks about in this post in my own husband. IT’S REALLY TRUE! For so long, I thought he was just being lazy because he didn’t want to help out, but I’m now beginning to understand that his unhealthy weight is what makes it so difficult for him to participate in life. He wants to lose the weight, but he doesn’t believe that he can do it, he thinks he’ll fail (maybe that’s a personal issue), so he doesn’t try. I know that we need to make better food choices, so I plan on losing weight right along side him, and making sure that our whole family starts eating better.
    Thanks for doing this, Drew. (I also sent you a personal message.)

  • You are doing a great job informing the world about the dangers of being fat. Have you experienced any forms of weight discrimination from strangers?

  • Drew, I saw you on GMA and all I could think was “he is nuts”. I’m glad you are taking this journey, I think it will make you a more understanding personal trainer. However I’m scared for you, junk food is hard to cut out. Speaking for myself, the discipline to eat right is hard, especially after eating whatever you want when you want. One thing you may not understand is that a lot of people are raised in environments that only have junk food. Therefore they don’t know how to make delicious nutritious meals. I was raised eating candy, chips, pop, ice cream and fast food. My mom never taught my siblings and I how to eat right, therefore I think it’s much harder for me on the eating end. I’ve been overweight since I was 11, I am 25 now. Before being pregnant for my daughter I weighed 190, after having her I ballooned to 270 (i’m 5’6″). I dropped 30 lbs, but am struggling with my next 30lbs. I keep reverting back to those childhood foods. My moral to telling you all this is, I think your nuts because food is a bad addiction. I love going to the gym, but love eating fast food. I wish you success in your journey! You’re an inspiration to many! P.S. I’m going to check out your meal plans (the nutritious ones lol) here in a bit;-)

  • Drew,
    I really appreciate what you are doing. I am looking forward to seeing your plan to fit. What to eat is my main struggle. I hope you post your meal plans, and exercise plan as well for those of us who would like to follow you to a “T” .

  • Wow! Just got a hold of your story. Interesting take. I can appreciate your dedication in wanting to feel like your clients do and “know” where they come from.
    BUT I did not eat huge cheese burgers and corn dogs and plates full of fries to get where I am (an over weight, stay at home mom) so I DO hope your get healthy tips and strategies are not as extreme when you shift back to fit! Something easy and simple to follow. Not go out and buy all this weird food and supplements. :) I have enjoyed your journey and look forward to seeing you travel back to health. I hope I can follow you and get some of this much needed layering off. :)

  • Hi Drew,

    I just read an article in the newspaper here in Ireland that covered your journey and what you hope to achieve.

    It’s rare to see someone so committed to their passion that they are prepared to deprive themselves of what they love (for you – fitness) in order to experience that loss and then have to work damn hard to regain it. What you are doing is meaningful and inspiring… I, for one, am going to follow you each step of the way from here and I hope that I will enjoy the same success as you in losing the weight over the next 6 months.

    They say that if you want something bad enough… you can achieve anything… well… here goes!

    Best of luck.

    Helena

  • What happens if you take longer than 6 months to lose the weight you have put on? Or you are having a plateau to lose the weight? Are you prepared for that?

  • Omg are you not afraid to mess up your health? I hate gaining weight and for you to do it and try to to lose all the weight you have gained. I have major respect for you. what are some tips you can give me to lose weight fast and safely before prom (which is in May) but I want to lose a lot of weight well the weight I gained when I stopped playing sports thanks to injury and i want to get back into shape. If you have and tips please help. and Good Luck on your Journey(:

  • You are playing a very dangerous game, but I think you are really brave: I’m losing weight (27 lbs in 60 days), but it is harder than stopping smoking. Best wishes

  • Drew….

    Being a news junkie, I’m not quite sure how I missed your story so far, but I just heard about it for the first time yesterday. That being said, I want you to know just how much of an impact you have had in the seventeen hours since I first read about your daunting task.

    Last night, I was in my basement taking apart a Nordic Track with the intention of reconditioning it. My wife and I have had this thing for years (inherited from a family member, if memory serves) and have never set foot on it. This ambition is due fully to reading your story. To be perfectly blunt, your story has lit a fire under my ass (apologies to any offended). I just turned 40 this year, which does not bother me in the least. What does bother me is that while I have never even been close to resembling your before pics, I used to be in reasonably okay shape….emphasis on ‘used to be’. I am now in the worst shape I have ever been in. While I had two back operations two years ago, I have used that fact as a crutch for too long.

    Here’s a quick thought: While I admire your before pics, and want that so badly for myself, the desire is literally tangible, I am ashamed to say (with no slight to you) that I am a nearly spitting image of your current picture…you could quite literally PhotoShop my face onto your body and IT WOULD BE ME. My knowledge of what you are doing could not have come at a better time. You see, not only am I a physical twin of you right now, I am emotionally, too. Cranky, moody, depressed, tired, little energy, low drive…check, check and check.

    I will be watching your comeback with rapt attention and will mimic you every step of the way. So, please be as detailed as you can as I know that I will not be the only one following your journey to get back into shape. Thank you for doing this!

  • Drew, I had the pleasure of viewing your story on GMA yesterday and thought I can really learn a lot for this guy. I want to say thank you for taking on this journey as I too will try to make the transition with you back 2Fit. I’ve gained approximately 50 lbs over the past 10 years and just had a little one nine months ago. No I cannot blame my weight gain on my son this was all 100% me. I want to be more healthy and fit to be a better and more active mom for him. Good Luck and God Bless as I am behind you and what you are trying to achieve. Again Thank you for taking on this incredible journey.

  • I just stumbled on your site and I commend you for taking on this challenge and sacrificing your health to try to understand what’s going on with other people struggling with this. I find this pretty inspiring as I also used to work out avidly and spent hours and hours at the gym and my diet was awesome but over the past probably 10yrs it’s been a downward slope and I went from 225lbs of muscle to 300lbs of crap. This hasn’t been just because of diet but a combo of stress, diet, and not enough exercise. I’m around 260 right now and still feel pretty much horrible everyday and can related to a lot of things you say in your posts. Reading about your journey and also other peoples comments about themselves have motivated me and hopefully a lot of others as well. I will be following your blog and also trying to diet at the same time as you to read how your going about it and hopefully use a lot of it in my own life. Thanks for the motivation and good luck with the rest of your journey.

  • Hi,

    Good luck in getting fit soon.

    Can you include your diet and exercise routine in your blog when you begin becoming fit again.

    I want to copy and achieve the same goal.

  • Drew,
    As someone who has struggled their whole life with their weight, I have to admit I was a little puzzled at first as to why someone with your dedication to fitness would want to experience the misery of being overweight. I have gained and lost as much as 100 pounds in a year, but that was when I was in my 20′s. I will be 38 next week and have been struggling with the same 20-30 pounds for the last year or so. But on the flip side, I would be much more comfortable with a trainer that I knew had experienced, and overcome, a weight issue. Whether we want to admit it or not, those of us who are overweight, are so by choice. We are the only ones who control what goes in our mouths, and how much we get up and move, no one can do it for us and there is no one we can blame but ourselves when we finally admit that it’s time to do something about it. I just told my boyfriend last night, before I found you website, that I am tired of being fat, I am tired of my clothes not fitting right, I am tired of feeling like sh*t ALL the time. I realized a long time ago that if I am not mentally ready to start this process again, it won’t work. With the end of your fit to fat phase approaching, how are you preparing yourself to get from fat to fit? You have the knowledge and tools to do it physically, but how hard do you think it will be mentally?
    I am really looking forward to seeing your progress, and hope that I will be able to use your experience as a motivator for my own battle.

  • I’m fascinated by the idea – just saw it today on the 50 reasons the world will end link that’s being passed around facebook. But the biggest hurdle for me, at least, is finding TIME, and energy, of course, and getting moving. You won’t have the TIME factor, right? So do realize that makes things far easier than most moms have it. Celebrity moms like GOOP like to say “I’ve exercised with my kids in the room, you can too!” But she has a maid and a nanny, you can be sure. How can you exercise when you can’t keep the floor clean? and how do you get yourself out of bed 2 hours early just so you can be exhausted when you would normally be starting your day?

    I’d love to see you address these concerns, even if you aren’t struggling with them personally.

    Good luck to you! And even if you do end the “fat” phase early for health concerns, you’ve gone far enough to experience it, an arbitrary date to start being fit again is really a crutch. Ask me how I know. ;)

  • Will you be blogging every meal and your exercise routine daily? I’d really like to follow it as much as possible, although in the “real world” I can’t work out 8-10 hours a day like you will be able to. I hope I can follow your routine as strictly as possible and accomplish my goal in at least a year. Any suggestions with a 2 hour max workout time? Let’s say our bodies are exactly the same (me about 20 pounds lighter than you). Good luck, I really look forward to your (and my) journey!

  • Hi Drew,
    Your story gave me hope, because if you feel much less energetic than you used to feel when you were active, it means that people can feel much better when they eat properly and exercise. It helped me realise that I have to keep doing my exercise and eat healthy, especially when I don’t feel so good.
    I heard of you from the Dutch news, you are famous all over the world now!

  • I guess I’m another person who found this site on The Daily What. As a life-long overweight person, I am really curious to see the fat2fit part of your journey.

    It’s really interesting that you’ve said your food cravings and hunger are much stronger now that you are overweight. I’ve always wondered if I was just more weak-willed than all the fit people I know. But if you can get back to fit, especially if you find it difficult, I know I will be inspired to keep trying. And maybe I’ll try some different strategies.

    Good luck, for all our sakes :)

  • your an inspiration man ..truly…. as a 20 year old male that has been over weight pretty much my whole life seeing is believing and not just before and after pictures like all those infomercials do, you doing this for real and i can’t thank you enough, im sure there’s thousands of ppl out there that you have inspired and given hope too as a young man who has found it hard to loose weight and stay motivated and patient with my body i think this is where it starts for me im gonna do my best to follow you step by step to getting fit at week 23 you weigh as much as me and basically having someone in your position show you how to get in shape has got to be the best guide ever thought up thank you for your determination and will, thank you for making a difference p.s. to your wife be patient with your husband he is doing what so many can’t, and is what this world needs truly a great man. thank you again.

  • Hi Drew; I saw your segment on GMA, love your experiment/apporach. It must be hard to do this as a Trainer. But what a gift to share to so many. Especially in this economy right now -we’re getting advice ‘free’ from a top personal trainer, how great is that!
    I, like others-I’ll bet, have stumbling blocks e.g. past knee injuries.
    So, maybe on your ‘return to fit’ could you please toss in modifications for knee injury exercises or tips. That’s where I always get so discouraged and bored with just walking.
    Thanks & Good Luck.
    Big Blessings to your wife for her patience too.

  • Wow! I am so impressed with your journey. I think so many people believe getting in shape will take too much work and change is impossible. I think what you are doing gives people hope for change. Well done. I have shown your site to my kids and plan to keep checking in to see your progress.

  • Drew,

    I’ve lost lots of weight with beachbody’s, Tony Horton P90X, but I’ve never been able to follow his life like how I can follow your journey. Like I said in one of your photos, you will be my idol if you complete your journey. GOOD LUCK and SAFE TRAVELING back to your HAPPY PLACE.

  • hi there
    I noticed your chest seems hairier now than in your early week by week photos . Is this purely because you are not keeping your chest hairless or is it related to the fat you have gained somehow affecting hair growth >?????
    mandy (NZ)

  • Drew,
    My son-in-law and a good friend are personal trainers so I forwarded them both a link to your site the moment I first heard of it. I can’t imagine the dedication you have to fitness for all to go to this length! You are certainly an inspiration.

  • Hi Drew. I want to thank you for all your effort to learn what we go thru. I am overweight and have a very hard time losing the weight. It is an up and down battle for me on a daily basis. I don’t think most people realize how hard it is to lose weight when you are overweight as well as fighting the other daily battles that we are faced with. I hate going out to dinner with my family because i know people are going to be looking at me and what i am eating and commenting. I refuse to shop for clothes unless i have to because the shopping alone can be a devastating experience. I hope that you are able to lose all your weight successfully. Good luck with your challenge.

  • Really looking forward to following along and checking out your progress. Best of luck! I remember another personal trainer named Paul “PJ” James doing this about 3 years ago and he did get back to form but talked a lot about how much tougher it was than he ever imagined.

    Hope you post your daily meal plans. I’m needing a new adventure and that would be enough to make me want to do the “fit” portion with you.

    Best of luck!

  • Drew, I applaud and thank you for doing this, I have been a yoyo for 19yrs going backwards and forwards and I think all your points about emotional rollercoasters are spot on! thanks for putting yourself and your family on the line and doing this, huge respect, my husband and I will be following and attempting to emulate you so we can return to our A cups!!! as well, thanks a million, all the way from New Zealand!

  • Hey man, your project is very interesting . Cant wait to follow your tips and see how you go to fit again. Congrats! M. (RIO/Brazil)

  • You’re a real inspiration – I have a lot of respect for your wife for letting you do this, lol! Random Q – you don’t happen to be a mormon do you?

  • Hey Drew, I just wanna drop by and say something. You’re really something and you sure got guts for doing this. Man, you are amazing, I still can’t believe someone actually doing this, I meant you are putting your health on the line, I wish you the very best and hope you will make us all believe that anything is possible. Good luck man!

  • Just found your blog! Wow. I’m impressed by your dedication. I am also a personal trainer. Just wondering, are you still training clients right now? I gained weight as well, but due to pregnancy. Even with that excuse I felt like I didn’t belong in the gym when I returned. There were some new gymgoers who didn’t know I had returned from maternity leave and I could just read on their faces that they thought I was too fat to be a personal trainer.

    Here I am a personal trainer trying to tell people that noone cares…but it’s easy for someone who is fit to say that. Not so easy when you aren’t the vision of perfect health. I was embarrased to work out. 9 months before I was rocking my pullups and pushups. After having baby I resorted to working out at home because I was ashamed of my body.

    Good news is…4 months later I am below prepregnancy weight. (and I’m a woman!)But I definately understand more about what my clients go through and how brave it is for them to even come in. This past pregnancy was an eyeopener for me. Good luck on your weight loss. I am sure you will take it off much quicker than 6 months!

    I will be following your progress.

  • Hey Drew, well just found your web site/ blog today, I’m 52 and 101 kg’s, 6’1 tall but have man boobs and a big gut, mentally I can relate o what you are saying about how you feel, my partner is the same as your wife, he does not find me attractive being over weight, i have tried many things. After reading your story and looking at your photos, it just proves to me I have NO reason not to try harder…THANKS for doing this, you now have and avid follower.
    all my best from Australia

  • Does anyone else feel like I do? I have a gym membership but I walk in and feel lost, not knowing where to start. Then the self talk sets in. I tell myself, “You dummy, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out.”

    I feel so out of place that I end up walking out. Thoughts or suggestions?

    • Warm up, get on the treadmill, elliptical or bike, put your headphones in and start. Once you are warmed up pick your target area that you want to work on for that day, arms and upper? Legs and lower? Core? and pick the machines that will target those areas. Ask for help from the staff at building a circuit plan for yourself. Good luck and Go for it!!

  • Hi Drew, I would like to be able to tell you that what you are doing is a good thing, but I truly believe it is somewhat foolish and potentially dangerous not just for your health, but mentally, professionally and to your relationships as well. As a person who was overweight her whole life, went through the self-esteem issues and the diet and exercise roller coaster finally deciding on gastric bypass (which by the way, is definitely NOT the easy way to do it)I am well aware of the issues you are facing and will face. The addictions are not as simple as just facing your demons and quitting cold turkey. Every time you go into a store, a coffee shop, a restaurant or even to your own fridge it is like putting an alcoholic in a bar and sitting a bottle of vodka with a shot glass in front of him. The self esteem issues don’t stop when you lose the weight, in fact oftentimes they get worse because you keep striving for that unattainable perfection. I guess what I’m trying to say, is good luck but be careful. The long term ramifications to what you are doing now may reach farther than you expected.

  • Drew,

    Wow! I started reading your posts from day one. I finally made it through to this one.

    I would first like to say thank you for being deticated enough to your passion that you are going through this. Your experiment is a snapshot of my life. And until it was spelled out for me through your blog, I had no idea. Sure, I knew I was overweight…obese. But you have described me perfectly.

    I’m a commercial helicopter pilot. Has really no bearing on this story, I’m just still geeked about that and tell everyone that slows down slow enough. However, in my teenage years, I was very active. I couldn’t gain weight to save my life. As I joined the Marines, I stayed very active, as you can imagine. I can pinpoint when I started to gain weight. I was a newly promoted Corporal of Marines, I had a broken wrist from a bullriding accident, and had a new wife and child. It was easy to become less active. I gained 30 lbs. After my end of enlistment, I took jobs that didn’t really promote healthy eating. I was on call as a hazmat technician for train derailments. I drove a truck for a while. I owned my own business for a while. It was hard to keep the weight off.

    When I was reading through your posts about lack of energy, lack of enthusiasm, snoring, all of that…it’s a snapshot of my life that you have condensed into six months.

    You have inspired and educated me on how I got to this point. That is something that nobody has really accomplished as of yet. It opened my eyes as to why I got this way. And now I am eagerly awaiting the rest of the story. I always knew I could eventually get back to my goal weight. But one thing after another have kept me from starting.

    Keep up the great work. And give your wife and little girl a hug and thank them too. They know this is an experiment of sorts. My wife and children didn’t. It was just how I was. I will definatly keep following.

    Rob

  • With all these replies I don’t know if you’ll even see this one, but I was thinking–if you wanted to really experience the difficulty we face losing weight, you should keep those bad foods around. In your cupboard, refrigerator, etc. Also, spend a lot of time with people who are eating those foods. I see people cleaning out their house of all junk foods pre-diet on weight loss shows, but I’ll tell you from experience, you could wreck your marriage trying to keep chips out of the house in the real world.

    –I got so much push back from trying to clear junk out of my house. My husband’s very thin, eats crap all day long, and complains every time I cook something healthy. Every time. And I don’t just get push back from him, I get it from my kids, my mom-who thinks I’m starving my family, and my in-laws who think I”m starving their son.

    Seriously, sometimes it feels like the whole world is collaborating against me. please, add this challenge to your recovery so I can see you overcome it.

  • I put on around 55 lbs (25 Kg) when I was pregnant to breastfeeding and I felt I would never come back to young, energetic and fast figure….. After I stopped breastfeeding I did make a lot of effort to stop that compulsive eating behaviour where I was indulging in for the previous months however sadly the scale did not give me any hope for at least 6 months – that’s a lot of time for being almost on salads and no carbs!!! Then it all happened by magic over the summer – from May 2011 ’til now I managed to go back a few sizes and fit again into y old funky trousers. It was a nightmare I admit my mood was so much influenced by my shape I was grim and introvert most of the time….
    You are doing something amazing – many women g through something similar during the pregnancy it’s a serious challenge especially once those compulsive eating patterns are established. If you manage to be strong in your will and let at least one week pass by without overeating you’ll be amazed of how quickly your body get back to where it naturally belongs….
    all the best
    rose

  • Hi Drew…what you are doing is brilliant!! (A little dangerous, but brilliant!) I know you are going to help a lot of people. Just brilliant all the way around!!! Thanks Drew (and thanks to your family too because this has to be hard on them!)

  • Drew, I wish you the best in returning to fit. I am inspired by you. I am also on my own journey now due to health issues I hope to reverse. Thank you for doing this.

  • I think I will be speaking for more then myself when I say that …… We have been waiting for so long for this!!! meaning everyday, every website, every advertisement about loosing wait is always a sale pitch out to make a buck….. YOU ARE TURNING IT AROUND and making it REAL!!! That is one amazing gift you are about to give the world. Your journeys and descriptions are real, your weight gain is real and your way back to fit WILL BE THE KEY AND FINAL ACTON that will be the first step in startup of the REALITY that it is real and it can be done……. It is with great sacrifice that one may achieve great success…….. we have forgotten in our new world of EASY what hard work means…… Thank you for going the extra mile.

  • Just a note to respect what you are doing. I am struggling with an overweight problem now and I will follow your blog to see how you overcome it.

  • Drew, thank you, thank you, thank you for making this sacrifice. To give yourself to help others in this way is truly remarkable and commendable! I thank you – because I am one of those people whom you are helping. Even though I was athletic as a child and performed professionally as an actress-dancer in my 20s; after getting married, my lifestyle changed and fastforward to 50+ additional pounds on a 5’4″ frame. I’m slowly getting back into a real exercise routine – but, my biggest challenges are being consistent with exercise – and, being disciplined about what I eat. The muscle tone is there, but, being 58 – it’s taking longer to burn the fat off. I look forward to your journey back 2 FIT – I’ll be learning all the way. THANK YOU AGAIN!

  • Hi…saw your news package recently and thought I’d check out your site. As a 22x marathon runner and all around lifting fitness person, I CAN NOT imagine how you have not broken down mentally. Kudos to you and your wife. Also, might I suggest a stronger marketing ‘push’ during your last month. I think it is imperative to broadcast your message not only to local and syndicated TV markets, but a partially or fully funded documentary of your upcoming ‘loss’. I have worked in the ad business in NY for a long time and with a few strings you should be able to secure a government grant or even sponsorship from a pharma company or even food distributor. Just a thought. All the best.

  • Way to go, Drew. You are really lighting up a path never threaded. You sure can do it. After which people will learn that weight loss isn’t a myth. All the best man!

  • Thank you so much for sharing and giving up yourself as a demonstration. I can’t wait to start your fat to fit journey. I might follow your life for the next 6 months to see where it would lead me. It is hard and if you can do it, I am sure all of us can. Thank you!

  • Hi Drew. I was wondering if it’s not opening a Pandora’s box for you. What if medical consequences will be irreversible? I’m worried a little bit but admire you sacrifice.

    Anyway I think you can influence a lot of people during the process especially a medical environment who has different view on healthy nutrition than practitioners and personal trainers and don’t want to admit that it is even possible that easily digestible carbohydrates are the main cause of obesity epidemic and for the worse consider dietary fats evil!

    It would be great if you could contact Gary Taubes, the author of Good Calories, Bad Calories and Why We Get Fat so you could both pair up on your way to be a stronger team in promoting better nutrition.

  • Hi Drew, i have been overweight during all my life and at least you are experiencing what we experiment every day of our lifes. When you start exercising again, you’ll notice that is not as easy as you did and you don’t enjoy of the sweat as before. All my energy to you and your project.

  • Thank you for this. I’m reading this blog post, and I see myself. The difference being that I have been overweight for a whole lot longer than 6 months. I can relate to all of what you are going through – the lack of mental acuity, the laziness, the inability to play as long as my kids can, the strain on the marriage, the self consciousness.

    You gaining this weight is inspiring me to lose mine. I’m not waiting for you, though. I’m starting now.

    This experience is going to be great for your clients. They will finally have a trainer who understands that sometimes enough really is enough. You will be able to help them with a degree of credibility that a trainer who has always been fit just does not have.

    Thank you for this.

  • ha ha ha love the jokes about your cup size. The sad thing about not feeling like yourself and wanting the “old Drew” back is that the over weight people that have struggled with it for a while now have completely forgotten how their “old self” feels. I only need to loose about 30 pounds. I honestly can’t say that I can remember how I felt without those 30 pounds. Congrats on the Jay Leno gig by the way! Good luck :)

  • Drew, I really hope you know how much your journey means to so many people. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. I’ve always tested very healthy in all of my medical exams (normal BP, normal glycerides, etc.), and my GP’s excuse was always “you’re a big-boned guy…can’t really change it.” Well, in February of this year something snapped in my head. I was tired of looking at the blob in the mirror every day. I have lost roughly 37 lbs (272 -> 235) since February, but have a long way to go. I have noticed physical differences, but I still have the mentality of a “fat person.” While most of my friends, and even acquaintances don’t think I’m “fat” according to what you see on those television shows, I FEEL fat, I think I look fat, and I want to change it. The biggest struggle for me has not been the food changes, as I never ate too much, just never ate the right things, but it’s the exercise, and the motivation to do such that’s such the killer for me. I am really inspired by what you are doing, and I wish you all the best. A deep thank you from me for experiencing the way that most of us have been living for the majority of our lives, and for truly understanding what it means to be “fat.” I will be checking in every day to your website now, and I will definitely be following your nutrition and exercise guides.

  • All fitness instructors should be forced to experience their clients point of view before anyone should be obligated to take them seriously. Many instructors have a long lasting relationship with fitness and has never tried the addiction and emotional stress that you go through now.

    I can tell you what is going to happen with prophetic precision. At first you will jump the machinery like it was a dirty date. But soon after you will find that your cravings for edible garbage and for being lazy shifts gear into hysterical mode. If you make it to the other side of these 3-4 weeks of absolute mental anguish, you may make it. But it is the “cold turkey” from junk and lazy that do away with most people (who go back to their old lifestyle after a short burst of will to change)

    I speak from experience. I have given up both addictive drugs and edible feces (not at the same time). Giving up sugary foods, pop and lazy is A LOT harder. One of the reason is that you have no chance of “out of sight, out of mind”. With dope You have to actively pursue your habit and once you are willing to let go, just dont go to the places they sell it. With junk food on the other hand, you are up against billions dollars of advertising that is designed to speak to your subconscious mind and override “reason”

  • I think you are awesome for doing this, understanding from a fatties side is quite unique, I was in the British Army and it was the only time in my life I was not fat, I am now 46 and struggling

    I am getting a group of people here in Moscow, Russia to follow your next stage, fat to fit

    Thank you for doing this and we are looking forward to starting the trip with you

    Len

  • Drew,

    You know the person you describe yourself being now has been the person I have been all my life and I am looking forward to not only watching your journey to fit but hope I can join in.

  • hey drew…I started following you couple of days ago and I think that what you are doing is amazing and so inspiring to a lot of people out there.
    Can’t wait to follow the way to the fit stage and hopefully I get some good ideas to improve my nutrition and work outs…

    Best wishes from Germany

  • i found your blog recently (a friend shared in on facebook) and i gotta tell you, i love what you’re doing. i’ve thought about it over the past few days and i have an “issue” i’d like to hear your thoughts on.

    i’m about 40 pounds overweight right now and have struggled to lose weight over the past few years. i go to the gym (take a 1hr high int. boot camp – taught by an esteemed, retired marine, triathlete hoss!) – 3 to 4 days / wk.

    my real question is this: so often, we’re told that we have to love ourselves and accept ourselves on the way to our goals. i’m sure you can see the difficulty in that, now being on the “inside” of a fat body. i wasn’t always “fat”. i was a size 4 when i got married, 9 years ago. i’m a size 12 now… down from a 16 about a year ago. i have a real hard time loving myself “on the journey” especially when it’s taking so long to lose the weight. do you now struggle with that? being able to love yourself, or love your body knowing you’re nowhere close to where you want to be… how do you keep your mind right and not punish or hate yourself for being where you are, while on the road to where you want so desperately to be?

    i’d love to hear your thoughts.

  • Dude, I’m going to be right by your side, logging on to your site everyday, can’t wait I need this and I hope I can keep up with you. Please take into consideration those of us whom have never done a push up when you are on your way back to fit. I am sure it is much more difficult, there is a such thing as muscle memory and mine only remembers lazy and fat!!!

  • Drew,

    I absolutely respect your willingness to go through this process. While those who never struggle with weight issues may be capable of empathizing with others who do, the reality is you simply cannot truly “get it” unless you’ve been there. And even with this experiment, there are still so many variables you may not have to experience. It sounds as if your family and friends will be highly supportive. Many people do not have that kind of support. I love the suggestion from someone about trying to lose the weight while having all those bad foods in the house. THAT is reality for many people struggling to lose.

    As a psychologist who has gone fat to fit to fat to fit more times than I can count, I suspect the biggest struggle will be in your head. The first battle will be when you start back exercising and realize you can’t do anything even remotely close to what you did before. It is SO easy to want to throw in the towel because of it. I hope you will follow your own training experience and realize the importance of pushing yourself to the limit rather than beyond it. Your limit will be different than it was six months ago. And just because you’re not doing what you used to do doesn’t mean you aren’t working hard.

    Good luck on your journey back to health. Don’t underestimate the difficulties you will experience along the way. It really IS easier to put it on than to take it off, but it feels a heck of a lot better in the end.

  • Hi Drew, thank you for putting yourself out there for the public eye,what a briliant idea!I’m in divorce right now because of my weight,can’t wait to go back to fit,unfortunatly i have a very sedentary lifestyle(my job)pleace give some advice.
    Will follow your blog to find out how you’ll get back to fit,good luck!

  • You come this far and I my whole family wants to follow you back to fit. I have only one fear that your not pulling a 8 hour job standing on your feet. The largest employer in the U.S. all stand on there feet, Walmart. You should have a good idea what you would feel like standing and walking around all day by now. You can get a lot more sucess from all this if you can get us fit that feel worn out by the work day.

  • I can’t wait to see your meal plans. I hope they are doable for me. We’ve tried to eat more healthy at our house and for the most part we do. But it seems that every time we decide to eat really healthy it only last for a short time because we can’t afford it. Eating healthy is more expensive than eating crappy. It really is. I have six children at home and the grocery bill is sizable. We eat homemade bread and we eat salad and other green foods at nearly every meal and my wife is great about preparing home cooked meals. But when we start to buy pasta that’s not white, or organic anything or other special ingredients the cost gets prohibitive really fast. So I’m really anxious to see your menu plans.

  • Drew, your insight is just wonderful – amazing how hard things are when you are over weight. I am now almost at my goal weight, and I did it with an iron level of 3! Imagine carrying all that extra weight and having no oxygen at the same time. Let’s not forget that some people need to find out if it is eating or if it is medical. But at the end of the day – the battle is still the same (in your head).

  • Good luck getting back to fit! It’s really cool what you’re doing.

    I know that the fit2fat part is almost over but I’d love to see a fried oreos food challenge because they are freaking delicious. With confectioners sugar. Lol

  • Hey,

    Your doing great. Some people dont have the inpiration starting a diet. You can inspire them by showing your living pattern!
    I’ll follow just for see how the improve my daily diet!

    Thanks for sharing your project

    (From the Netherlands!)

  • I read about your journey on msnbc this morning and looked up your site. I love the humor in your posts:).

    I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it was for you to watch the weight pile on, I know I’d freak if I gained even 5 pounds, haha (that wasn’t muscle weight). I wish you the best of luck in getting back in shape! It will be cool to see the transformation and interesting to see your meal plans.

  • At least u have a ‘Drew’ to go back to. Most of us have been fat for our entire lives. We don’t know what its like to be fit and going there is an even bigger struggle cause we don’t know how we will look like, if we can handle it, … U can look at pictures and memories, we can’t… I hope u will succeed cause it does teach us some valuable lessons but its never the same as to someone that doesn’t know what its like. The biggest wall I usually hit is the people who never seem to support u. When I go out to eat u get people laughing, but when I go to the gym u again have people laughing. That wall of ignorance usually gets me back to emo eating, somehow I think ur mentally stronger against such things because u know what its like from before. But anyhew I do support ur cause here, lets hope we all can learn to do things better. :)

  • Блин! Парень! Переживаю за тебя всем сердцем! Пять лет назад мой вес был тоже 80кг. И когда ел много, думал что смогу легко похудеть обратно. Но это оказалось гораздо труднее, чем я думал… Сейчас я выгляжу так же как и ты сейчас – 110кг…

    Желаю тебя удачи! Чтобы все у тебя получилось и ты доказал, что это возможно!

    Постараюсь в этот раз, с помощью твоего блога, довести всё до конца!

    Еще раз, УДАЧИ!

    p.s. sorry that I write is not in English. I from Russia.

  • Hey Drew. My name is Elen I was watching the news the other day and I saw the enterview they had with you. I think your crazy for doing this to you body. I had a baby last year hes one now when I first got pregnat I was 129 nd at the end of my pregnancy I was 206. I tried different diets tried going to the gym and nothing works for me I need to lose weight so bad my weight is 182. I cant wait for you to show us how to lose weight nd so much weight in 6 months. I look forward to your journey back 2 fit. I’ll be follwin ur bolg all the way. Thank you very much.

  • Drew – I can sympathize a bit with you with the longing for the fitter you. I also am struggling to get back to the fit me – I hit my highest of 187, and am now at 173 – my goal is about 120 or so. I however have been overweight for about 4 years now (steadily creeping upward after having lost 40 lbs 5 years ago). My issue is staying the course with healthy eating and exercising. When I’m thinner I do feel good, but I still have that “inner 2-year old” that wants me to go back to eating poorly – just because it tastes better than the healthy stuff. I’m really looking forward to your journey of weight loss – perhaps through your experience I can find some tips that will help me take it off forever this time! I may never love salads, but I do hope to make peace with my food issues and negotiate the balance between loving to eat delicious and not necessarily healthy food and loving to be thinner and feel more energetic/less pain/generally better!

  • Hi Drew,
    I think what you are doing is an amazing example of what someone can achieve by putting their mind to something. I just want to highlight what Afi above has also mentioned. The fact you have a slimmer, happier, more balanced version of yourself stored in your mind is an amazing driving force and will go a long way to getting you back to your starting point.

    I would say that most overweight people don’t have this image. Combined with the incredibly low levels of self worth, which are utterly debilitating, as well as a lack of basic knowledge of how to successful make changes in your habits, and most importantly, little effective desire to change makes weight loss such an insurmountable challenge.

    Its not just enough to want to not be overweight, it has to be backed up by so many factors in both a practical sense (such as knowing the nutritional values of foods) to emotional (such as having a good support network that at the very least doesn’t sabotage your attempts) to psychological (believing that you really can do it and that you are a valuable person who deserves your respect and other people value and respect you as well).

    I hope as you’re on the way back to Fit Drew you talk to as many people as you can about their fat-to-fit journey and see how it relates to yours. So many people will learn from your experience, but so many more can be reached.

    All the best Drew.

    Tali

  • Drew – Please have video rolling for your entire first day Fat2Fit workout. The biggest shock awaits you when you try to workout with an extra 70 lbs on your bones. This will be like no other workout you have ever done before. I guarantee it. Please document your cardio limits and strength measurements. When you are on with Jay Leno, can you prepare the following list of estimates: How many push ups and situps will you be capable of in your FIRST workout back. How much cardio? Good luck and thank you for this project. It is sure to help a lot of people.

  • I know that you have so many responses that the chances of you even getting to my little comment are pretty much next to nothing, but I just wanted to say that I admire everything you’re doing. The fact that you have done this to yourself in order to experience what an overweight person actually experiences is so selfless that I can’t help but tell everybody about your project. I have battled with my weight my entire life and JUST grabbed it by the horns in April of this year. So far, I have lost about 40 lbs, and I’m so proud of myself that I’m going to continue until I get down to the size I’m aiming for. It’s good to see someone who is normally the complete opposite relate to the things us “fat folk” deal with is SO encouraging. It’s easy for somebody to be on the outside & say, “Oh, you need to stop eating so much…”, but they haven’t the slightest idea of what it’s like to actually battle with this.

    So, again, I thank you.

  • The weight gain for me was gradual and related to pregnancy. I was able to lose the pregnancy weight after my first child, but I was left with 25 lbs extra after the birth of my second – meaning starting out my third pregnancy (I’m due in a month) I was overweight already and I’ve put on an additional 25 lbs. I almost forget who the old me was. I feel like because my weight gain was spread over 4 years and involved getting bigger and then smaller and then bigger again, I didn’t realize how much the extra pounds affect my mood, energy level, laziness, attitute, self-esteem, etc. You going through this so quickly and easily remembering your old self really puts things into perspective for me. I know I was happier before, but those memories are less tangible for me. Thanks for this experiment and reminding me that my old self was so much better. As soon as I have this baby, I will be doing everything it takes.

  • Drew:

    I want to say thank you for your dedication to this project. I sit here and read your last post and note that you are pretty much where I am right now, and I have been for years. I am 5’11″ and 320 lbs. I have the low testosterone problem as well, and my cholesterol is no good. I am experiencing the same things you are emotionally, maybe more, because every time I have tried to make the appropriate changes, I do it with a friend and they flake out for whatever reason, then I do as well. All this to say, My current plan is to start where and when you start. eat what you eat and do what you do. Thank you for what you are about to do.I will keep you posted as to my progress.

    Robert

  • Hi Drew! I found out about you from a fitness forums to which I belong. While never been overweight myself, I do have trouble overcoming mental images of myself and how thin I think should be. I really find your story to be inspiring and moving. And I just wanted to let you know that many of us out here are supporting you and your journey! :)

  • Cant wait to see how you lose all that weight. I am a fat person who is training to get into the police academy. So i am looking for a work out routine and diet plan and am curious to see yours

  • I just joined watching your journey. I feel so sad watching you eat those donuts! You look amazing the first day of fit to fat. I have been overweight for soooooooo long and it makes me sad to see you on your way to feeling the way I’ve felt all of these years. I can’t wait to see you get back to fit. I guess I don’t know anything about eating right because my groceries look exactly like yours on your Twitter page! no wonder! I’m hooked and I really want to follow you back to fit, I hope I can come with you. Thank you for doing this, no one has done this before so thank you for trying to help. :)

  • hey Drew! you seem so amazing! i just know that everything will go back to normal when you go back into the fit stage. many can relate, but not many of us have the willingness to maintain a healthy lifestyle. im so inspired to finally do it! thanks! xoxoxo

  • All I have to say is, I am SO READY FOR U TO END THIS! I am saying that because I have been keeping track of your weight gain, and TOTALLY understanding where u are coming from. I have been small and athletic most of my life(cheerleader, modern dance, ballet, and more . But through a bad relationship that tried to kill me literally, I have been on the journey u will embark on in a month. It’s been hard though. Real hard. Got so used to eating bad (not 6 months for me, try YEARS), and now I am trying to change it. But like I said, it’s hard. Let myself go too long. but I am ready to change it all. Get back to myself, that person I let go. I have started now, but not as strict as I would like to be. I’m hoping when u start, I can follow u and get it all back in 6 months. I’m so excited for u, and your wife. She is indeed a trooper!

  • Drew-

    In a couple of weeks when you begin to work on losing the weight, i ask that you do it in a manner that is accessible to all. Let me clarify, please don’t hit the gym. gym memberships can be very expensive and may be impractical for some. I would like to see you show us how to lose weight and tone up and maintain our new bodies at home, using only what is affordable, (ie hand weights, resistance bands, etc)

  • Drew,
    I cannot commend you enough for taking this approach to see what it is really like to be overweight. At present, I match your current weight..and despite my herniated disks and MS..I will be following and engaging in your every move on your way back from fat to fit. Every step of the way! So long I have battled with obesity. I have reached out to nutritionists (who were ironically obese…doesn’t say much for them,eh?)I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars with other Personal Trainers who have 10% body fat and all they can say is it’s easy to maintain fitness when you get there. But none of them have been able to tell me that they have walked down Fat Ass Lane ever in their lives.
    All I can say is…thank you. Thanks for doing something this radical to prove a point to all of us that this can be done, and that you understand that the battles are real…and boy wait until you start on your way back. That is gonna be a hell of a big hill to climb, but I’ll be right there with you buddy! Two more weeks Drew! Hang in there!

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  • William Lindsey 25th October ! That’s a terrific suggestion! I’ve attended the gym and loved it, became quite tone and addicted to the place. Then, life got in the way, moved homes and distance came between me and the gym.

    Finding the willpower for a ROUTINE workout at HOME is entirely different than hitting the gym. I think it’s because we associate HOME with so many other things and we’re so easily distracted.

    My TOP 4 excuses for NOT working out at home:

    1. It’s easier to sleep in than set the alarm and get up one hour early to work out.

    2. It’s easier to sit on the couch, read or go to bed early than to change clothes, fire up the MP3 player and head downstairs to workout in your place of sanctuary (home).

    3. It takes so much effort/time to clean shower/bathroom that I don’t want to work out and have to shower AGAIN and clean the shower AGAIN.

    4. I’ll probably just eat back the calories I would have burned off anyway. After all, I’m at HOME, so close to the kitchen/fridge. if I DON’T bother working out, then I won’t reach for more food.

    So, I sure hope DREW works out at home. One video of watching him have it harder than I have it, might just motivate me to get my a$$ in gear. I should say that I am female, bout 20 lb. overweight and 5″2, so I do have my challenges.

    AV Ator

  • What a hero Drew! I just stumbled on your story and am blown away by your bravery. It is almost like you are going through a pregnancy with multiples. I reckon you can relate to postnatal moms even more than your regular clients now because they too have had the “I’m thin and fit to fat and exhausted” transition in oh about 6 months!

    I’m really looking forward to seeing you get back into shape.

    Oh and btw – do you have a blog post anywhere where you describe your before life? Your regular diet and exercise routine?
    Keep going strong.

  • While I was reading this, the first and only blog of yours I have read, I kept thinking how different you were than myself and any other over weight person out there. You used to be in great shape, you exercised and had a healthy diet. What could you really have in common with me? Even as I read about issues that you were having with your wife, that I have with my husband, still I kept thinking, it’s not the same…Then I got to your last 3 sentences. A variation of the same thing I have said to myself over and over. (I seriously almost started to cry sitting here at my desk) I hate not being the “me” that I used to be when I was young and thinner and more active. I’m now looking forward to continue reading and find out how everything goes for you getting back in shape. I’ve started, and already started failing a new routine for myself, so maybe you’ll be able to provide some helpful tips along the way.

  • Drew, I’ve read your whole blog and find it very interesting….BUT, as someone who struggles with food addiction, I think you’re missing the emotional mindset. You don’t appear to enjoy the food you’re eating at all, and claim it’s not fun anymore. It’s really not about being fun…it’s an addiction that grabs you and won’t let go. It’s not about “moments” of sadness, it’s about feeling low most of the time with “moments” of relief after self-medicating with food. Luckily for you, you don’t seem to have experienced the full effect of the addiction, as you’ve been very driven during these months to force-feed yourself to an unhealthy weight. It’s been a competition for you vs. a feeling of “giving in” and “giving up” to the addiction. For those truly addicted, eating is not “fun”, it’s an obsessive torment. This being said, good luck to you in your quest to regain your health.

  • Hi…

    i have nearly the same figure like you and i want to fit up with you! Please post us your Diet- and Fitnessplan. I’m sick of my overweight but i’m just human and weak! :o )

    You motivate me to do it and i hope it will work.

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  • I started foloowing you when I heard about you on the news. Had a simular type of story myself and seeing the pic of the after you sort of “woke” me up. I was never really fit but I was not over weight per say. After Marraige you kind of got into a rut espesially after my wife had the kids. Just never enought time or you think eh I’ll catch something quick and worry about it later. Later never happenes and before you know it your fat. Not sure how it came about but, some of my friends, got to take it for what it is at this point had said, “hey Bri what happened? when you worked at UPS you looked like you could run through a brick wall, now it looks like you ate it.” It’s true, no matter how you spin it it was true. I am really interested in how your going to go from 70lbs to fit in 6 months. If I can put 50 on in 12 yrs to be able to get back to what I was in 6 months would be great! I will be checking your site out for tips and pointers.

    Thanks your doing a good thing

    Brian

  • Thanks for having the courage to put yourself through this fit 2 fat process. If you really want to know how 90% of overweight people feel…on November 5th, lose 10 lbs and gain it back again. Then start your fat to fit journey again…..as you know, many people batteling obesity have lost and gained weight loss several times…it is quite an emotional challenge.

    RT

  • Drew, I’m reading this post and much of what you are saying reminds me of me on the daily. The fact that you are going to help so many people with what you’re doing is amazing in itself. Thanks for your courage. Breaking yourself, as many others are broken, to show people how to fix it is an awesome thing. And much appreciated. Looking forward to more.

  • Wow now you are getting it…I am sorry that you are now seeing the dark side of fat…it is more painful than mere weight, it is so much more…It is a life un-lived, full of broken promises and unmet dreams.

  • Drew, I think this is probably your most important post for this entire project. I started trying to lose weight and get back in shape this summer. I’m 41 and weight almost 300 lbs. When I finally talked myself in going to the gym and getting a trainer. The trainer I got was this skinny little guy that was about 20 years old. He was new to training and I thought boy if I wasn’t motivated I wouldn’t come back. I switched to a lady trainer who herself had lost 100 lbs and was in her 40s. Now that was motivating for me. She KNOWS what it takes to get your fat butt to he gym and lose weight. She KNOWS how the no energy, self consciousness effects you.
    I hope this is something you will remember once you’ve gotten back to your shape. This is something that everyone in the fitness industry who is REALLY trying to help people need to “get”.

  • You won’t have this problem state side but here in Australia, obtaining larger shirts is difficult. A USA medium is out XXL and at 280lbs I come in at a 6XL shirt. The problem is the limited selection of clothing that would fit half the male population.

    I admire your courage for undertaking the project in the way that you have. You will have the full support of your wife for losing weight but without the support it is almost impossible to keep more than 20lbs off for more than a few months.

  • You just described my life. It brought tears to my eyes. Your experiences are making these problems all very vivid. When you have lived with them so long you just learn to endure and you forget how it once felt to feel good. I miss my old self too. I am committed to joining you on your journey back to fit. Thank you so much. It’s like you have jumped down in the pit with me to personally help me get back out.

  • It’s amazing that your emotional being related to the way you eat has an effect on so many aspects of your life! I’m battling my weight and I’m battling so many of the things you are dealing with now that you have extra weight. The additions will be difficult to conquer but doable. I’m a firm believer that processed foods have chemicals that make me addicted to those foods, because when I eat ‘real food’, I dont have a problem with food addictions. But let me pick up a bag of candy and Im like an alcoholic with alcohol- can’t get enough.
    Good luck I will continue to follow…

  • I was trying to do a weight loss support group and the # 1 thing I found was the fit person took on the unfit person’s eating habits and then didn’t like it. This is the thing that would bring them to the group. I take it from the disappointment about the snacks in the bedroom that your wife did not join you in these habits. How did the rest of the family react to the different foods in the house? Did the kids get in the habit of snacking in front of the TV?
    At least you didn’t develop the cheese and ice cream habit.
    As I get older I am seeing my friends have the non fit habits and my will to get rid of these last pounds is becoming less important. I am also getting a bad case of the creeps and don’t like it.
    How do you be a fit person surrounded by unfit friends? I am married to a fit doer. Cuts the grass with a push mower, rakes, there is no snow blower in our house and we do walk the dog together during the summer. He took on my healthy eating habits when we got married. I think this is the only reason I haven’t gotten a worse case of the creeps.
    I am a 50 pound loser and use to be a 45 pound maintainer, now a 40 pound maintainer. BTW in my 50′s.

  • Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to know a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the e-book in it or something. I believe that you can do with some % to force the message home a little bit, however instead of that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.

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