09/15/2026
When I first started this journey at 403 pounds, about the only exercise I was getting was walking to the refrigerator and the bathroom. đŸ˜‚
The truth is, I lost a significant amount of weight without exercising at all. At 403 pounds, I simply didn't feel like exercising. Moving around was hard enough, and the idea of working out wasn't exactly high on my list.
But something changed as the weight started coming off. I felt better. I had more energy. And eventually, I actually wanted to move more.
Today, at 55 years old, I've added bike riding, walking, and weightlifting into my routine. I won't lie...the first month was rough. I discovered muscles I apparently hadn't used in a very long time! There was plenty of soreness and plenty of recovery time.
But once I got through that initial period, I started noticing something I really didn't expect.
Exercise makes me feel incredible.
It's not just physical, either. My mood is better, my mind feels clearer, I feel stronger, and there's a sense of accomplishment after finishing a bike ride or workout that is hard to describe.
I've learned that getting healthier doesn't mean you have to change everything on day one. I didn't start at 403 pounds by suddenly riding bikes and lifting weights. I started with what I could do, and as I got healthier, I added more.
That's really what sustainability and consistency have come to mean to me. Find something you can do today, keep doing it, and build from there.
At 403 pounds, I never imagined that at 55 I'd be loading a bicycle into the back of my truck after work because I wanted to go ride.
Sometimes the biggest victories have absolutely nothing to do with the number on the scale.
Steve