Prepare to be inspired by our ongoing “First Steps” series, where we showcase incredible stories of men who have completely transformed their bodies, minds, and lives, and it all started with taking the first step! Don’t miss out on any of the stories in this series – check them out here.
Meet Andrew Merritt, a 36-year-old mortgage banker in Jacksonville, Florida. When he stepped on the scale and saw 395 pounds staring back at him, he made a life-changing decision. Today, at 258 pounds, he has fully embraced a healthy lifestyle. Now, Merritt is sharing with us his incredible journey in his own words.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been known as the ‘big guy.’ I struggled with overeating as a child, followed by excessive partying in college, and never really understanding portion control as an adult. I tried running in my 20s and lost some weight, but it always came back. I lived in fear of not being able to fit in chairs, getting kicked off planes, and missing out on experiencing things with my kids, like riding roller coasters.
My weight caused a host of health problems. I couldn’t breathe climbing stairs or keep up with my kids. I’d break a sweat just walking from my office to my car. I was sure I had sleep apnea, and my wife continuously complained about my snoring (thankfully, that’s a thing of the past now).
Everything changed for me on July 15, 2021, when I was 34 years old. My family was coming back from a trip, and I was having a final binge with my friend Mat when I hit almost 400 pounds on the scale that morning. That was my breaking point. Over a meal of fish and chips and a drink, I made a pact with myself to finally commit to losing weight for real, no matter how uncomfortable it got.
My First Step
My journey began in July with a 3-day-a-week cardio routine. I reluctantly went to the gym and spent time on the ARC Trainer, challenging myself to just make it through 17 minutes at first. The idea of weightlifting or interacting with others terrified me, so I focused on gradually adding a minute to my time every other session.
Andrew Merritt
Andrew and Shea
I adopted a light intermittent fasting routine and skipped breakfast, which immediately cut out 600 to 800 calories from my daily intake. I vividly remember changing lanes on the highway to avoid passing by my go-to fast food breakfast joint.
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