Remember sitting with your Careers Officer as a teenager and being asked, “What do you want to be when you’re 40?” I bet no one said, “Overweight, unfit, slow, and constantly tired.” I certainly didn’t.

Making YouTube videos — filming, editing, and documenting my journey — became cathartic and a huge part of my “motivation circle.” I started walking every day, filming my progress, and uploading it, not expecting anyone to watch. And, to be fair, at first, no one did.

This article has taken me over two years to write, although it’s really been six years in the making — six years to have a story worth telling.

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Hitting Rock Bottom

At the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019, I weighed 190kg. To put that into perspective, the average UK man in his 40s weighs 83kg. I was 107kg heavier than the average person you pass on the high street.

The physical and mental implications were massive. Being tall (6’2”) had helped me “get away” with being big, but by 38, my knees ached, my energy was non-existent, and my sleep was a joke — I probably averaged three to four hours a night. Depression and anxiety were taking hold, though I didn’t recognise it at the time. I had grown up in a working-class London family; feelings weren’t discussed, and “depression” was something for other people, not me.

I was also likely an alcoholic. The mental darkness I lived with was amplified by my drinking. At one point, I was even too heavy to weigh myself on standard bathroom scales. That sense of alienation — of being on my own — was staggering.

Eventually, I started using the scales at my local pharmacy. They were accurate and measured my body fat and BMI, giving me a baseline to work from.

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Half The Man I Used To Be

Six years later, I weigh 87kg — literally half the man I used to be. I’m in the best shape of my life. The 103kg I lost, as my partner Tracie likes to joke, is more than an entire adult male!

Looking back, I can’t believe I moved around carrying all that weight. Simple activities like shopping or going out with my family were exhausting. I walked the shortest distances possible and avoided stairs at all costs. Friends and family laughed when I signed up for a 100km challenge — Race to the Stones in 2019 — because they didn’t believe I could do it.

To put it in perspective, last year I struggled to route-march the Yorkshire Three Peaks carrying a 45lb backpack. Back then, I carried almost five times that on my body every day.

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YouTube and Motivation

When I started uploading videos, I realised there were almost no fitness influencers catering to bigger men (or bigger people in general). Most assume you already have a base level of fitness. I didn’t. I just wanted to know: how do I start? How do I keep moving? What can I eat? How do I stay motivated?

I decided to make videos that documented my journey and aimed to entertain and inspire others like me. I’m not a nutritionist or fitness expert — I simply share what works for me, hoping to inspire others as I once wanted to be inspired.

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My Approach

I have three “pillars” that guide me:

1. Eat clean, portion-controlled meals — three per day. I used to eat 4,000–5,000 calories daily. Now, I focus on the right quantity and quality of food.

2. Move consistently — I run at least 5km or cycle 25km most days.

3. Maintain motivation — I use psychological tactics to keep myself moving, even when it’s hard.

And these are the three subjects that I make weekly youtube videos about. 

I started with walking. Every day for a year, I pushed myself to walk further, gradually increasing my distance. Cardio, strength, and fitness became by-products of losing weight. Towards of that year, I built upto walking 10 miles everyday. 

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Mindset Shift

I often get asked if I had a “defining wake-up moment.” There wasn’t one big moment — it was hundreds of small moments. Buying plus-size clothes, declining to participate in school events for my kids — just two of many different dominoes that eventually led to change.

A David Goggins’ quote that resonated with me: “To achieve greatness, one must be willing to be unbalanced for a period of time.” I was unbalanced — in the best possible way. My obsession, once directed at my career, now fuels my health, fitness, and family life.

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Support System

Never underestimate the power of supportive people. My partner Tracie and my daughters are my biggest supporters. Their encouragement, understanding, and involvement in my journey have been crucial. Including them in my challenges — like the Yorkshire Three Peaks or the London to Brighton bike ride — strengthens both our bond and my motivation.

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What Worked?

• Dietary overhaul: I quit alcohol, gave up processed food, and turned vegan, partly to support my daughter and partly to test it’s impact on my fitness.

• Exercise: I walked before I could run and I ran before I could cycle – gradually building my endurance.

• Motivation: I publicly committed to challenges like the Race to the Stones to force myself to follow through.

This combination of dietary discipline, physical movement, and psychological commitment has transformed my life.

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Lessons Learned

• Mindset, willpower, and behaviour change are more important than fad diets or gimmicky exercise.

• Your motivation must be personal — losing weight to look good for a holiday won’t sustain you through long-term change.

• Find your “happy place” — your reason to move forward even when it’s tough.

• Celebrate meaningful achievements — rewards should reinforce progress, not undo it.

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Final Thoughts

I’m no longer focused solely on weight loss. My goals are fitness-based: running, cycling, strength, and endurance training. I continue to make weekly YouTube videos documenting my journey, sharing successes and failures, and hoping to inspire others.

There is no secret sauce. “Change happens when the fear of staying the same outweighs the fear of change“. Believe in yourself, be kind to yourself, and keep moving forward. Small steps matter. Consistency matters. Your journey is yours — nobody else’s.

Thank you for reading, watching and supporting me. Your questions, likes, and comments keep me motivated. I hope this story inspires you to take your first step, however small, towards your own transformation.

Please leave me a comment on any of my videos, share your story. I read every comment. 🙂