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Fast Food Addict Reinvents Himself As Personal Trainer

Fast Food Addict Reinvents Himself As Personal Trainer

He used to weigh 463lbs but has shed half his body weight after some serious training

Mike Wood

Mike Wood

Going from being overweight to rippling abs is something that can seem like a distant dream for a lot of people, but for one California man it has become a reality.

Zack Vogler, 24, grew up obese and was facing down a life of unhealthy living when he was diagnosed as having both diabetes and hypertension as a teenager.

"I've been obese my whole life leading up to when I lost weight. I come from an obese family with a history of all the weight-related issues you can think of," he said.

"I definitely learned habits from my male role models we always put a lot of value in being big, strong and eating a lot. I also turned to food for comfort, when my parents got divorced and when my older brother was diagnosed with leukaemia two years later."

"I was always self-conscience about my body, I didn't feel like I was attractive at all. I felt trapped in a huge body that I hated," added Zack.

MediaDrumWorld

When personal tragedy struck, he felt like he had to do something to save himself from a similar fate.

"After my father had a heart attack in 2012, I started looking into my own health," explained Zack.

"Being 463 pounds at 19, I was worried that I was headed down the same path as my father. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, hypertension and put on blood pressure medications. That's when I knew I needed to make a change if I didn't want to die from obesity-related illnesses."

Zack changed his eating, began exercising and managed to get himself down to half of his previous weight - from 33 stone to around 15. He lost so much weight that he had to undergo almost £15,000's worth of plastic surgery to rid himself of the skin that he had accumulated.

It was all worth it, he says. Zack explained: "I no longer feel trapped in my body, I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin. I like to wear tighter clothes and I'm proud of the body that I worked hard for."

Zack now works as a personal trainer and helps others along the journey that he took.

He says: "I also have so much more energy and I've found my passion in life and made a career out of helping others achieve what I have. I lost the weight by tracking my calorie intake and exercising.

MediaDrumWorld

"I completely changed what I ate. I quit drinking calories and started eating more lean meats, vegetables and just whole foods in general. In terms of exercise, I fell in love with lifting weights. I lifted a little in high school for football, but I never got that into it, now it's one of my favourite things in life.

"I had to remind myself everyday of where I came from and what I wanted to achieve. I definitely fell off the wagon a few times, but I never gave up on myself or my goals. People honestly don't believe it. The people I used to know don't even recognise me anymore and those I met after weight loss can't conceive how I was ever that big."

There is no great secret, he says, just perseverance. Zack says: "Start small and start with your diet. What you eat is why you're overweight. Don't drink your calories; track your food, monitor your calorie intake and start taking daily walks."

"I love myself and I am now proud to be me."

Featured Image Credit: MediaDrumWorld

Topics: Weight Loss, Inspirational, Health