Nathan dropped 100 pounds (45.5 kg) and 10 pant sizes by focusing on the long-term.
Hear how he kept himself motivated and set up a routine that was easy for his life!
“Think long term.”
Weight Gain Background
Nathan had been overweight for as long as he could remember. He describes poor portion control, in addition to a sedentary lifestyle, as contributing factors.
Nathan had once successfully lost 47 pounds (21.4 kg) during a “Biggest Loser” contest at work, but he admits the short-term motivation around the contest led him to go to the unhealthy lengths of starving himself or over-exercising.
At his peak weight, Nathan weighed 326 pounds. (148.2 kg)
How Being Overweight Impacted Nathan’s Life
Nathan has a very physical job as a physical therapist, so he was exhausted after long days of work.
The requirements of his job had him stretching and demonstrating movements for his patients, and he had to keep multiple pairs of pants at work in case he split his pants.
“I was sore just from carrying myself.”
Nathan also describes the difficulty he had finding clothing that fit him properly.
The Turning Point
In May of 2011, a friend of Nathan’s recommended a program of meal-replacement shakes to Nathan. She’d experienced success herself, and the timing was perfect for Nathan in his reflecting on his circumstances.
Starting The Weight Loss Journey
The adjustment to having shakes for breakfast and lunch (instead of whole meals) was difficult at first. Nathan describes being hungry for two weeks straight and drinking a lot more water than he’d been used to.
Something that reassured Nathan of his ability to succeed on that particular program was that it included a gradual taper off of the shakes, so that he could transition back into eating real meals once he’d reached a desired point.
During the first month of his new lifestyle, Nathan didn’t change much in terms of activity. However, after losing 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in the first week and feeling his energy level quickly increasing, he felt the desire to explore and get out more.
He began by walking around the block, which eventually became jogging, and then running. Soon, Nathan was running three times a week.
Nathan shares how his father used to tie a tube sock around his head as a sweatband, and when he began doing the same, his neighbors began to affectionately call him “the tube sock guy.” (Nathan’s blog is tubesockguy.blogspot.com)
Staying Motivated
Nathan shares how important it was to have the “rallying support” of his family and friends to help and encourage him.
“That was one of the big keys for me… that I had a lot of people in my corner.”
Nathan also shares how important it was for him to focus on the long term, especially when it came to food temptation and setbacks. The occasional slip was disappointing, of course, but he didn’t let those derail him from his long-term objective: better health.
What Nathan Learned About Food, Exercise, and Himself
Nathan discovered a competitive streak in himself. He signed up for an 8K run with co-workers and friends, and after finishing ten minutes behind his group, he decided things were going to be very different the next time.
As Nathan began running regularly, and running longer distances, his hunger increased, and he was able to increase his food intake to meet his energy needs.
At one point when he had reached the point of running six-miles at a time, he wondered to himself how he would do running in a half-marathon.
“I remember feeling so sick to my stomach. Like, oh, my god, I signed up to run thirteen miles. What was I thinking?!”
The “motivation from the fear” helped propel Nathan forward to train more and push himself further. He describes the rush he felt upon completing the race, and how he was hooked from that point forward.
Nathan ran another that year, and ran six (6!) half-marathons in 2013 alone! He even ran for charities, raising several thousands of dollars through fund-raising and selling his signature tube-socks.
Nathan discovered that this was the perfect motivation for him to continue his progress. He ensured he was always signed up for a future race so that he had a goal to work toward, and this kept him continually pushing himself to stay active and improve.
Nathan’s Advice For Your Journey
When Nathan hit his milestone goal of losing 100 pounds (45.5 kg), he retired his scale. Even though he knows he’s lost more weight since then, what matters to him now is how his clothes fit properly and that his energy level is high.
Other things Nathan did:
- snacked frequently on healthier options like fruit and granola.
- laid workout clothes ahead of time so they were ready when he got home from work.
- planned his meals in advance.
- asked people for advice.
- set goals outside his comfort zone to challenge and propel himself forward. (Past guest James Clear discussed how successful people “start before they’re ready.”)
- focused relentlessly on the long term.
Nathan says, “find the program that works for you,” and that you can live with. It has to be a lifestyle that you can maintain.
Resources Discussed In This Podcast
- /LoseIt – weight loss support community on Reddit.com
- /ProgressPics – body transformation community on Reddit.com
- The Shamrock Marathan – Upcoming race in Virginia that Nathan is competing in!
On Nathan’s Workout Playlist
Contacting Nathan
Keep up with Nathan on his blog at TubeSockGuy.blogspot.com. Stop by and say Hello or e-mail him here!
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