From hurt, heartbroken, and over 100 pounds overweight to showing off his super powers on the bodybuilding stage – this is Javier’s story.
“It begins with you. It’s meant for you, and it’s never going to end until you say so.”
Weight Gain Background and Contributing Factors
Javier was one of ten children raised by a single mother in a difficult set of circumstances.
Javier shares that he was often surrounded by violence, homelessness, and other situations that tested and defined his character. Family was a very important aspect of his life, and was a source of support when going through difficult times.
He was the first of his family to graduate high school, but unfortunately he lost a couple of brothers and a sister along the way.
Javier was always the overweight one of the family.
“There was no such thing as leftovers.”
Javier’s peak weight was between 315-320 pounds. (143 – 145.5 kg)
How Being Overweight Impacted Javier’s Life
Looking back, Javier hated being overweight and the difficulties he had with everyday tasks like tying shoelaces. Shopping for clothes was difficult.
He did not like the way he felt or the limitations on his movement. Javier was active, but describes having a low energy level.
He loved sports, but never passed physical exams to play, and was repeatedly told to lose weight.
Javier’s weight also frequently led to confrontations – not just with bullies but also with the gangs in his neighborhood that he had to defend himself from. He amassed a record of 68 fights during his school years as a result.
The Turning Point
Around the age of seventeen, Javier was in a situation where he had been badly hurt both physically and emotionally. He made a decision at that point to “isolate from the world and fix [him]self.”
“My heart, everything was messed up, and I would be good to nobody that damaged. Obviously my weight is an issue, so I’m going to fix this. I’m going to invest in me.”
Starting The Weight Loss Journey
Javier did everything it took to get exercise and stay active. He worked out in parks, apartment gyms, anywhere he could.
When Lent came around, he gave up fried foods, including tortillas, which he loved.
Javier also expanded his circle of friends, and met new circles of people outside his old life. He found support & encouragement with people who shared his interests.
He borrowed books and began attending weekend nutrition classes at a local gym. There, he learned about calorie-counting, about macronutrients, and about how his current diet was affecting his health & body.
He discovered that he was not eating enough protein, and that for optimal health, he needed to reduce the amount of processed carbohydrates that he consumed.
Once Javier began eliminating processed carbohydrates, his body “began to respond better and quicker.”
“I learned that protein was an important thing… I didn’t want to be skinny. Skinny was not an option.”
Javier increased his protein intake and reduced carbohydrates & fat. He began dropping 12 pounds (5.5 kg) a month.
He cut out dairy and fruit, and looked for creative ways to add protein to his meals. He learned to make protein muffins, protein pancakes, protein pudding.
One day out of the week, he allowed himself a “cheat day.”
Staying Motivated
Javier set small goals that would reset when he reached them.
“Let me just get under 300!”
His first goal was to get under 300 pounds. When he achieved that, the next goal was 260, then 230, and on.
Looking back, Javier admits that at one point “it became addictive.” He was lifting weights for 2-3 hours daily, almost every day. He was pushing himself so hard and dropping pounds so quickly that his doctor told him he was losing weight too fast.
“I pushed hard because I was angry. I used it to really fuel… I used the anger and hatred from my broken heart, my history, the pain that I supressed a lot, so it was really therapeutic.”
What Javier Learned About Food, Exercise, and Himself
Javier was unprepared for the loose skin that often results from rapid weight loss.
“I wish that people had been more clear about the aftershock of being so big and then losing so much.”
However, he wouldn’t trade the loose skin for the lost weight. Javier found a surgeon to help remove the loose skin, and then worked three jobs to save and pay for it.
He shares that the transition has been life-changing, and that at multiple times he’s become overwhelmed by the ability to wear normal sized clothing.
Even more shocking (at the time) was the suggestion from gym-friends of Javier’s that he might have a future in bodybuilding, given the determination he’d shown and the progress he’d been making.
He discovered a love for the gym and for the sport of bodybuilding, and began to transform his body beyond anything he ever imagined he was capable before.
However, this didn’t mean he was no longer susceptible to weight swings or the impact of stress and emotional issues.
Just as Javier was about to compete for one of the first times, he learned that another brother of his had died, and he fell into a depression that took him from approximately 166 pounds up to 240 pounds – a rapid gain of over 70 pounds. (31.8 kg)
With the help and support of wife, friends and family, Javier pulled himself up by again and channeled his emotions toward improving his health.
“Where my anger and my pain went, I went there… I’m just gonna do what I gotta do.”
Javier’s Advice For Your Journey
- Never lose sight of your reason. Don’t let other people cloud you.
“What’s going to get them there in their heart, their reasons. The loved ones that they have… to be the person that they deserve and want to be.”
- Don’t be afraid to be competitive.
- Nutrition! Look for nutritional information and education wherever you can find it. As Javier says, “Food is magic.”
- There’s no such thing as starting over, just pick up the slack.
Resources Discussed In This Podcast
- Bodybuilding.com – weight lifting routines, articles
- Modern Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger [ Amazon / iTunes ]
On Javier’s Workout Playlist
- All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled [ Amazon / iTunes ]
- My Time by Fabolous [ Amazon / iTunes ]
- We Own It by 2 Chainz (from the Fast Six soundtrack) [ Amazon / iTunes ]
Contacting Javier
Javier is all about motivating others. Visit his profiles on the web at:
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