Texas man who weighed 467lbs has halved his body weight

A man whose weight ballooned after losing both his mother and father as a child has battled back from depression to turn his life around – and shed half his body weight. 

At one point Joel Reed, 22, from Texas, who endured the tragic deaths of both of his parents by the time he was 15, was consuming 3,500 calories a day, and at his heaviest he tipped the scale at 467lbs (33 stone 5lbs).

But the operational technology assistant, who was taken in by family friends after being orphaned and now lives with an aunt and uncle, decided to make a fresh start after moving to North Carolina. 

He shared his astonishing transformation after dropping to 232lbs (16st 8lbs) by sticking to strict regime of diet and exercise.   

Joel Reed, 22, an operational technology assistant from Texas, consumed 3,500 calories a day following the tragic death of his parents, leading him to reach 467lbs (33 stone 5lbs) at just 15 (Seen left in May 2015 and right when he lost 150Ibs in August 2016 making his first steps)

However upon moving to North Carolina, he decided to give his lifestyle a drastic overhaul and dropped to a muscular 232lbs (16st 8Ibs) (seen October 2017)

However upon moving to North Carolina, he decided to give his lifestyle a drastic overhaul and dropped to a muscular 232lbs (16st 8Ibs) (seen October 2017)

Joel said he had always been overweight growing up, but his weight vastly increased after his father died of a stroke when he was just 10.

Tragically, just before his father died and unbeknownst to Joel, his mother was diagnosed with cancer that gradually spread all over her body, making it difficult to function normally. 

Joel and his mother became virtual recluses, which led him to indulge in takeaways and delivery food, he said. 

His mother’s tragic death when Joel was just 15 years-old saw the heartbroken teenager, who was raised by family friends following his parents’ death, turn to food for comfort even more.

He is now happier than ever and admits his transformation has shocked friends, with some even asking whether his photos are photoshopped (seen December 2017)

He is now happier than ever and admits his transformation has shocked friends, with some even asking whether his photos are photoshopped (seen December 2017)

Joel's father passed away when he was just 10 years old, leading Joel and his cancer-stricken mother to become recluses, surviving on takeaways (Joel seen aged 9)

Joel’s father passed away when he was just 10 years old, leading Joel and his cancer-stricken mother to become recluses, surviving on takeaways (Joel seen aged 9)

Tragically just before his father died and unbeknownst to Joel, his mother was diagnosed with cancer that gradually spread all over her body, making it difficult to function normally

Tragically just before his father died and unbeknownst to Joel, his mother was diagnosed with cancer that gradually spread all over her body, making it difficult to function normally

However when he made the move from Texas to North Carolina at 19, Joel said he decided ‘enough is enough’, and made a commitment to re-invent himself.

With a new exercise routine, a food logging regime, and healthy diet, his weight shrunk to a muscular 232lbs (16st 8Ibs) and he reduced his calorie intake to 2,200-2,800 a day.

Speaking about his journey, Joel said: ‘My parents passed away when I was young, so I currently live with my aunt and uncle while I am in college’.

‘Ever since I can remember, I have always been overweight. I was never really raised with healthy food until I was much older. 

His mother's tragic death when Joel was just 15 years-old caused the heartbroken teenager's weight to balloon (Joel aged 11)

His mother’s tragic death when Joel was just 15 years-old caused the heartbroken teenager’s weight to balloon (Joel aged 11)

Joel admits he was never raised on healthy food which he believes set the foundations for his former bad habits (seen aged 14)

Joel admits he was never raised on healthy food which he believes set the foundations for his former bad habits (seen aged 14)

‘I believe that this laid the foundation for some of the bad habits that I had before I lost the weight. My weight really started to go up after the death of my parents.

‘My dad died when I was ten years old and this lead me to turn to food for comfort. My mom was diagnosed with cancer slightly before his death.

‘She wanted to be strong for me during this time, so she had hidden this from me. Eventually, the cancer had started to spread to her spine and she was not able to function normally.

‘This lead to us basically being shut ins and not being able to leave the house. This also caused us to eat almost nothing but take-out and delivery food, which caused my weight to balloon. 

'My dad died when I was ten years old and this lead me to turn to food for comfort. My mom was diagnosed with cancer slightly before his death', (Joel seen aged 11 in 2007)

‘My dad died when I was ten years old and this lead me to turn to food for comfort. My mom was diagnosed with cancer slightly before his death’, (Joel seen aged 11 in 2007)

Joel holding his friend's possum in May 2015 in North Carolina after he made the decision to turn his life around

Joel holding his friend’s possum in May 2015 in North Carolina after he made the decision to turn his life around

‘My mom passed away when I was fifteen years old, and I was taken in by some family friends after her death. They tried to get me on track with my health, and I even saw some success for a while. However, it didn’t last.

‘Around my junior year of high school, I slipped into a depression and started turning to food for comfort once again.

‘During my depression, I became extremely lazy and really didn’t care about anything. I believe that a combination of finding comfort in food and laziness lead to my previous weight.

‘Before I lost weight, I tried to put up a front that I was happy, but I really was not. I didn’t care about myself, how I looked, or even my health. 

Before (on the left) in May 2015 and after his transformation (on the right) in May 2017

Before (on the left) in May 2015 and after his transformation (on the right) in May 2017

However when he moved to Carolina in his late teens, he decided 'enough is enough' and made a commitment to re-invent himself

However when he moved to Carolina in his late teens, he decided ‘enough is enough’ and made a commitment to re-invent himself

‘I was extremely depressed, but too proud to seek help about it. I remember when I moved to North Carolina, I saw it as a fresh start for me.

‘It was almost a way to re-invent myself. At this point, I decided enough was enough and I didn’t want to be obese anymore.

‘I feel amazing. For the first time in my life, I am truly proud of myself. I look better, I feel better, and most importantly I am a lot healthier.

‘Before losing the weight I was just simply coasting through life with no direction, and losing weight has given me a purpose.’  

Joel now lifts weights for one to two hours, five to seven days a week and tries to implement 20 to 30 minutes of cardio in his routine

Joel now lifts weights for one to two hours, five to seven days a week and tries to implement 20 to 30 minutes of cardio in his routine

Joel now lifts weights for one to two hours, five to seven days a week and tries to implement 20 to 30 minutes of cardio in his routine.

‘At the beginning, it was almost one-hundred percent diet. Basically, if you eat less food than your body needs, you will lose weight,’ she said.

‘I started logging everything I ate in to a food journal app, and this helped me stay on track for my calorie goal for the day. I also started drinking a lot more water.

‘Staying hydrated is a major key to losing weight and keeping it off. I also cut out all caloric beverages such as sweet tea and soda.

‘The biggest thing however, was that I started eating at home more and stopped eating out as much. I started out with light exercise and then worked my way up.

‘I am much more confident than I was back then. I used to walk into a room and feel like everyone was staring at me and judging me, now I don’t.

‘I don’t have to worry if a store is going to have my shirt size or not. I don’t have to worry if I’m going to fit in a certain car or not anymore.

‘Most importantly, I don’t have to worry if I am going to break a piece of furniture when I sit on it. This was a horrible reality for me when I was close to five-hundred pounds.’

Joel with his cousin in Florida (July 2017) after he shed half his weight

Joel with his cousin in Florida (July 2017) after he shed half his weight

He also revealed that the hardest part of the process was actually starting to make that change and to break old habits.

‘The hardest thing about losing weight was getting started and staying consistent. Trying to break old habits and form new ones was tough, but once I got the routine down I was able to keep it up easily,’ he said.

‘Most people are shocked. Most people say congratulations. One guy even told me he thought it was photo shopped.

‘Some people say that I look like a completely new person. The best thing that people say is that is motivates and inspires them to lose weight themselves.

‘My advice would be to start logging your food. There are a lot of food journal apps that can help you. Once you log your food, you might recognize that you are eating way too much and need to cut back.’ 

'Some people say that I look like a completely new person. The best thing that people say is that is motivates and inspires them to lose weight themselves.' Joel in December 2017

‘Some people say that I look like a completely new person. The best thing that people say is that is motivates and inspires them to lose weight themselves.’ Joel in December 2017



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