A computer addict from Avon Lake, Ohio, who ballooned to 384lbs after playing games for 50 hours a week lost almost half his body weight after taking up metal detecting.
Jeff Nemeth, 27, shed 187lbs by trekking up to 10 miles a day to remote sites in search of old relics- The hobby has helped him ditch his gaming habit, drop four sizes, slim down to 197lbs, and find dozens of fascinating relics in the process.
Before taking up metal detecting, the school security guard gorged on pizza, hot dogs and burgers as he played computer games every night. By the age of 26 he was morbidly obese, wearing size 44 pants and XXXL shirts and spending eight hours a day staring at screens.
A fun workout: Jeff Nemeth, 27, has lost 187lbs since he took up metal detecting (pictured)
Before and after: The Avon Lake, Ohio, native went from 384lbs to 197lbs after doctors told him his obesity was causing health issues
What a change: Jeff used to spend his nights in front of a computer screen and had a diet made up of fast food and sugar
A new life: ‘I can look in the mirror without feeling as though I look like crap so that’s nice, and I’m getting a lot of responses on Tinder,’ Jeff shared
When doctors said pain in his knees and breathing difficulties were linked to his weight, he realized he needed to change and slashed his calorie intake from 5,000 a day to 2,000 in April, 2016; but it wasn’t until December, when he saw a YouTube video about metal detecting and took up the hobby, that his weight loss really took off.
History buff: Jeff said metal detecting is a ‘win-win’ because it helps him lose weight and there’s history involved
One of the first things Jeff unearthed was a half dime from 1844 which ended up being worth $300 – and he said the discovery had him hooked. Ever since, he has spent 12 hours a day on weekends trekking to remote sites, where he uses old maps to locate treasures.
‘Metal detecting has totally changed my life. I thought it was something nerdy old guys did but it turned out to be the first thing I enjoy doing more than lying in bed,’ said history buff Jeff.
‘It got me outside and distracted me from the fact that I was doing exercise. Plus, there is cool history involved so it is a win-win situation.’
While he was chubby as a child, his weight really went out of control after he turned 18, and, until the age of 25, would gorge on McDonald’s or Burger King with hash browns washed down with sugary orange juice virtually every morning. For lunch he would eat cheap gas station food like hot dogs and dinner would be burgers and chips, pizza or other fast food at the computer desk.
‘I didn’t do any exercise – I couldn’t run. Instead I just sat around and played video games, mainly Second Life and ArcheAge.
‘When I got off school or work I would sit to my computer and do nothing else for eight hours a night,’ said Jeff, who couldn’t find clothes anywhere because of his large size.
No longer staring at a computer screen: The school security guard now spends 12 hours a day on weekends trekking to remote sites
The old Jeff: Until the age of 25, he would gorge on McDonald’s or Burger King with hash browns washed down with sugary orange juice virtually every morning
Jeff has not only lost an impressive amount of weight thanks to his hobby, but has also found valuable relics like gold rings, religious pendants, coins from the 1800s and a 1816 half penny from the Bank of Montreal.
He still plays video games, but said he left ‘that life’ behind when he started metal detecting, which he now does every weekend, and is now happier in every aspect of his life.
‘I can look in the mirror without feeling as though I look like crap so that’s nice, and I’m getting a lot of responses on Tinder,’ Jeff shared.
‘If I hadn’t started doing it I wouldn’t be where I am today. It helped me lose 100lbs and I feel and look a lot better’.