A formerly obese man who gained weight as a result of an unhealthy relationship is now a 195lbs personal trainer and weight loss coach with a six-pack after losing half his body weight in two and a half years.
Matthew Sheffer, 34, from South Carolina used to be in great shape as an athlete at Virginia Tech, until he started an unhealthy relationship that led to his heaviest weight of 385lbs while consuming 5,000 calories a day and eating ‘everything in sight’.
‘I was trapped in a horrible relationship and I wanted to die,’ Matthew said.
Before and after: Matthew Sheffer, 34, lost 190lbs after ending a toxic relationship
Taking a break: Matthew said that during the relationship he felt like he wanted to die so he decided to hold off on commitment until he got his life on track
But after feeling so low he decided to take a long break from relationships until he lost 120Ibs, focusing on the gym, getting a coach and landed on his current weight and six-pack body, cutting his calories in half from before.
‘I decided to change my lifestyle because my weight cost me a relationship. I am now having no more than 3,000 calories a day when maintaining my weight, 2,000 when cutting, 4,500 when bulking and I’m now training seven days a week.’
He is now a certified personal trainer and coach for others who wish to transform their body.
‘I focused on no one, not even going on date until I lost at least 120lbs. I did it – I got back in the gym, got a coach and peeled down to a six-pack while packing on muscle.’
But despite losing the weight, Matthew still felt unattractive until he met a woman and fell in love.
Staying focused: He said that he wouldn’t start another relationship until he at least lost 120lbs
Then and now: Matthew said he decided to change his lifestyle because his weight cost him his relationship
His heaviest weight: After eating everything in sight, he reached his heaviest weight of 385lbs
‘Despite losing the weight, I still feel unattractive. Many of us experience this. The hardest thing about the process was the plateaus I endured and my self-image issues,’ he said.
‘Then I met a woman, fell in love and thought my life was going great until I hurt my back, and three days before my spine injury we broke up.’
Matthew began to binge-eat and as a result, lost muscle mass and gained a lot of fat back but he realized what was happening and made a plan to get back to the gym.
‘I got back to the gym again and resumed grinding, I was starting to get my life back together, then, boom. More back complications,’ he said.
During his heartbreak, Matthew’s life spiraled out of control, gorging on junk food, drinking a lot and falling into depression.
Feeling insecure: Despite losing weight, Matthew said he still feels self-conscious
Falling into depression: After his back injury, Matthew life spiraled out of control
A never-ending story: Despite having an amazing body now, Matthew said his weight is a constant journey
But he knew he couldn’t continue like that so he got back into the routine of weight lifting and tracking his meals.
‘I had to wait around for two months with no training before the insurance paid for my surgery, then five weeks later, with three months of no training in total, I got back into it again,’ Matthew said.
‘It’s a never-ending story, my weight loss journey. You’ll mess up but it’s okay. Just get back on track and don’t lose focus.’
‘I worked very hard and I’m a lot happier and more positive now. Everyone is astonished with my progress and some are even envious.’