At 557Ibs, Frank Markosek from Downers Grove, Illinois, always had ups and downs with his weight, issues with fast food and an overall food addiction.
Frank told Truly: “It has taken almost 33 years to finally conquer that. But I finally feel like I have a grasp on that aspect of having self-control over what I eat nowadays." Frank always knew he had a problem with his weight but failed to address it.
“I just wanted to be skinny and I was doing it all for the wrong reasons but it took until April of last year to finally get it all to click in my head." There were points when Frank thought he would never lose weight but during a bachelor weekend in Nashville, it really hit home to Frank just how much he needed to change his life around.
“I went to Nashville with three of my friends and I didn’t want to go initially because I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to turn out well. I felt that my weight at that point was restricting me at so many things that even just walking up a flight of stairs was a problem. But I wanted to do it for my friend."
Frank is now happy he went because, ultimately, it changed his life forever. Since the trip to Nashville, Frank set an original goal of walking 10,000 steps a day rather than going to a gym because of being self conscious and people reacting. To date, Frank has lost over an incredible 300lbs.
Our takeaway? Frank began walking to lose weight, which is an incredibly accessible way to begin your fitness journey. Whether the gyms are closed due to the current global pandemic or like Frank, you're still a little self-conscious, walking might be for you.
It's low impact, easy to incorporate into your day and there's a very low barrier to entry: all you need is some comfortable clothes and a pair of the best shoes for walking in order to get started.
Food addiction is also a major weight loss hurdle, especially if you're starting with an unhealthy relationship with food. Portion control is a key element in developing healthy habits, and it starts with an understanding of what constitutes a "healthy" plate of food. If you're looking to follow in Frank's footsteps, our portion size guide has you covered here.
Matt Evans is an experienced health and fitness journalist and Channel Editor at Fit&Well. He's previously written for titles like Men's Health and Red Bull, and covers all things exercise and nutrition on the Fit&Well website.
Matt originally discovered exercise through martial arts: he holds a black belt in Karate and remains a keen kickboxer and runner. His top fitness tip? Stretch.
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