Why I Did It - Part I

By Showtime Strength Performance Coach John Holloway

I'm a life long athlete. I started playing football at age 7, started running track at age 8 and started playing basketball at age 11. I also tried, soccer, baseball, and tennis in between.

As with everyone else, I gradually gained weight throughout my life, topping out around 290 pounds while I was still playing sports. And that's being generous. I stopped weighing myself after I hit the 275-lb mark because I didn't want to know what the scale said anymore. I'm heavy, I know I'm heavy, and I don't really want to see how close I am to that 300-lb mark.

With all that being said, it got to the point where it was getting harder and harder to find comfortable clothes. I have a small waist, big butt and thighs. So the issue was getting something big enough to go over my butt and thighs, and small enough to fit my waist. As you all know, there is no such thing!

So I'm buying 42 and 44 waist jeans just so my legs and butt are comfortable. I'm also wearing 2x shirts to fit around my growing stomach. But I'm still playing basketball once a week and semi-pro football.

One day, I just told myself that I have to do something. This is ridiculous and honestly it was all from the lack of clothing options. I told myself that I'm going to charge things. My initial goal was to get into a size 38 jean comfortably.

Most stores don't carry over a 40 waist unless they have a big and tall section, which mentally I was telling myself I am NOT a big and tall shopper at almost 300 lbs. Crazy right?

From that day, I decided to do different. My goal was in my mind and I was determined to reach it!