Jeremy Davis’ 205-Pound Weight Loss: ‘You Are Worth the Time and the Struggle’
Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo Health series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.
Jeremy Davis is 28, is 6’1”, and weighs 205 pounds. But in 2010, he was double his current weight, at 410 pounds. This is the story of his weight-loss journey.
The Turning Point
My first memory of knowing that I was overweight was in first grade. The teacher would ask us to put our heads down on the desk, and me being so heavy, I was unable to do it. I knew I was well beyond what I should weigh throughout my childhood and adolescence — I weighed over 200 pounds in the fifth grade and 300 pounds by the time I got to high school. But it wasn’t until years later, in July 2010 when I went on a mission trip, that I truly knew that something had to change. I was at my breaking point. It was just too hard to keep up with everything and everyone. So, the day we returned, my weight-loss journey began.
The Changes
At first, my goal was to make small changes. I cut out fast foods and fried foods, and began walking for an hour a day, four to five days a week. As I started dropping more and more weight, though, I would hit plateaus where the losing slowed or stopped, and then I had to become stricter about the foods I ate. This is what led me to calorie counting, which helped tremendously. Slowly, I came to realize that it was important to choose not only light foods that helped me lose weight, but ones that were healthy and good for me, too — like choosing a grilled chicken salad instead of a processed frozen dinner, even if both had the same amount of calories. Eating well made me feel better.
After the first 100 pounds were gone, running and weight training became staples in my life. My goals were no longer about weight loss, but performance. I started setting goals to run 5Ks and mud runs, or to do a set number of pull-ups — those motivated me more than any number on the scale.
If I ever felt myself flagging, I prayed for God to give me strength. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” and, “those who wait on the Lord, He shall renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles and soar.” I spoke that as a reminder to myself many times. It was a very humbling experience to make it a matter of prayer and to depend on God. Most people want to do it and get all the glory, but I can’t say that it’s a Jeremy thing, it’s a God thing! I had tried to lose weight so many times before and obesity had been who I was for most of my entire life. I wish I could say I have won this battle in my life, but those same habits creep up at times just as strong as they did then — and prayer is what gives me strength to continue.
The After
Once I lost all the weight, I had a hard time looking in the mirror for a while. I didn’t recognize myself. In just two years’ time, my life has transformed! It’s almost like being a kid again and getting to experience things in a whole new way.
The best part of it was feeling human finally. If you’ve never been asked to step off of a ride at a theme park for being too large, if you have never had to special-order clothes online, or if you haven’t caught dirty looks and giggles when going out in public…you don’t really understand that feeling. Losing the weight means you finally feel confident as a human being.
Related: Kelly’s 71-Pound Weight Loss: ‘You Get to Choose to Start Over Any Time You’d Like’
The Maintenance
Today, I’m very mindful of how many calories I consume. I like to eat, and I can eat a lot, so I try to fill my diet with lower-calorie, higher-volume options. For instance, an 80-calorie apple is a much more filling snack than the handful of potato chips that clocks in at 180 calories. In general, I eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade salads (restaurant ones can pack in the calories!), skinless chicken, lean steaks, fish, and whole grains.
Jeremy before and after his 205-pound weight loss. (Photos courtesy of Jeremy Davis)
Cooking is the key to a healthy life. I make many of the foods everyone loves — with a few healthy substitutions. If I get a craving for spaghetti, I’ll make some with wheat pasta, a traditional sauce, and extra-lean ground beef or grilled chicken on top. If I want a burger, I’ll make lean turkey burgers. If there’s a good game on, I’ve been known to cook up some buffalo wings (skinless ones, or boneless breast tenderloins) with hot sauce. I try to keep it creative and then I never feel deprived.
When it comes to indulging, I believe in moderation. I try to limit “splurge” meals or treats to one weekend a month, or one meal a week depending upon the circumstances. The only real secret to keeping them from destroying my good habits is that once that meal or event is over, I am right back to the grind with very little slack.
Today, I do weight training at home three times a week using an old Total Gym and a couple of dumbbells. I also run two to three times a week depending on what goal I’m working toward. Most of my workouts last for an hour, and my running mileage varies from week to week. For me, exercise is about knowing what works for my body and my goals.
Related: Todd’s 110-Pound Weight Loss: ‘Enjoy the Process of Changing Your Life’
I have learned that the scale doesn’t lie, but it’s not always the best indicator of health. I need to be proactive about being healthy in all areas: physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. If I’m unhealthy in one, it will overflow to the others.
One thing I swear by is prayer. I pray to God for help. It may seem silly, but I stand by it. I also believe that setting realistic goals to strive toward is very beneficial. I always find something that motivates me and I force myself to set an achieve-by date. Signing up for an obstacle race or 5K forces me to purposefully think about that goal and be proactive or lose money.
Another healthy habit I enjoy: eating. I don’t think there is a substitute that is as mentally or physically satisfying as eating a meal. I know there are lots of shakes out there that might taste good or have lots of added vitamins and minerals, but I like the process of chewing and believe it satisfies the part of my psyche associated with food.
The Struggles
Portion control can be challenging at times. What has helped me is setting a limit for myself, or buying single servings of items that I might be tempted to overdo it on, or filling a small dish with food rather than taking the whole bag/container of something to the couch. Sometimes I just have to look at myself and say, “ENOUGH!” If I ever feel like I’m slipping back into old habits, I’m quick to quote, “You’re only cheating yourself.”
Advice
First, you need figure out the “why.” Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to get a man/woman? Is it so you can get back to being the smallest one of your friends? Is it because you want to feel important? If you don’t know the “why” or if the “why” is superficial, then you may be missing the true motivation needed to continue this journey long-term.
It’s a journey! You will lose yourself and find some things along the way to rebuild! I encourage you to take your time and enjoy the trip. If you take a side road for a while, get your GPS out, and get back on the right track. Don’t look back. Stay the course — even if it takes two years! You are worth the time and the struggle!
Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative 135-pound weight loss of her own. Have a success story to share? We want to hear it. Tell us at YHTrueStories@yahoo.com.
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