BRANDON Larson knew he had to lose weight if he wanted to see his child grow up.
A tough upbringing that involved his dad battling a “hardcore” drug addiction and loneliness at school saw his weight balloon to nearly 26 stone by the age of 23.
Now 26, Brandon has lost half of his body weight and it all started with just a few steps on the treadmill.
The turning point came after meeting the love of his life and asking her to marry him on a trip to Hawaii.
He told Men’s Health: “The ring wasn’t the only surprise we brought back from Hawaii. My wife actually got pregnant while we were there.
“When my wife was pregnant, that pushed me to really think about what I was doing to myself and what I wanted. And I chose to not put myself in an early grave.”
Larson kick-started his weight loss regime by walking on a treadmill until he could go no further.
He admitted how he would have to pause for breaks and his lack of fitness meant he kept getting winded.
He added: “It really sinks in how bad of a position you are in, but it also shows that you are making amazing progress and are really changing and saving your life.”
The 26-year-old then decided to focus on his diet, looking into the types of food he needed to eat to live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
Alongside his walking regime, the dad-of-one hit the gym, lifting weights to help him build up his strength.
Over time his fitness levels increased, and he was able to progress from walking to eventually being able to run.
Although admitting he still has moments of weakness with his diet, Larson said his personal achievements made him so proud it brought a tear to his eye.
He said: “I still have my moments with food as it is still a work in progress.
“I was able to get over this by doing lots and lots of research. I learned everything I could and I implemented all of this knowledge in order to make progress.
“When I reached my goal weight, I was so excited. Honestly, it did bring a couple of tears to my eyes when I weighed in and saw the weight.
“It is like fighting a war for three years where you are making progress, but then you are pushed way back and having to fight your way forward again.”
