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| Before aged 23, weight 410 pounds, after aged 31 weight 200 pounds! |
looks incredible right? Incredible but not impossible, I love
stories of personal triumph over adversity, I mean who doesn’t. However, when
it comes in the field of fitness and weight loss it becomes extra special to me
because I can relate to it personally. Today, I decided to feature a story that
I read online about someone who decided that enough was enough; he was going to
do something about his weight no matter what it took i.e. get fit or die
trying! He wasn’t going to use tiredness, stress, work or family commitments as
excuses, he got angry, got motivated and got fit.
This is the story of Otis Barlett, he isn’t a star or a
celebrity, just an ordinary person like you and I, who took an extraordinary
commitment to better himself. His story has inspired me and I hope you find it
inspiring…..
Growing up Otis Barlett never realized he was heavy. “I
didn’t think I was obese because everybody in my family was”, he remembers. “It
wasn’t until I started school that I realized it wasn’t the norm. Being picked
on for my weight was really a shock. ” Otis attributes his childhood obesity to
his family’s habits: large unhealthy meals and little exercise.
Playing American football did nothing to help Otis’ unhealthy
habits. As part of the defensive line, Otis didn’t have to do much cardio- at
most; he’d have to run 20 meters at practice. That combined with a voracious
appetite led him to continue to pack on the kilos. It wasn’t until a massive
heart attack took the life of one of his friends and fellow players that Otis
received the wakeup call; his life was in danger if he didn’t lose weight.
What led you to become
overweight in the first place?
We did a lot of overindulging in my family. We ate soul food;
southern cooking and we fried everything. Every day we had cornbread and gravy;
all our food had excess amounts of butter and cheese. You can’t have Macaroni
and Cheese without 20 different types of cheese right? Any mum who used less
didn’t know how to cook according to my mother.
How did playing
football contribute to your weight gain?
As a defensive player, I was encouraged to eat excessively to
put on more weight. I could get a burger with six patties if I wanted it. We
needed to be bigger, stronger, faster and take up more space. Fuel the beast,
that’s what we were told. We were supposed to burn it all off during practice,
but that’s not how it worked.
Why was your friend’s
death a turning point in your own health journey?
He was very young- 22 or 23. He was a person I sat across the
table from every day. We saw each other every day. We would laugh and joke
together, because we were so similar. It was such a shock when he died. I
remember someone telling me and thinking “that’s impossible; I just talked to
this guy earlier”. How does something like that happen to someone so young? It
opened my eyes to the fact that it could happen to me. When I decided to get
healthy, I wasn’t doing it for me; I was doing it for both of us.
How did you get started
losing weight?
I knew cardio was going to be the fastest way to drop weight.
I was scared and angry and I wanted to lose the weight right away. I took it to
the extreme; some days I did 2 or 3 cardio workouts. I began reading every
article that had to do with Arnold Schwarzeneggar and his legacy. I knew that
if I could do this, I could do anything I set my mind on. I also remembered a
quote from college that always stuck with me, “we are what we repeatedly do;
excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”. That helped me stay on track.
When did you add
strength training to your workout?
I stuck with cardio till I lost most of the excess weight and
was down to 95kg, but at 6 ft ‘9 I looked and felt like a bag of bones, so I
had to start lifting weights again. I was thin, but I had no muscle or
definition.
How did you design your
diet plan?
It was a lot of trial and error. If I didn’t see results I
would change it up. I used the meal plans with my workout plans to get results.
The only golden rule I stuck to was that nothing fried would go into my body,
it had to be grilled or baked. I also cut out sodas and unhealthy snacks.
What was the most
difficult part of your transformation?
The cravings for sweets and fried foods I loved so much
tormented me!
What are your future
plans?
I plan to be the best person I can be! For me, it’s not about
looks or strength. Fitness is about health, self-esteem, and being a good role
model for my daughter. I’m committed to showing others that they can live a
healthier life, and I share my story and goals with anyone who will listen.
There you have it! I hope his story inspires you, even if
it’s to start walking 30 minutes extra a day. The key to success is to get off
your ass and do something! To get the details on Otis Barlett training and
nutrition program, follow this link:
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!
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