Couple Makes A Bet: No Eating Out, No Cheat Meals, No Alcohol. A Year After, This Is Them
Lexi and Danny Reed became role models across the world when they turned their lives around in 18 months. Feeling trapped in their bodies, the couple set out to find freedom. Lexi challenged herself, and Danny, to refocus their lives, changing their diet and exercise.
Determined to be happy and healthy for the first time in their lives, the couple was ready for any challenges that laid ahead.
Lexi's Weight Was An Uphill Battle Since Birth
Lexi Reed struggled with her weight since childhood. The battle to lose weight never went her way. When she would manage to lose some, it would always come back. Still, she never let her appearance keep her from being social and happy.
When she turned 25, her weight began to take a severe toll on her life. She weighed 392 pounds, and he happiness was fading. The hardest part for Lexi was that her body was holding her back from achieving her dreams. Things looked bleak, but motivation was waiting just around the corner.
Lexi Meets Danny And Falls Madly In Love
Lexi and Danny Reed were always meant to be together. When the couple began dating, it was clear Danny didn't care what Lexi looked like. He had fallen madly in love with the amazing person she was. Luckily for Danny, Lexi felt the same way about him.
Of course, our story doesn't end here. Danny struggled with his own weight issues, and together they made bad food choice after bad food choice.
The Downward Health Spiral Continues
Danny and Lexi knew they had a problem, but didn't deal with at the time. Danny was 280 pounds and encouraged gluttonous eating. When it came time for meals, they never cooked, preferring to order in massive amounts of food or eat out.
Sadly, the couple has even admitted they used to spend hours at buffets eating until they were stuffed. Eating was easily their main activity and most shared interest. It was also ruining their health. They might not have realized it at the time, but if they hadn't changed their lives, they might not be alive today!
Lexi Finally Admits She Has A Problem
Lexi Reed knew she had a problem and talked openly about it, hoping to help others with the same issues. Growing up, she said, "we never had a lot of money and my parents never cooked. Processed foods were always easier to purchase than healthy foods."
When she started dating Danny, things didn't change. They actually got worse. When they weren't at restaurants Lexi said they would binge eat and watch TV. She added, "no matter what the mood, food was always there for me."
Watching TV Was As Active As The Couple Could Be
Being overweight together, Danny and Lexi had a limited active life. Unable to go on hikes or go biking, they just stayed in most nights and watched TV. It wasn't the healthiest lifestyle, and they realized they needed to make a change.
Lexi was first to realize that a change in her lifestyle needed to happen. She was a happy and positive person and was determined to lead a long life. The problem was she had spent so much time being inactive, she had zero motivation to make any big changes. That is, until Danny did something unexpected!
Danny Gets Down On One Knee
When Danny proposed, everything changed for Lexi. She said, "He never saw me as my size, asked me to change, or made me feel as anything other than beautiful." Feeling like a queen on the inside, Lexi was devastated trying to find a wedding dress that would fit her.
Lexi, who has never been shy about her size, admitted she weighed 485 pounds at the time, "Nobody knew how to make me feel like a bride and not my size." At her lowest point, she questioned if she would be able to find a wedding dress. Spoiler alert: she did!
The Wedding Goes Off Without A Hitch
Lexi found the perfect wedding dress and the couple had a perfect wedding. If they wanted their happiness to continue, however, they needed to work a few things out. After getting married, the couple began to look at life ahead, including having children.
At Lexi's weight, having a child was a huge health risk. If she were to get pregnant, there was a strong chance both her, and the child wouldn't survive. Having a child wasn't the only reason Lexi put her health first, though. Keep reading to learn about the others!
Lexi Worried She'd Never Be Able To Travel
Aside from the danger of having kids, Lexi knew that if he didn't get healthy, she would never be able to travel. Going to Universal Studios to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was one of her dreams. The bigger she got, the more she saw that dream fading.
At almost 500 pounds, she knew she wouldn't be able to fit on the rides, let alone a plane. She lived in Indiana and was desperate to go to Florida. If flying was her only option, then she knew what she needed to do!
When Doing Nothing Finally Became Unbearable
One year of marriage flew by, and nothing changed. Lexi and Danny still spent most of their time in front of the television eating. Danny was content, but Lexi was slowly becoming fed up. She had big dreams and needed to lose weight to accomplish them.
Thinking about change and actually changing are two different things, though, and she still hadn't found the motivation to move. Then New Years came, and a fresh start brought a new attitude. Find out what changed next!
A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping
On New Year's day in 2016, Lexi put the brakes on her and Danny's binge eating ways. She resolved to change her diet and exercise habits, and Danny was coming along for the ride whether he liked it or not!
Convincing Danny to change his life turned out to be easy. His lifestyle habits were just as unhealthy, and he was ready to restart his life. If the couple were to have kids, what kind of father would he be if could play with them? With his participation and support, the couple began the long road to a new life!
Danny Fully Commits, For Better Or Worse
Danny admits he was never excited about the idea of working out and eating right. In his own words, "At first the idea didn’t sound great because it was always good going home, sitting down, eating and not having to worry about anything." Good thing for him he cared about supporting his wife more than his bad habits.
Being a supportive husband meant making sacrifices for the greater good. To help Lexi change her life, Danny changed his too, "It’s a new year and something to work toward while helping Lexi out as well." To stick to their goals, the couples made a few simple rules. Keep reading to learn what they were!
Rules Are Rules For A Reason
Because reversing bad habits is hard, Lexi and Danny laid out some rules for their new lives. They also placed bets with their friends they wouldn't crack. For the first month, they vowed, "no eating out, no soda, no alcohol, no cheat meals, and working out for 30 minutes five times a week.”
Going cold turkey wasn't going to be easy, but the couple was determined to prove they had self-control. They were taking back their lives and had no idea they would become an inspiration to others dealing with weight problems worldwide.
In Her Own Words
If you don't believe us about how determined Lexi was, take it from her, "We were fed up with the life that we were living and all the things that we weren’t able to do together as a couple." There was so much she wanted to do, including going on romantic walks with her husband.
Of course, they planned to start a family at some point too, "we also feared if we didn’t get our health under control, we would never be able to start a family." To track their progress, Lexi took pictures, eventually posting them on social media to show the world that change is possible.
The Trouble With The Gym
One of the best ways to lose weight is to go to the gym regularly. Finding a gym turned out to be to a tough task for Danny and Lexi. They needed to find a place with the equipment they needed and a regimen that would work for them. Because of her weight, Lexi suffered from severe joint paint and needed a gym that would support her.
The couple didn't have the money to pay for a personal trainer and didn't plan to, either. This journey was one they were taking together; they just had to find the right place to go first! Next, the search for the perfect gym comes to a perfect end!
The Perfect Gym For The Perfect Plan
Lexi had a long list of demands for the perfect gym. To go along with her joint pain, she was incredibly self-conscious of other people watching her exercise. It took some hunting, but they found a gym that had the equipment Lexi needed that wasn't overcrowded.
At this wonder gym, Lexi even fell in love with one of the machines, " I found a machine called the CrossRamp that didn’t hurt my joints at 485 pounds — I fell in love with it.” With exercise taken care, food came next. Keep reading to learn about their change in diet habits!
New Food, New You!
Going to the gym once a day was a good start, but there were more fish to fry. Or not fry actually, probably bake. Baking is exactly what Lexi and Danny began doing. They stopped going out to eat and starting making their meals, controlling everything that went into their bodies.
It would have been easy to bake a frozen pizza and call that cooking, but then nothing would have changed. Lexi and Danny loved food, and now they were learning how to make it for each other.
Don't Call It A Diet
So far, we've used the word diet a lot. If you asked Lexi and Danny what they called it, they would tell you it was a new way of life; not a diet. Lexi strongly believes that diets are temporary, and what they were doing was going to be permanent.
To make things easier, Lexi made a list of foods she loved eating, then found healthy recipes to make them. This way she wasn't sacrificing flavor for belt sizes, "I started taking the foods I loved and making healthier versions, so I no longer felt like I had to give up something or deprive [myself].”
Support Means The World To Lexi
Without the undying support of Danny, who knows if Lexi would have been able to turn her life around. The same can be said about Danny and the support he received from Lexi. Together, the couple was proving how strong they were.
Using the support of each made the start of the journey easy to handle. But there was still a long road ahead of them. As they continued to work out and push themselves to new heights, something absolutely amazing happened! Up next, what going to the gym turned into for Lexi and Danny!
New Friendships Are Made At The Gym
Going to the gym turned into a blessing for Lexi. As she lost weight, she gained more confidence and started taking classes. At these classes something she never expected happened, she began making new friends at her Pulse class!
Making new friends who were also into working out meant Lexi's support system began to grow. She even started having fun working out, "I love dancing to my favorite music and not feeling like it’s a workout. We can do a song full of squats and even though my legs are burning, it’s so much fun that I don’t even notice."
The Results Become Visible
One of the hardest parts about working out and eating right is it can take awhile for the results to show. Lexi had achieved so much that results came instantly. She lost 20 pounds a month when she started. You can see from the picture above she'd have no problem finding a wedding dress today.
At a certain point losing weight became more difficult. Lexi stayed undeterred. She kept going to the gym every day and turned to calorie counting to watch her food intake even more. Without much thought, her new diet became a permanent lifestyle!
Danny's Life In The Spotlight
Danny never weighed as much as Lexi, but his body changed significantly too. He supported her on every step of her journey, and you can see the amazing results he got above!
Two years after changing his lifestyle. Danny went from 280 pounds to 190! He lost a majority of the weight in the first year, but like his wife kept the fight going even when his progress slowed down. Coming up, the results of Lexi's hard work revealed! Prepare to be blown away!
Lexi Is Literally A Different Person
As of May 2018, Lexi has lost an incredible 312 pounds! Peaking at close to 500 pounds, she is literally a different person than when she began her journey! The transformation has been incredible for Lexi, and you'll never guess the first big change she noticed!
Lexi says the first time she noticed a difference in her body was when her stomach stopped resting on the table when she sat down at restaurants. She now has plenty of wiggle room on the rare occasion she doesn't cook for herself! Noticing the extra space was the first big prideful moment that let her know the fight was worth taking.
Instagram Fame Followed
To track her progress, Lexi posted daily pictures of her at the gym to Instagram. She started the account "Fat Girl Fed Up," to show herself, and everyone around her, how much her life was changing for the better. She followed each picture with a motivational quote.
Before long, she had a huge following! At last count, "Fat Girl Fed Up" had over 750,000 followers. Those who followed her journey were inspired every day. We can only imagine how many countless lives she has helped make their battles to health and happiness feel easier!
Stardom Wasn't Far Behind
Lexi and Danny's story spread like wildfire, and they quickly became famous. New stations worldwide ran their story, increasing their following and spreading their inspirational tale. They were even featured on an episode of Rachael Ray to talk about healthy eating and cooking.
Stardom hasn't changed the humble couple one bit. They credit the media attention for adding another support system on their incredible mission. Being on television is fun and all, but sometimes it's nice to just go on a hike with the person you love. Don't forget, taking walks with her husband was one of Lexi's goals. Keep reading to see if she reached her other goals!
Taking Things Back To Where They Began
When Lexi and Danny started exercising and eating right, they weighed close to 800 pounds together. Since then, they have lost over 400 pounds together! To celebrate their epic achievement, they ran along the waterside of the beach where Danny proposed.
When Danny proposed, a short walk on the beach would have exhausted Lexi. The fact that she can now run along it without losing her breath makes every step she took to become healthy worth it. Of course, she still needed to go to the Wizarding World!
Lexi Becomes A Wizard!
Fit enough to fly, Lexi finally got to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter recently. Just look at how happy she is! Not only did Lexi fit on the plane to Florida, but she and Danny fit on every single ride. Who needs a honeymoon when you have Harry Potter?
The couple has never been happier. Going through this incredible experience together has made their love stronger than ever. If you're looking to change your lifestyle, having a loved one do it with me might just save your life! It did for these two lovebirds.
No Longer Trapped In Their Bodies
At a healthy weight for the first time in her life, Lexi says she no longer feels trapped, "I am grateful for every single day, and I am enjoying the journey." We hope she continues documenting her life of bliss for us to follow for years to come!
Even when she was bigger, she loved herself. Life is just more fun now, "I loved myself even at 485 pounds, but just to be able to wake up and do whatever I want to do and go wherever I want to go… I don’t feel like I’m a prisoner in my own body anymore.”
She Constantly Reflects On How Far She's Come
Lexi hasn't forgotten how far she's come and often looks back on all of the hard work she's put into getting to where she is today. Her Instagram followers are always eager to hear what's on her mind, and Lexi is open to sharing. in August 2018 she posted about how everyone's fight is different, but you just need to start.
We all start somewhere. I remember how hard it was the first MANY times that I went to my local pulse/Zumba class at over 450lbs. It never gets easier, you get stronger! 1 hour done, another sweaty shirt covered, and another day reminding myself how far I've come from that girl in the back row. You don't have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. Start today!
She Shares Her Meal Choices And Her Thought Process
Lexi can take a great deal of pride in the fact that she lost all of the weight without opting for surgery, diet pills, or other extreme measures. By making smart eating choices and keeping her gym routine consistent, she dropped the weight.
On Instagram, she documents some of her meals and explains to her followers why she chose them. She said: "I aim for the less sodium filled rolls (salmon roll), limit my carbs, and pair with salad while he gets the rest with Miso! Sushi is a food that can be healthy depending on how its ordered, topped, and as well as in moderation."
She Shares Her Fails
The problem with role models is that sometimes they can seem so perfect and flawless that trying to be like them is absolutely impossible. Of course, these celebrities and other people in the spotlight have personal struggles and failures like the rest of us, we just don't see them. Lexi wasn't trying to hide anything.
Even now that she's dropped 312 lbs she doesn't want to erase the images and videos of when she was struggling at over 400 pounds. She shared a video of herself trying to do a push up in the gym, and falling to her stomach when her body couldn't lift its own weight. She's not ashamed, she's empowered.
Lexi Talks About The Mental Game
In the Summer of 2018, she told her followers, "Speak nicely to yourself because you're always listening." While she went through different stages of her weight loss journey, Lexi kept her self-talk and mental state positive, and she knew it made all the difference in achieving her goal.
"Weight loss is just as mental as it is physical," she posted. "The way that we speak to ourselves and our thoughts are so important. If we're constantly negative, full of excuses and complaining it's only going to affect ourselves. If you don't believe in yourself, constantly put yourself down, or believe you won't ever lose weight - then chances are your thoughts will match your actions."
Her First Concert T-Shirt
It's the little things in life that can make you happy, and it's also the little things in life that can really get under your skin. One of the areas in her life that Lexi was constantly let down was when it came to clothing. Weighing in at over 400 lbs, her wardrobe options were extremely limiting. She couldn't even wear a t-shirt from one of her favorite bands.
So when Lexi and her husband Danny went to the Vans Warped Tour in Summer of 2018, she was elated to be able to purchase a concert tee. " In all honesty, I attended Vans Warped Tour for 8+ years and this was the first time I could EVER buy a t-shirt! Not being able to wear the clothing I wanted was one of my many reasons for losing weight. I felt like I could never express myself."
Lexi Doesn’t Let Fear Define Her
Lexi continues to challenge herself to this day. In a recent Instagram post, she shared that she enjoyed a brand new experience: kayaking! She wrote: “Today I overcame my fear of lakes (aka snakes, etc) and got in a Kayak for the first time ever. You know what? I didn't die, flip, get eaten by snakes, or anything else I was scared of but I actually enjoyed myself.”
She also stressed the importance of quality of life over weight loss alone. “It's not about the weight you lose but the life you gain!” Lexi inspires us all with her bravery and determination.
Exercise For Mind And Body
Lexi and Danny like to mix up their workout routine and frequently share photos of themselves at the gym. In this post, Lexi reminded her followers to keep things fun and that you don’t have to “live at the gym” to get and stay healthy. On this particular evening, the couple had done the stairclimber for 10 minutes, followed by weightlifting and a walk with friends.
“10 hard minutes can be just as effective as an easy 30 if you push yourself! You don't have to live in the gym! Make it fun and start where you can. MOVE. Remember at the end of the day diet is key and we all start somewhere!”
You Can Find Exercise Anywhere
Some people might be daunted at the prospect of going to a gym and working out in front of people, especially if they’re just starting out on their journey to better health. Lexi likes to remind everyone that you don’t have to be a gym rat to get in your daily activity.
She shared a photo of a picturesque hike she went on with a friend and said “I encourage you to get out, spend time with nature, and explore! Some of my favorite memories with my husband are our adventures together definitely not the ones spent just existing on our couch!” She also talked about how tough this same trail had been for her to hike just a while back.
Changing Her Daily Habits
Even now, Lexi admits that she's not always motivated to stick with it. But she learned that if she didn't take care of herself before she dedicated her day to work, she wouldn't get it done. She posted this empowering image of herself after doing a pulse/zumba workout.
"Started my weekend off right making my dry fit shirt look like false advertising this morning. When I woke up I was sore, tired, and full of excuses not full of motivation. However, despite my excuses, I knew I had to get it done... I've never been a morning person but I've learned that the key to weight loss is in your daily habits. When I started getting up at 6 am before 10-hour work shifts to take care of me, it helped change my life."
Any Meal Can Be Made Healthier
A lot of time the worst decisions we make at restaurants aren't the meal we order, but the sides and dressings that come with it. Not only does Lexi share her new diet habits on Instagram, she also talks about how she keeps gluttonous food as healthy as possible.
With the picture about she noted, "Dinner out with my family tonight. I ordered grilled Mahi Mahi without the Mayo sauce, plain baked potato with cinnamon seasoning & salad bar. Beware of extra condiments that can easily increase your calories and don't be afraid to make the menu work for you!"
Danny Shares His Progress On Instagram, Too
Lexi isn't the only one keeping the world up to date on her progress. Danny recently posted a selfie of himself at the gym after a workout. From the look of things, he kicked his training into high gear since losing so much weight.
This workout, he says, involved, "back day for 35 minutes. I also threw in some extra biceps, triceps, and ab training. Followed by 20 minutes of cardio. Feeling strong and lean today."
Danny's Diet Is Super Lean
Danny and Lexi have both taken massive steps to change their eating habits. Like Lexi, Danny shares his healthy creations for his followers, as well. This particular meal is looking very lean and full of protein.
He's not sacrificing flavor for health though, "Today's lunch was grilled chicken breast with @franksredhot and grilled zucchini. This was @fatgirlfedups photo but I had to steal it and post it because it was so good."
The Couple That Works Out Together, Stays Together
Since Danny and Lexi began their journey towards healthy new lifestyles, one thing has always stayed the same. They love each other. If their commitment wasn't clear in the picture above, then the caption does, "Today's workout was shoulders and traps for 40 minutes. I also got 20 minutes walking with this cutie."
The new life that Danny and Lexi have created for themselves is truly inspiring. Anyone struggling with their own workout and diet habits should use this amazing couple as an example that anything is possible!
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