From Overweight to Online Inspiration: Michael's Journey

Michael Mahler made headlines and became an online sensation after making the most significant change of his life: shedding over half of his body weight over the course of three years.

When Mahler, 38, from Germany, first started his journey, he weighed 570 pounds!

"I used to eat enormous amounts of food. Eating defined who I was. Just for breakfast, I could eat six to eight rolls with jam, chocolate, or sausages. For lunch, I would finish two pizzas or four burgers with buns every day. My weight made it impossible to move or walk. Every step was like running a marathon. It was the worst period of my life," he shared.

He wasn't just struggling physically. The saying "a healthy mind in a healthy body" isn’t just a cliché. "My health metrics were just as terrible," he explains. "I had horrifying blood pressure and a fatty liver. There were moments when I thought I was going to die. That thought was with me all the time."

Despite constantly thinking about death, one day he decided to make the necessary change. He realized he could no longer neglect his health and if he wanted change, he needed to consider gastric bypass surgery.

After the surgery, Michael lost significant weight but understood that exercise was essential to complete his goal.

"I started working out six times a week, like crazy. I completely changed my diet," he says. "I now eat fruits and oatmeal for breakfast, animal protein, rice, and steamed vegetables for lunch, and tuna with whole-grain bread for dinner—without deviating from this plan. Maintaining weight isn't complicated, but it's crucial not to deviate from what you eat, sticking to the same plan every day, alongside lots of exercise."

According to him, even making these two changes alone will help you lose weight and keep it off: eating these foods every day without changing or straying from the menu, and engaging in intense daily exercise in your preferred sport. "Everyone connects with something different," Mahler says. "I know I tried everything, and the fact that I started moving a lot made a difference in my weight eventually."

"I used to be sad and easily offended by silly things, but not anymore. I have more confidence now compared to before, and I'm much happier with how I look—so it's definitely worth the effort and change."