How personal trainer made himself obese... to understand what being fat feels like

By DAISY DUMAS

Before and after: Drew Manning has gone from 193lbs in May, left, to 263.6lbs this week, right, to understand what being fat and subsequently losing weight feels like

His round, wobbling stomach signals morbid obesity - but just six months ago, part-time personal trainer Drew Manning's body was rippled, honed and toned to impressively fit proportions.

The fitness fanatic-turned-flabby father has taken on the challenge of gaining around 80lbs over six months with the express intention of losing the weight over the following six months.


Week 8: By eating badly, relaxing and not following his usual active routine, Mr Manning has piled on the pounds - and has grown increasingly bad-tempered, depressed, high blood-pressured and self-conscious to boot

With just two and a half weeks to go until his weight loss phase begins, Mr Manning has ballooned from 193lbs to 263.3lbs - requiring a whole new wardrobe, reserves of mental strength and the support of a very long-suffering wife.


Week 12: The father of two has been monitored by doctors throughout - his blood pressure has gone through the roof while his testosterone levels have plummeted

Part of his weekly pound-piling regimen is to complete a food challenge as voted for by the public.

The current online poll asks: 'Which old food challenge should I revisit this week?'
Votes so far place the stomach-churning 'Fuddrucker's Challenge (1lb burger, 1lb of cheese fries, and a large brownie sundae)' in first place, with 67 per cent of the 443 votes. It streaks ahead of 'Pancakes of Love (As many pancakes as I can eat)' and 'Corndog chowdown (As many corndogs as I can eat).'


Week 16: Mr Manning's wife Lynn has seen the hardest sides of his transformation and has been shocked by the emotional toll. She is counting down the days until his weight loss phase begins on November 5

It's all a far cry from the trainer and surgical technician's usual routine of healthy eating and five one hour workouts each week.

Rather than an addiction to the gym, Mr Manning's wife Lynn told MailOnline that her husband enjoys making the most of the outdoors where they live, hiking, skiing and mountain biking. He also eats a low-fat, balanced diet - which he believes is the biggest part of staying fit and healthy.


Week 20: Front and side shots of Mr Manning show his extreme weight gain. He will begin a strict exercise and diet regime in November and had admitted he is scared of fighting his new food addictions

On November 5, the focus shifts to losing weight - and Mr Manning will begin the hard task of shedding the weight. He will publish a healthy eating plan and exercise routine with the aim of encouraging thousands of Americans to join him in the challenge.

'He feels everyone can become more medically healthy if they follow his plan,' Mrs Manning, who is counting down the days until the old Drew is back, said.

'Everything he does will be doable for the average American if they want to be healthy.'


Tipping scales: After just a week, the fitness freak had started to pile on pounds


source: dailymail