A fitness trainer's true story of gaining 75 pounds so he could better understand his clients' struggles—and what he learned while getting back in shape.
Drew Manning, a fitness junkie and personal trainer, had never been overweight in his life. He never craved junk food or missed an opportunity to work out. Yet despite his obsession, he failed to help his clients reach their goals. Manning decided he needed to understand what it was like to be in his clients' shoes—or, rather, size.
For six months, he radically let himself go. He stopped exercising and ate nothing but the typical American diet of fast and processed foods. Not surprisingly, he gained weight. Manning made national news when he posted a blog revealing that he'd gained more than 60 pounds (he ended up gaining 75). In only half a year, the out-of-shape trainer-turned-blogger had gained more than he ever expected—and not just in pounds.
Manning devoted the next six months to losing the weight as quickly as he'd gained it. The lessons he learned from experiencing both sides of the battle were priceless. What started as a physical challenge became an emotional and mental wake-up call. In Fit2Fat2Fit, Manning reveals the practical takeaways and profound insights of his yearlong journey. With startlingly honest stories, concrete, easy-to-implement strategies, recipes, exercises, workout routines, meal plans, and much more, he equips readers to achieve any weight-loss goal. Also included are a chapter by his wife, and before and after (and after) photos.