Rarely do people ever have the sheer determination and commitment to hard work to turn their lives completely around. One such exceptional couple is Lexi and Danny Reed. The couple is full of great ideas and encouragement after their long and arduous journey. So what exactly did Lexi and Danny do to cause such a stir and inspire the people around them? Get ready to be floored!
When It All Started
Issues Early On
Since she was a young girl, Lexi Reed struggled with her weight. She was always a cheerful and happy person and did not let her weight affect her mood. She would go through different programs to try and lose the extra pounds, but it always returned. Lexi weighed 396 pounds by the time she reached the age of twenty-five. She put her effort towards living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment. But deep down, her weight was getting in the way of Lexi truly living and enjoying everything she could.
Issues Early On
Lexi Finds Love
They say the best relationships start out as friendships, and that was the case for Lexi. Her best friend of ten years, Danny, would soon become the love of her life. Danny had known Lexi for many years, and he loved Lexi for the great person she was, and did not care what size or shape she was. Though Danny’s support was important and helped sustain their relationship, Danny also had an issue with unhealthy eating habits. He did not lead a very active lifestyle and his weight was affected by it.
Lexi Finds Love
Unhealthy Cycle
Danny was just a few years older than Lexi and he already weighed 280 pounds. Together the couple fell into a pattern of unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle. Together, the couple’s unhealthy habits only increased. The two were not for cooking at home or exercising. Instead, they would spend hours at all you can eat buffets. When they ate at home the couple ordered food in regularly. With all that unhealthy food, their poor lifestyle was beginning to take its toll on the couple’s health.
Unhealthy Cycle
A Dangerous Routine
For Lexi, her unhealthy habits started in childhood. She remarked, “Growing up, we never had a lot of money and my parents never cooked. Processed foods were always easier to purchase than healthy foods…” With a start like that, it’s no wonder Lexi was struggling. When Lexi and Danny got together, the two continued their poor eating habits. Lexi admits the two often binge-watch TV while eating their moods. Lexi explains, “I was always an emotional eater, also, and no matter what the food, food was always there for me.”
A Dangerous Routine
Bad Habits
Due to their weight gain, Lexi and Danny were not enjoying activities like most couples. Instead of walking around their neighborhood, going for bike rides, or small hikes, they were sitting at home and only watching TV. Increasingly, Lexi knew that her weight was beginning to affect her life in a major way. While she was a happy person deep down, she could not shake the feeling that something in her life needed to change. She did not know where to start or how to do it, but that would soon change.
Stronger Together
They’re Engaged!
When Danny asked Lexi to marry him, she accepted with great happiness. After all, Danny loved Lexi for Lexi, and never saw her size or asked her to change anything about herself. Lexi wrote on her Instagram, “He never saw me as my size, asked me to change, or made me feel as anything other than beautiful.” At the time of their engagement, Lexi weight 485 pounds. Lexi commented it was difficult to find a wedding dress stating, “Nobody knew how to make me feel like a bride, and not my size. Thank god I was strong enough to know my worth, and kept searching for me 34W dress even though I questioned if I would ever find one.”
They’re Engaged!
Wedding Bells
Lexi eventually found the perfect dress for her big day. She and Danny were finally happily married. Other problems, however, were lingering in the background waiting to be addressed by the couple. Now as newlyweds, the couple started to think about starting a family together. Due to Lexi’s weight, a pregnancy could be full of complications and dangerous for both her and the baby. But the couple had other dreams that seemed impossible.
Wedding Bells
Small Dreams Crushed
While Danny and Lexi dreamed of beginning a family, they were limited by health concerns. That was not the only issue they were facing. Even small, regular day activities were proving impossible. Due to their weight restrictions, even traveling was difficult. Lexi was dying to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, part of the Universal Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, her size would not permit her to enjoy any of the rides. She was also too large to be able to fit in a plane seat. The couple lived in Indiana, and her Florida dreams felt further than ever.
Small Dreams Crushed
Marriage Continues
Married life continued for the couple without any changes. Danny and Lexi were still eating poorly and they had made no major life changes to become healthier. All the food they were eating was heavily processed and it seems there was no change in sight. Just when things seemed to be completely out of control, Lexi’s gut decided to tell her something she just could no longer ignore. He did not know where to begin. But she knew she had to be strong. Soon the call for change would wake up Lexi.
Marriage Continues
A New Year’s Resolution
On New Years Day 2016, Lexi and Danny would change their lives forever. Lexi decided that in order to achieve her dreams, she needed to make a change, for both she and Dany’s sakes. The couple’s life would soon change. Lexi wanted to make a life change, and though Danny was supportive of her completely, he did not desire to make the same changes for himself. It would take some time before Danny would muster up the strength and motivation to join Lexi in her weight loss goals.
A New Year’s Resolution
Danny Changes His Mind
Danny loved Lexi more than anything, so it wasn’t long before he agreed to join Lexi in her quest. Danny commented, “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.” He saw Lexi’s commitment and decided he had to join. Danny stated, “It’s a new year and something to work toward while helping Lexi out as well.” The couple embarked on an important health journey that would change both of them forever.
Danny Changes His Mind
Friends Join In
To show support, Danny and Lexi’s friends decided to join in on their journey. They made a bet with the following rules: “No eating out, no soda, no alcohol, no cheat meals, and working out for 30 minutes five times a week.” Danny and Lexi took the bet and were determined to show everyone how hard they were willing to work to achieve their new dream. Their new journey was just the beginning of a new life together.
Friends Join In
Need a Change
Sick of not being able to walk around the block with her husband, or fly on a plane, Lexi and Danny decided to change their lives. Lexi commented, “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.” Most of all she and Danny wanted a family, “We also feared that if we didn’t get our health under control, we would never be able to start a family.” Tired of a sedentary lifestyle, Danny and Lexi joined forces and began making healthier and smarter decisions.
Need A Change
They Hit the Gym
Lexi and Danny turned their sites toward their local gym in Terre Haute, Indiana. Lexi and Danny committed to going to the gym every day for 30 minutes, but her workouts were proving to be harder than she anticipated. Due to her weight, regular workouts were difficult for Lexi. Her joints suffered and began to cause her severe pain with each workout. Neither Danny nor Lexi had a personal trainer, and they struggled to put together a workout regimen that worked for their goals.
They Hit The Gym
The Right Place
Lexi and Danny had to do some looking around in order to find the right facility to train in. Lexi felt self-conscious in a regular gym setting, so the couple needed to find the right space for their new health goals. Eventually, the couple found the right place to complete their workouts. Lexi said, “I started going there when I got a free trial and– since it was never really crowded, my machine faced the wall (so I didn’t feel like everyone was watching me), and I found a machine called the CrossRamp that didn’t hurt my joints at 485 pounds– I fell in love with it.”
The Right Place And Equipment
Healthier Eating Habits
Hitting the gym for workouts was just part of Lexi and Danny’s new routine. The couple had to break their bad habit of going out to eat for every meal. The couple had to learn how to prepare healthy meals in their own home. Soon the discovered something wonderful! The best way to cook? Together. Instead of frozen pizzas and takeouts, Danny and Lexi began exploring what kind of healthy food they could make in their home together. Though they were having fun and learning new healthy skills, the diet journey was not simple.
Healthier Eating Habits
Glass Half Full
Instead of being super bummed about missing out on her favorite foods, Lexi opted for a major attitude adjustment. She decided to start making healthy versions of her favorite foods, that way the couple would not need to feel denied their favorite things. Lexi also decided she could not look at her new dieting as temporary. She wanted instead to approach eating healthy food as an adoption of an entirely new lifestyle. With her new approach and her more positive attitude, Lexi’s new journey became a little easier.
Glass Half Full
Stronger Together
Going to the gym five times a week and eating an entirely new array of foods would be nearly impossible. Luckily for Danny and Lexi, their love was so strong that they saw this as a wonderful challenge to take on as a couple. Approaching the journey together made the challenges more manageable. The couple leaned on one another and eventually had built up a rock-solid support system. Thanks to this foundation, they were soon able to hit their goals. Time flew by and soon the couple realized their first goal of working out for one month had passed! That was incredible, but it was nothing compared to what happened next.
Stronger Together
Time Continues
Pretty quickly the results started to show for Lexi and Danny. All of their hard work was starting to pay off. Lexi’s confidence at the gym grew and eventually, she started taking classes. Lexi got to know the other people in her classes at the gym and soon a brand new support system sprouted up for Lexi to enjoy. About her classes, Lexi said, “I love my Pulse class. 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.”
Time Continues
Lexi’s Incredible Attitude
Lexi began to reap the benefits of all of her hard work. Instead of feeling embarrassed or shy at the gym, she felt empowered, saying, “If people were going to stare at me because of my weight, I was going to give them a reason to stare by being the hardest worker in the room. In the beginning, the weight loss came more easily. Lexi started losing twenty pounds a month, but soon the weight loss was slower. She continued to eat healthier and doing her workouts. Lexi also started counting calories. Soon, all these habits turned into a way of life for Lexi.
Lexi’s Incredible Attitude
Danny’s Journey
Danny committed to being by Lexi’s side every step of the way. Just like Lexi, he continued in his journey and was making incredible strides. He was also beginning to see weight loss and an improvement in his overall health. After working out for two years, Danny and Lexi had made shocking progress. In fact, Danny, who started his journey at 280 pounds, reached a mere 180 pounds! He was thrilled with his progress and continued to support Lexi in everything.
Danny’s Journey
Lexi’s Progress
After 18 months of her dedicated program, Lexis life was totally different than it had been growing up. Her progress was simply astounding and the results were inspiring to everyone around her. Lexi started her weight loss journey at 485 pounds, but after a year and a half she reached 312 pounds. A true moment of pride for Lexi was when she revisited a favorite restaurant. The seating used to be very tight and her stomach would hang on the table. Now, Lexi could sit comfortably! Those small moments of recognition added up to be a big boost for Lexi.
Lexi’s Progress
Instagram Famous
Lexi decided to start an Instagram account named “Fat Girl Fed Up” that documented her journey. She posted pictures of herself going to the gym as well as inspirational quotes that helped her through the difficult times. After not too much time, Lexi had garnered a pretty big Instagram following. In fact, soon Lexi had over 750,000 followers. Her before and after photos were also particularly inspiring to Lexi’s new followers. In just two years she had turned her life around in order to live a safer, more healthy, and well-rounded life.
Instagram Famous
Fame Sets In
Lexi and Danny’s journey was so inspiring that word of the couple soon spread to local media. They were interviewed about their weight loss journey and were eventually even invited to appear in an episode of Rachel Ray about how to prepare healthy food. Danny and Lexi did not let their new attention get to their heads. They took their newfound fame as further motivation to do better and to work harder. The couple has remained humbled and insists their main goal is to share their journey of living a healthier life with other people.
Fame Sets In
A New Life
One particularly special moment occurred for Lexi and Danny when the couple was able to revisit the spot of their engagement. Together the couple had lost over 400 pounds, and they wanted to celebrate. While there, they even took a run along the waterside where Danny proposed. In the past, a run along the beach would have been too much for Lexi who weighed nearly 500 pounds. Now their entire experience had changed. Lexi exclaimed, “We returned to that beach and ran down that beach!”
A New Life
Dreams Come True
After two years of working so hard to achieve their goals, Lexi and Danny were finally ready to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida. Lexi could now safely fit on the plane and in all the rides, and this was surely a remarkable moment for the couple as their dreams and plans were able to materialize. Lexi and Danny report that they have never been closer. Going through their weight loss journey as a team was transformational. The couple now leads an active lifestyle- dirt biking, hiking, and continue to eat a well-balanced diet. Now Danny and Lexi are ready to start their new adventure which they hope will include starting a family soon!
Dreams Come True