Courtesy of Jaime Hathcock
We love to bring you stories of real men who change their bodies—and their lives. Our hope is that their dramatic transformations will help you get inspired to start your own weight-loss journey.
Between working out and eating right, there are lots of different ways to lose weight. On this list, you'll find guys who went keto, crushed HIIT workouts, and developed all-around healthier lifestyles. Many lost more than 100 pounds—and needless to say, their before-and-after photos are incredible.
Here are some incredible weight-loss transformations as told to Men's Health.
1. Ben Raue: Dropped From 18 to 10 Percent Body Fat
Ben Raue
Ben Raue started his fitness journey because he's passionate about the environment. After reading that a plant-based diet was the most sustainable to our earth, he committed to getting in shape for 90 days while eating vegan.
“I wanted to prove this to myself and show the world what was possible,” he previously told Men's Health. “Oh, one more motivator; I was single and I was far from having my A-game on.”
Raue was what he calls a ‘junk food vegan,’” meaning he ate ice cream, cookies and chips. “Vegan doesn’t mean healthy; it just means it’s not made from animal products," he said.
He gave all that up and began eating kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, and edamame. Raue consumed 120-140 grams of protein a day, on average. He changed his workout routine and included HIIT and weight training.
In three months, he dropped from 18 percent body fat to 10 percent.
2. Stephane Doiron: 55-Pound Weight Loss
Stephane Doiron
Stephane Doiron was inspired to get in shape so he could help his son train for hockey.
"I remember it so well because I was pushing my oldest son to excel in his strength conditioning training for his local hockey team," he previously told Men's Health. "First of all, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to do one-third of what he was doing, and secondly, what right did I have to motivate him on how to become a better athlete," Doiron recalled.
He began by going on runs. After six months, the 45-year-old dad went from 240 to 210 pounds. After struggling to lose more weight, Doiron began tracking macronutrients.
Doiron exceeded his original goal to weigh 199 pounds, settling at 185 pounds.
3. Matt Ellengold: 55-Pound Weight Loss
Matt Ellengold
Matt Ellengold knew he wanted to lose weight but couldn't find the motivation to get started.
"The self-loathing just built—and the realization of how much I'd let myself go physically was depressing," he previously told Men's Health. "I even moved into an apartment block that had gym facilities, and I said every day that I'd go tomorrow, and tomorrow that never happened. I promised myself I would change my diet, eat more healthily, and it didn’t happen."
After realizing his weight had increased to 240 pounds, he decided to enlist in help.
After Googling, Ellengold found a nearby gym—Ultimate Performance—that specialized in dramatic body transformations. At first, Ellengold was skeptical, but ultimately signed up with the gym. With the help of a trainer, the London man learned about counting macros, the carbs, protein, and fat in food. Changing his diet, logging at least 10,000 steps each day, and training three days a week helped Ellengold see results. Over time, he increased gym sessions and steps, resulting in a 60-pound weight loss in 24 weeks.
4. Quantel Thomas: Lost More Than 100 Pounds
Quantel Thomas
Like many people, Quantel Thomas resolved to lose weight in the New Year. At the time he weighed 284 pounds and experienced "constant aches and pains." A doctor explained he was at risk of becoming diabetic.
He started by hitting the gym six days a week. In just one month, Quantel dropped from 284 to 255 pounds. After 10 months, he was at a low of 180 pounds.
Now, he loves fitness and has bulked up to 204 pounds due to his bodybuilding training.
"To be able to love myself, that's the true, ultimate milestone achieved to this day," he told Men's Health.
5. Yves Tigh: Became a Bodybuilder
Yves Tigh
Yves Tigh, 55, was no stranger to the gym. However, the IT consultant never paid much attention to his diet. Although he cooked, Tigh ate little protein and frequently drank alcohol. This led him to steadily put on the pounds. Eventually, he weighed about 240 pounds.
After realizing he had high cholesterol, Tigh decided it was time to make a change.
He began training at Ultimate Performance in London, where he learned more about nutrition.
“Diet for me was always an issue,” he told Men's Health. “I thought I ate healthily, but was eating the wrong foods and always drank alcohol.”
6. Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson
