Name: Matt Cummings

Age: 34

Occupation: Banking

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Start Weight: 336 pounds

End Weight: 195 pounds

Time Running: 6 months

On May 26 of last year, I was 336 pounds. My wife and I took my son to a trampoline park, and we were amped. We paid for two hours for all of us, but after six minutes of bouncing, I was literally going to pass out.



I sat out the next 45 minutes on a couch while my wife and son played. I was so embarrassed not being able to even play with my son, and if I kept this pace, I wouldn’t be there for much of his life. So I needed to change mine.

My weight slowly came on after high school. The more I slowed down, the more weight I gained because I never changed my eating habits. I had tried weight loss through diet and exercise in the past, but always started and failed.

That’s when I found F3, a peer-led, bootcamp-style workout for men. It meets outside- regardless of the weather. They combat what they call “sad clown syndrome,” which is men who are happy on the outside, but miserable on the inside. They promote and support togetherness and fellowship through early morning workouts.

What appealed the most to me was the encouragement and fellowship. My friend Chris, who invited me, sent me a diet plan and held me accountable. He seriously answered hundreds of questions. When I was struggling and lagging behind, they always came back with words of encouragement to help me finish strong. No one judged me. They just loved me and cared about me and kept me moving. Many of these guys are now close friends.

Making friends was great, but the exercise was tough. I remember the first workouts vividly. I could barely run a tenth of a mile. The first day I showed up was a run day. Because I couldn’t do it, several of us rode bikes to a bridge a mile away, and then rode up the incline. I could barely ride the bike the one mile to the bridge.

It took going consistently and pushing myself to today, where I am now able to run to the bridge, run up and over the bridge several times, and do a bootcamp after. I remember on one run day I was so proud when I slogged through two miles in 30-plus minutes. Now, I am now on the horizon of a 15K.

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Since May 29 when I started, I am down more than 140 pounds to 196. I am seeing weights I never dreamed possible. It’s also due, in part, to transforming my diet. Previously, I was eating thousands of calories a day, always consuming fast food, drinking soda, and eating candy. Now, I eat around 1,800 calories a day, which is slightly more than I used to eat for lunch, and primarily drink only water and coffee. I eat several small, protein-rich meals a day. Even when I run longer distances and need carbs, I make sure I am eating healthy carbs.



I also just feel so much better. My body doesn’t ache. I am able to play with my son for hours. I sleep better, and I no longer need the CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. I have more energy. Most importantly, I have built confidence and pride in myself that I never had. I am a completely new person.

The journey continues for me. I am still hoping to lose another 18 to 20 pounds to reach my ideal body mass index (BMI). My first 15K is coming up on March 9 at the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida, which includes the bridge I once couldn’t run. I cannot wait.

After that, my goal is to mix in some weight training to tone up a little more. I have my sights set on a half marathon on Thanksgiving, and then a full marathon next February. Those were goals I once thought were impossible, but if I can lose over 140 pounds, I can do anything, right?

To anyone out there that wants to go on a similar journey, the most important thing you need to do is stay the course. This journey isn’t easy. I always looked for the easy ways out. I wanted the quick fix. But unfortunately, the only formula that works is hard work and discipline.

I learned early on in the process that this is as much a mental game as it is a physical game. My mind was as weak as my body was. I had to go to work on my mind and my body. I had to overcome everything I believed about myself. But I promise you that you can do it, and it is totally worth it. The biggest thing to remember is you can’t outwork a bad diet.

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