Lexi was still enjoying life to the fullest, especially when she was in the company of her man, her soulmate, Danny Reed. The pair had been inseparable for 10 years and it meant so much to Lexi to know that Danny loved her for who she was, regardless of how much she weighed.
The one issue the couple had was that they shared a weakness for indulging in a sedentary lifestyle made worse by unhealthy eating habits. While this sort of destructive enabling of each other’s weaknesses can be a danger for couples, Danny and Lexi remarkably managed to turn this weakness into their biggest strength.
A Girl Who Has Always Struggled
While Lexi Reed was a happy and extroverted kid, she also had an ongoing battle with her weight. Over the years, her issues seemed to worsen and while she never let it get her down, Lexi knew that something had to be done. As anyone who’s battled with their weight will understand, Lexi tried every diet and exercise regime under the sun, desperately hoping one would finally stick. Yet, no matter how much progress she made, the weight just always seemed to sneak back on.
At the age of 25, Lexi weighed 392 pounds. While she kept on smiling, she had a discerning look in her eyes. The extra weight she was carrying around at this time was severely affecting the quality of her life. Getting fit and healthy felt, in many ways, like the one thing standing between Lexi and all the other dreams she had.
Sharing Is Caring, but Not When It Comes to Bad Habits
While the loved-up couple was undeniably cute, Danny and Lexi simply weren’t comfortable with the extra weight they were each carrying around. Danny weighed about 280 pounds around the time this photo was taken. At this point in time, they were still feeding each other’s vices and, as many people do when they’re under love’s spell, they threw caution to the wind and ate whatever their hearts desired. So long as they were together, what did it matter, right?
This self-indulgence was something secret and special that the pair shared. They would sometimes spend hours at all-you-can-eat buffets, each one sounding that comforting little voice for the other that says “it’s okay to have more, you deserve it.” With unhealthy takeouts becoming the norm when they were at home, and treats indulged in whenever they went out, the pounds just kept piling on.
Caught in an Endless Cycle of Unhealthy Eating
For Lexi, breaking her unhealthy eating cycle was an overwhelming concept because it had been with her for pretty much as long as she could remember. As she explained to PopSugar: “Growing up, we never had a lot of money and my parents never cooked. Processed foods were always easier to purchase than healthy foods.”
This is a habit many people can sympathize with and it can be a particularly difficult one to break. Even when Lexi started dating Danny, the happy love chemicals weren’t enough to break her old comfort-eating habits. Quite the opposite in fact. Binge eating while binge-watching TV became the norm, and any uncomfortable emotions could always be pushed out of sight with food.
What to Do When Your Weight Is Holding You Back
While body positivity is a good thing, there’s a whole lot more to being overweight than just appearances. Danny and Lexi were becoming increasingly frustrated with all the things they just couldn’t do because of their weight. While they knew they were beyond lucky to be in such a happy, supportive relationship, it was painful to see other couples going biking together, hiking mountains, and even just enjoying long romantic walks. Meanwhile, Danny and Lexi had their life on the couch and empty calories to look forward to.
Over time, these visions and experiences were building up in the back of Lexi’s mind. Her weight was dragging her life down and holding her back. This image was becoming more and more clear and with it, a determination that she needed to turn things around. The problem was that she lacked both the knowledge and the motivation to get started. That was until a monumental event turned her life upside-down and changed everything.