An inspiring weight loss journey of a couple

The couple is Danny and Lexi Reed

Danny’s maximum weight – is 280 pounds

Lexi’s maximum weight – is 485 pounds

The couple tied the knot in 2015. As their 2016’s New Year’s resolution, the Reed couple said a big NO to

- Eating out
- Cheat meals
- Sod
- Alcohol

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Battling with weight

For Lexi, weight control was a forever struggle. She was overweight all her life. The problem wasn't that she didn't lose weight, but she always regained the weight she lost. She frequently skipped her breakfast but then sat for a lavish lunch. On the days Lexi had her breakfast, she would go to her favorite Mcdonald's and grab an egg and cheese biscuits, hash browns, and sausage with a large coke. Danny recalls the time when he was young and active; he used to skateboard and play games. With this, his weight was under control. But when he no longer did those things, he gained weight.

He got more pounds when he became in the relationship. Prior to 2016, the Reed couple's evening ritual was to stick their bum on the sofa, order pizza, and binge-watch Netflix with lots of soda and junk food around them. They just sat and watched TV without bothering a bit about themselves. They were a 765-pound couple. Lexi worked at a law firm where she helped people get Social Security benefits. The people talked to her about their heart problems, diabetes, and neuropathy. One fine day, she felt that if she didn't look after herself, she would sooner be one of them. Although Lexi didn't have any health issues because of being overweight, the fact is she didn't often go to the doctor. However, she faced difficulty in breathing and had lots of pain in her joints.

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What kept them moving?

To begin wasn't at all easy. With time you become the product of your habits. Your body is adapted to a certain way. According to Danny, it's better to shock your body with new and different things than to make the changes slowly. Lexi admits the changes were highly unpleasant in the beginning. The most unpleasant thing for them was changing their relationship with food. It took them a while to come to terms with the fact that we eat to live and vice versa. They were accountable to each other. Days when they wanted to give up, luckily, they had each other's back. Seeing the results, they pushed themselves further. Danny agrees with Lexi and said they both understood it was essential to losing weight to have a healthy future. They started enjoying the new beginning. 

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The couple made their food fun and healthy. Their focus was to have more protein and less carbs, though they also ate some carbs. Foods rich in protein such as chicken, lean meat, Salomon, and turkey with veggies like broccoli, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts became their staple diet. To satisfy their craving for junk, they decided to choose whole-wheat bread. Lexi used a tortilla to make their pizza instead of a stuffed crust. They replaced Taco Bell with a home-made healthy taco salad. Eliminating soda from her life wasn't easy for Lexi. Lexi didn't even have a sip of soda for three months in a row. Afterwards, she found it very syrupy, sugary, and weirdly different. But now, she chooses water over soda anytime, anywhere.

Danny and Lexi’s meal plan

• Breakfast – Eggs with bacon or  turkey sausage, at times regular bacon
  
  
• Lunch -  Broccoli and chicken
  
  
• Snacks – Bananas with peanut butter, nuts, or fruits
  
  

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Workout partners

Reed's decision to go to the gym with one another six times a week. Danny did cardio and weight training for 20-30 minutes. Lexi started her journey with an elliptical. As she was 485 pounds, the machine wasn't meant for her. However, she still stuck with it five times a week. She was so full of determination to change. It was tough, to say the least. She wasn't quick, but she was consistent. Every time Lexi went back home, she challenged herself for more. This made her faster and more robust.

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With elliptical, Lexi also joined Zumba twice or thrice a week. At the gym, she used the weights and the stair climber. She didn't do the same thing every day. If one day Lexi did squats, she'll change it the next day. Like everyone else, even Lexi felt self-conscious while going to the gym. Lexi said, "But I knew I had to change for me. If people were going to stare I was going to be the hardest-working person in the room. And having Danny they're made me more confident – I wasn't walking on that first day alone."

Social media

Lexi wished for a means to develop accountability. A colleague advised her to create an Instagram profile. She thought she'd have just ten followers on Instagram. Lexi didn't want to irritate her Facebook friends, so she created an Instagram account. Her Instagram profile became an instant hit as so many people out there were inspired by her weight-loss journey. She posted her picture daily to keep track of her progress.

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Not a diet

Diet is the first word that comes to mind when discussing weight loss. But if you ask the Reed couple, for them, it is not a diet; it is their lifestyle. Lexi strongly believes that diets are a short-term affair but what they follow is forever. Lexi prepared a list of her favorite foods. Then she made them with healthy recipes. This saved her from sacrificing the taste for the waist size. Therefore, Lexi never felt she was deprived of any sort of pleasure. Without Danny, it wasn't possible for Lexi. The same thing is true for Danny as well. Together, the couple showed how strong they and their bond is. Their support to each other made things easier for them. However, it was just the beginning, and they had a long way to go.

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Making new friends

Working out in the gym was a blessing for Lexi. Her confidence was boosted when she started losing weight and she began taking classes. Something unexpected happened as she made new friends. Being friends with people on the same journey widened Lexi's support system. Working out became fun with them. Lexi said she loves dancing to her favorite music and does not consider it a workout. Squats can be done on a full song, and although her legs would burn, it's so much fun that she wouldn't even notice it.  

Results were out

The most depressing thing about eating healthy and working out is that the results aren't out in a day. Lexi worked so hard that results started to appear. At the time she started, she lost 20 pounds in a month.  There came the point when losing weight became hard. But Lexi didn't lose hope. She continued with the gym routine and became even more cautious about her calorie intake. Her new routine became her new lifestyle. Though Danny was never as fat as Lexi, yet he saw significant results. Within two years of changing his lifestyle, Danny went from 280 to 180 pounds. Most of his weight was lost in the first year. But, just like his wife, he continued the fight even though the progress rate was slow.

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Not the same person anymore

Lexi was almost 500, but just in the of 2 years, she lost 312 pounds. Said this, she isn't the same person anymore. The journey, as well as the transformation, is amazing for her. The first thing she noticed was when her stomach didn’t rest on the table in a restaurant. The gap between her body and the table was a moment to be proud of. This made her realize the battle was worth it. The couple's story spread quicker than wildfire, making them overnight stars. They even registered their presence on Rachael Ray, where they discussed healthy eating habits. Stardom didn't change anything about them; the two are still as humble as they ever were. They consider the media attention as one more support system. Being on TV is fun indeed, but at times, spending time with the love of your hiking is altogether a different experience. Needless to mention, going on a walk with Danny was Lexi's one of the goals.

The mind game

In 2018, Lexi shared with her followers that they should always talk to oneself because one is always listening. There were so many ups and downs in Lexi's journey, but no matter what, she always had a positive mental state and self-talk. She knew from the beginning that it would make all the difference. While Lexi Reed right now weighs 173 pounds, and Danny weighs less than 180 pounds.