A YOUNG man who lost half his body weight through a fitness and diet overhaul is proud of the excess skin that’s left behind. Joel Reed, 23, and originally from Texas, weighed 467lbs at the age of 19. Four years later, he has managed to lose a huge 230lbs through diet and exercise, weighing in at 264lbs. Joel told Barcroft TV: “For the longest time, I thought I was just the fat kid or the fat guy – and that’s just how it was going to be.” Joel, who never dated when he was at his heaviest due to fear of rejection, has since found love with Katlin, who underwent a fitness journey of her own. When Joel was growing up, he noticed he was much bigger than the other kids his age – and often had to shop in the men’s section to find outfits that would fit him. During this time, Joel faced the first of two-family tragedies that left him finding comfort in eating. “When I was 10 years old, my dad had a stroke and unfortunately, he passed away from that. Tragically, five years later, Joel’s mother died after a seven-year battle with cancer, leaving Joel isolated and unable to reach out for support. At the recommendation of his aunt, Joel went to the doctors. “I weighed in at 467lbs - that kind of blew my mind when I saw that. Something had to change.” Joel’s fitness journey started gradually, from taking walks to working out at the gym he worked at. Joel met Katlin Casanova in December 2018, after striking up a conversation online. Katlin, 26, used to weigh 400lbs – she has since lost 250lbs. Joel said: “We really had that to bond over, which was great.” Having Katlin has given Joel a new sense of confidence and reassurance when it comes to his excess skin. Joel describes having a love-hate relationship with his excess skin, but, ultimately, it reminds him of how far he has come. “This is a better body than I had before. It’s something I’m really proud of now.”
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