Seven years ago, david smith weighed a staggering 46st. He spent his days gorging on junk food and playing video games and lived as a virtual recluse, refusing to go out for fear of the stares his morbidly obese appearance would draw. He had no friends, was still a virgin and had never kissed a girl.
But, incredibly, he shed 28st in just two years after his dying mum pleaded with him to lose weight, and now David, 33, works as a fitness instructor and is happily living with his girlfriend Megan Povar, 19.
“I’m thankful my life turned out so good,” says David. “I dreamt about having a girlfriend, but I was too shy to ask a girl out until I lost the weight.”
He shed 28st in just two years after his dying mum pleaded with him to lose weight
David was always chubby, and put on weight throughout his childhood. Aged 12 he was 15st as a result of comfort eating because he was being bullied. And when he stopped playing sports that year his weight became even more of a problem. By the time he was 13, he’d put on another 6st 6lbs.
He says: “I was constantly bullied at school. I had rocks thrown at me and one kid even threw dog poo at me once and screamed ‘fat ass.’ Another child bullied me so much the police got involved.”
By the time he was 17, David from Phoenix, Arizona, weighed over 28st.
He dropped out of school and spent his days playing video games and gorging on junk food and fizzy drinks. By the time he was 26 he weighed a staggering 46st 6lbs and had a BMI of 83.2 – over three times the recommended healthy range of 18.5-25.
“I’d wake up at noon and guzzle litres of fizzy drinks,” remembers David. “At three o’clock I’d have two huge bowls full of Coco Pops. Later on I’d have a large pizza or a few McDonald’s sandwiches. Then around 6pm I’d have another snack before a dinner of four helpings of lasagne or shepherd’s pie.
“I longed to be normal – to have friends and date girls. But I just hid away.”
David’s weight became such an issue, he’d only go out in the dark in the car with his father. He says: “I couldn’t bear having people laughing and staring, so I didn’t go outside.”
At the time, his mother was suffering from cancer and her deathbed request was that David lose weight. At that stage he was struggling to breathe and had to sleep sitting upright. He explains: “I felt like an old man. I was unhealthy and felt guilty about my mum’s plea. I knew I was dying.”
David, who’s 6ft 2, knew he had to do something about his size, but weight-loss surgery wasn’t an option.
“I risked dying on the operating table because of the dangers of putting someone of my size under general anaesthetic,” he says.
With surgery ruled out, David finally decided to tackle his fears head on. A year later, aged 27, he contacted his local TV station and told them all about the things he’d never done because of his weight – which included kissing a girl. David had hoped that by making his plight public, he’d be forced into doing something about his weight and would have to commit to it.
A few weeks later, on 13 June 2003, Chris Powell, the fitness correspondent at the TV station, got in touch.
“Chris said he’d help me, but that I had to be committed,” says David.
David started to change his lifestyle by going walking – and followed Chris’ advice to just put on an iPod and zone out to combat his fears of people staring and shouting. He also overhauled his diet and started eating six or seven small healthier meals a day.
He says: “I gave up junk food – but I had a couple of cheat days a week, so I could have a little of what I craved. It was hard, but the thought that it was what my mum wanted kept me going. I started losing an average of 1st 6lbs a month. Now and then I’d appear on the local TV station to report my progress.”
In just two years, David lost an incredible 28st. At his lowest weight he was 16st 5lbs – after having 30lbs of loose flesh removed.
David says: “The surgery helped a lot. I went from looking like a deflated man to being almost normal. The only place they didn’t have to operate on was my forearms. I even had the skin that overhung my private area removed. The doctors and hospital donated the services, which cost $150,000 in total, as they were so impressed with what I’d achieved.”
“I’d already had sex for the first time after a drunken romp with one of my female friends when I was 32"
Although the surgery left him with scars, David isn’t embarrassed about them. He says: “I see them as a way of sharing my story with other people, and inspiring them.”
David had surgery to repair his teeth, which had been damaged by sugary food and drinks. He also qualified as a personal trainer, because he wanted to help others in the same predicament. Determined to find a girlfriend, he then started going to clubs.
He says: “I’d already had sex for the first time after a drunken romp with one of my female friends when I was 32, but it wasn’t how I wanted to lose my virginity. Looking for a girlfriend in bars didn’t go well. I didn’t want to meet a drunk person, so I tried the internet, but I never connected with anyone.”
Finally, two years later, David started dating Megan. “I’d almost given up when Megan, who worked on the front desk at the gym where I was a trainer, asked me out,” he says. “I’d noticed her before but didn’t have the courage to approach her. I was glad she made the first move.”
Megan says: “I didn’t know anything about David’s past. I just saw a cute guy with a nice smile.”
After their first date, Megan Googled David’s name and discovered how big he used to be. She says: “I was shocked.
But my David didn’t look anything like the person in the photos. It didn’t put me off – it impressed me he’d achieved so much.”
Six months later, they moved in together.
Recently, David has gained weight and gone up to 20st 10lbs and now has a BMI of 37.1. He tore a shoulder ligament six months ago that left him unable to work out, but now he’s able to exercise again, he says he’ll shed the weight he put on.
“I’m exercising again and if I eat healthily I’ll lose some weight again. My life now certainly beats sitting on the sofa, playing video games and scoffing junk food.”