In 2021, Rod Zimmerman of Chicago was facing some serious health issues linked to his weight. He weighed 396 pounds and needed to have a surgical procedure called a heart ablation to treat an irregular heartbeat. “I was freaked out about it,” he tells TODAY.com.
That wasn’t the extent of his health problems. He also had type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. He was falling asleep all the time, and even walking was difficult. He struggled with everyday tasks like shopping at the grocery store or even putting on socks.
Zimmerman, 55, was battling mental health issues, too. “I was fighting depression. I was ashamed. I felt worthless and extremely self-conscious. The body shaming, negative comments and looks of judgment from people — even loved ones — was damaging and extremely hurtful. My emotional, physical and mental well-being was a constant struggle as I was in real pain,” he says. “I felt like a piece of me was dying every day.”
After 17 years together, Zimmerman ended his engagement because his fiancée didn’t understand what he was going through and minimized his struggles with losing weight. He worried he would miss out on his future with his son and granddaughter. “But what really haunted me was the real possibility that my parents would have to bury their own child, which no parent should have to do,” he says.
Zimmerman knew he needed to make some changes. “I realized it wasn’t too late to take back control of my life,” he says. In 27 months, he lost 207 pounds, and he now weighs 189 pounds. His waist is 20 inches smaller, and he’s traded his 3XL and 4XL shirts for large and extra-large.
“It feels surreal to me. I call it Rod 2.0,” he says.
Here’s how he did it.
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