A man who couldn't walk a metre without struggling to breathe has lost 26 stone and proudly shows off his excess skin. Michael Mehler, 38, realised he needed to lose weight after he was unable to walk a metre without huffing and puffing.
Tipping the scales at 41st 8lbs and bursting out of a 10XL shirt and 74-inch waist, Michael knew "enough was enough". He underwent bariatric sleeve surgery, at the Helios Clinic in Oberhausen, in February 2020 and quickly lost 3st 9lbs - before taking up exercise.
Michael started training six times a week for three to four hours a day and has lost 25st 1lbs. He now weighs 16st 6lbs and can slip into a size XXL with ease and is able to walk with ease.
Michael, a warehouse worker, said: "It was about three-and-a-half years ago that I realised that I need to lose weight. I couldn't walk a metre without losing my breath and getting sweaty.
"It truly was a horrible experience and I thought I would die, even my blood pressure was going through the roof. I'm no longer depressed. I no longer have so much anxiety due to the treatment of my tumour. But of course, I also feel much more comfortable in my body now.
"I hope that if the skin surgery comes little by little, I feel even more comfortable there because the hanging skin already burdens me a lot. Michael started losing weight in February 2020 when he struggled to complete every day tasks - like walking around and getting up the stairs.
After he realised something needed to change, Michael underwent bariatric sleeve surgery - where a large part of the stomach is removed so it's much smaller than it was before. Michael said: "After this, the true weight loss journey began.
"I began to train six times a week for three to four hours.
"At the start, I would do two hours of weight training and two hours of cardio training. I experienced the most drastic weight loss after changing my diet and working out regularly."
At his largest, Michael weighed 41st 8lbs and was wearing 10XL shirts and 74-inch waist trousers. Now he proudly wears XXL shirts and has slimmed down to a 34-inch waist.
Michael is hoping to have surgery to remove his excess skin. The operation will take place on May 15, 2023, when his excess skin will be removed.
Unfortunately, Michael's health insurance doesn't cover the operation so he has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the procedure. After his weight loss surgery, Michael said he experienced the most drastic change when he adopted a healthier diet.
He said: "I changed my diet and started working out regularly. When I was big, I ate six to eight bread rolls for breakfast with marmalade, Nutella and typically German cold cuts.
"My lunch included two pizzas and one doner kebab and in the evening I ate four to six hamburgers from a fast food chain. Now I eat 100g porridge with 40 grams of whey and an assortment of berries in the morning.
"After my workout, I drink 40 grams of whey with water and for lunch, 100 grams of rice with 150g of chicken and 150 grams of vegetables on the side. As a snack, I eat a protein bar or an apple.
"For dinner, I eat two slices of wholegrain bread and 150 grams of a protein-rich source, for example, tuna or salmon and on the side 150g of greens. Before bed, I drink a shake of protein."
Michael said the simple trick when it comes to weight loss is taking up exercise. He said: "Plain and simple you need to start exercising - whatever sport you choose.
"Change your diet and at the start try to focus on counting your calories or just write a protocol of what you are eating in a day.
"There will come a quick realisation that it is simply too many calories for your size."
