How Rekindling Old Flame Turned This Man From Morbidly Obese To Personal Trainer

How Rekindling Old Flame Turned This Man From Morbidly Obese To Personal Trainer

While entering into a relationship often makes people pile on the pounds (we blame an increase of takeaways and box sets) it was love that spurred one morbidly obese man to lose more than half his body weight.

Lee Jordan lost an incredible 275lbs after reuniting with his childhood sweetheart, Beth Schwein, whom he later married.

The 50-year-old told CNN how his weight ballooned to 453lbs, following years of consuming between 8,000 to 12,000 calories per day.

It was only after meeting up with his long lost love that Lee was able to find the strength to lose weight.

Recounting the moment they first saw each other, some 20 years since they broke up, Lee told CNN: "Beth looked at me, and all she saw was Lee Jordan. That's it. There was nothing but love and acceptance in her eyes.

"I cannot express how powerful that was. That was the turning point to give me the willingness to turn things around."

Lee and Beth met as teenagers in 1979 at a church youth group in the Washington area. They started dating and began studying at the same college.

"In our minds, we (just had to) finish college, and then we could get married," he told CNN.

But the two were destined for different paths. Beth kept her head in the books, while Lee partied hard. And after a while the difference in lifestyle took its toll and the couple broke up.

As a result Lee dropped out of school and started working. He seldom dated and started to gain weight. Beth graduated, married and started a family.

But, contrary to what you may believe, it was Beth who first contacted Lee years later.

In 2004, an aunt's dying wish prompted her to send a letter to Lee out of the blue. "(My aunt) knew how my life was going, and it wasn't the perfect life," she said. "I wasn't completely happy."

The pair met in 2008 and the rest is history. Lee proposed in 2012 and they married shortly afterward.

Lee Jordan Weight Loss

Before his decision to lose weight, Lee's health was extremely poor. He had developed diabetes, lung disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He was also dependent on an oxygen machine.

At his heaviest Jordan weighed 454lbs and his waist measured 72 inches, according to CNN. He now weighs 178 pounds and has a waist measurement of 34 inches.

Beth, who trained as a personal trainer after breaking her back, coached Jordan to reach his weight loss goals.

Lee told HuffPost UK Lifestyle: "It's amazing how many obstacles can be overcome when we are met with love and acceptance instead of the 'sharp stick' of fear and punishment."

For more on Lee Jordan visit his website or Twitter account.

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