When Ali AlAli went to the doctor, the prognosis was not great. After the previous three years, the 32-year-old civil engineer from Kuwait had gained weight—a lot. He felt like he could barely breathe, barely walk; he had no energy, and his lower back hurt. He couldn’t keep up with his three-year-old.
He knew he was in bad shape. He gained a lot of weight before, then lost it, only to have injury and a new job keep him from exercising, along with a diet of fast food and gas station snacks. He was eating out two or three times a day, eating large portions, and never skipping dessert. He was 31 and weighed more than 366 pounds.
His doctor revealed AlAli had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, was borderline diabetic, and should be tested for sleep apnea. “He basically told me that this is a dark road,” he says, “and if I keep this up I’ll probably die before my son graduates middle school.”
Determined to live healthier, at least partly for his family’s sake, he revamped his diet. No more soda, junk food, or artificial sugars. For dessert he had frozen fruit instead of ice cream. He started meal prepping, with more vegetables and protein. He counted macros while still giving himself the flexibility for the occasional cheat day.
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He got back in the gym, starting with full body workouts and cardio. He ramped up to a “PPL (Push, Pull, Legs)” workout six days a week, with the first half devoted to strength, and the second aimed at hypertrophy. “My son keeps me motivated,” he says.
At first the weight came off quickly, but now, almost a year later, it’s starting to plateau. “I start off at 367 pounds and I’m currently 198 pounds which means I lost a total of 169lbs,” he says. His vitals are back to normal, he can fit into regular clothing, and he can play with his young son without getting winded.
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“I was always pretty confident, but yes I did get a boost of confidence because of this,” he says. The gym has became a cathartic place, where he goes to vent any frustration built up during the day, so he can leave relaxed. People who saw him every day didn’t immediately notice the changes, but those who hadn’t seen him in a while were impressed that he’d nearly halved his weight. He’d like to keep going, aiming for 180 pounds, and plans to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition late next year.
Losing that much weight for a second time meant finding consistency and motivation.
“Believe in the process,” he says. “Stay consistent, focus on short-term goals, and always have something that keeps you motivated.” For Ali AlAli, that motivation was making sure he was still around to see his son grow up.
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