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For the majority of my life I have been obese, and suffering from low self-esteem. I was always the biggest kid in school and I got bullied for my size. Because I’m an emotional and sensitive person I frequently felt sad and frustrated but I didn’t know how to express my emotions. So, instead of dealing with them constructively, food quickly became one of my coping mechanisms.
This caused excessive weight gain and me developing an unhealthy relationship with food. I hated how I looked and felt in my skin, dreaded looking at myself in the mirror and avoided weighing myself so I could live in denial, which left me unaware of just how bad it was. I did anything I could to avoid being in pictures and wore baggy clothes to hide my body. This however, wasn’t fooling anyone, and I was painfully aware of that. As the years went by, both my mental and physical health declined and my life felt dark and hopeless.
By the time I was 15 I had found new ways to suppress and avoid my emotions and it wasn’t long before I had developed a video game and porn addiction. The next 3 years I isolated myself in my room and my social life was non-existent. I rarely did anything besides eating, playing video games and watching Netflix. All aspects of my health were terrible. I frequently found myself laying in my bed just staring at the ceiling. Struggling to answer that one question: What’s the point of even getting up?
When I turned 18 I couldn’t take it anymore…I had reached a weight of 247 lbs(112kg) and was tired of feeling like a helpless victim that felt like shit every day. All throughout these miserable years I always had a voice inside of me telling me that I was meant to do so much more with my life. I couldn’t ignore that voice any more. It was time to change. I could not let my past define my future anymore!
This mindset shift was the catalyst for my transformation. I started living a healthier life by taking walks and cutting out soda. It wasn’t easy to change but I stayed committed to the process and after 8 months I had lost 40 lbs(18kg). My energy increased and for the first time in years I was feeling hopeful about my situation.
However, when it felt like everything started to come together and I had it figured out, I hit a plateau. My weight had not gone down in weeks and I was wondering what was wrong.
I started to search for answers. And, not long after I started searching, I found my solution: My coworker, who was a body building enthusiast put me on a meal plan and a weight training program. Due to my insecurities I struggled to get into the gym fearing that people would judge me for being inexperienced and overweight. When I managed to overcome those feelings and got my ass to the gym I noticed that not a single one of the fears I had actually ended up happening. People encouraged me and I had one of my friends show me how to perform most of the movements. It was like I found a new home.
It didn’t take long before I was hooked on this lifestyle. I loved lifting weights and eating properly to fuel my training sessions. I burned fat and replaced it with muscles. And finally, after another 8 months had passed, I had finally done it! I had lost almost 100 lbs(45kg) and achieved a healthy weight.
I was so proud of myself and that confidence started showing in all aspects of my life. I have managed to keep that weight off and built some quality muscle, achieving one of my goals of having a defined 6-pack. I have completed numerous endurance events including the Swedish Classic Circuit and a half Ironman.
This life-changing transformation was possible because I took action and asked for help multiple times along the way. If there’s one thing I realized, it’s that there’s strength in asking for help. We don’t have to struggle unless we decide to!
This journey inspired me to start my company Eriksson Fitness 2,5 years ago. I wanted to give back and help other people transform their lives.
My company has now evolved into Eriksson Unlimited and my mission is simple: Enable YOU to get started on your journey towards unlocking your highest potential, and quality of life! I have recently quit my full time job so I can focus solely on this mission and doing what I love. It was scary but I know that this is exactly what I needed to do. If I didn’t take this step I know I would regret it for the rest of my life!
My mental and physical health has never been better and I’m finally confident in my own skin. I’m constantly searching for ways to grow and challenge myself and I am currently training for one of my greatest challenges so far: a full Ironman!!
If you’re still reading I want to thank you for listening to my story. Now I just have one question:
