I grew up obese, tipping the scales at 18 stone (114.4kg) and standing just 5'6" at my heaviest when I was only 16. I had always been involved in sports—rugby, karate, boxing, and strength training—but during my teenage years, my mental health took a sharp decline. As a result, I went from being one of the chubbier kids to one of the largest in my entire secondary school. Eventually, I withdrew completely from sports and the outdoors. I coped with my insecurities through binge eating, which only deepened the bullying I faced and further fueled my self-doubt. Thus began a vicious cycle of mental health struggles that continued to haunt me, even after I eventually lost the weight.

For years, I tried—and failed—to lose weight. I exercised relentlessly, followed restrictive diets, and devoured articles, magazines, and fitness advice, but no matter what I did, my mental health would knock me down time and time again. It was soul-crushing. I would stand in front of the mirror, grabbing at the fat around my midsection, feeling broken and ashamed. The cruel words people had thrown at me started to feel true. But then, one day, something changed. After years of pain, stress, and self-torment, a new mindset began to take shape. I made a decision: I would no longer be a victim—of myself, of others, or of the negativity that had plagued me for so long. That was the turning point. I shouted "NO" to the doubt and dug my heels in, vowing to rebuild myself from the ground up. What had once been a history of being targeted and shamed became the fuel for my mental conditioning—making me tougher, more resilient, and more determined to succeed. Those difficult years laid the foundation for me to become the adventure athlete I am today.

I took a drastic approach, overhauling my entire lifestyle and planting the roots for my diet, training, and philosophy. I chose the hard, grueling path to weight loss—hours of gut-wrenching training that built the endurance and mental toughness I thrive on today. I adopted a Spartan lifestyle, organizing my days around a lean, caveman-like diet, training as though my life depended on it. My routine involved long-distance cardio, followed by strength training, more cardio, cold exposure, and as much movement as I could manage. While my peers were out partying, I quit drinking and focused entirely on my transformation. It was a lonely journey, but it was all or nothing.

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