This US man lost 125 kg without surgery: What is the one thing that changed his life
Ryan Grewell from Ohio had a decision to make. At 34, weighing 487 pounds, life felt like it was slipping away. The scale was tipping toward a dangerous future, and every step was a painful reminder of how far things had gone. But instead of letting it crush his spirit, he made a bold choice—he decided to fight. This is not a story of a quick fix or a magical transformation. It’s about grit, trial and error, and the joy of discovering something worth living for. It’s about the man who chose a bicycle over a hospital bed.
Why didn’t walking work
People say, “Just start walking.” And Ryan did. But at nearly 490 pounds, even walking a few blocks left him in agony. His knees screamed with every step. It wasn’t laziness—it was pain. The truth is, when the body carries too much weight, even the most basic movements can feel like mountains. For Ryan, walking wasn’t sustainable. But that didn’t stop him from searching for what was.
A bicycle that started it all
The common belief is that high-end gear is needed to start a fitness journey. But Ryan's first bike was a cheap beach cruiser from Walmart—far from fancy and barely suited for someone his size. Yet it carried him block by block. It wasn’t the bike, but the decision to keep moving forward, that changed everything. When that bike started falling apart, Ryan didn’t give up—he upgraded. And with that, his miles—and hope—started adding up, he explained on Reddit.
Numbers don’t lie, but they don’t show the whole picture
By May 2023, Ryan had already dropped around 70 pounds. By December, the number was 177. And by 2024, the total reached 275 pounds lost. But numbers miss the deeper story. This wasn’t just about losing weight—it was about regaining dignity, energy, and the ability to tie his own shoes. It was about being there for family and waking up without fear of the future. The numbers tell the result, but the rides tell the journey.
Why cycling worked when nothing else did
The idea that weight loss is simply “eat less, move more” is far too simplistic. Ryan found something better than a gym—a sense of purpose. Cycling was gentle on his knees but powerful for his spirit. Every ride became a victory. From a few miles to 100-mile rides, from solo struggles to bikepacking adventures with strangers turned friends, his bike wasn’t just exercise. It became therapy, freedom, and community.
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Weight loss isn’t all celebration. It comes with its own challenges—like loose skin, lingering insecurities, and days of self-doubt. Ryan faced all of these. He has upcoming surgery to remove the excess skin, a step many overlook when they romanticize transformation. But he meets these hurdles with humor and humility, often joking about “boosting his watts per kilogram.” There’s no overnight fix. This is about steady, determined change—rooted in self-respect.
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