Stacey Leasca

Fast forward to today, and McGregor is worth a reported $100 million (though says he theoretically could be closer to $200 million). Heres how McGregor earned a heavyweight bank account in no time flat.

<h1> McGregor started out making just $100 a match. </h1>

In 2016, John Kavanaugh, McGregors trainer, explained to the <a href="https://www.independent.ie/sport/columnists/paul-kimmage/paul-kimmage-meets-john-kavanagh-my-friendship-with-conor-battling-mcgeeney-and-how-we-blagged-our-way-into-jlos-party-35133838.html" id="afb19fe9-39e5-3542-a8c0-f2aa01109321"> Independent </a> that his clients earnings for his first five years in professional fighting totaled about $1,600 a year.

There was no money and I was running out of ideas, he said. The UFC was a closed shop. There were no opportunities and he had one foot out the door.

However, in 2013, the duo got lucky and the UFC signed him on for a contract. By 2015, McGregor was the UFC featherweight champion and named <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/12/28/10654272/2015-fighter-of-the-year-conor-mcgregor" id="d7530e39-aa5a-3a00-a855-01764172c0c7"> Fighter of the Year. </a>

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor - Weigh-in

<h1> McGregor was earning millions within a few years. </h1>

In 2014, McGregor returned to UFC winning enough matches to be signed to a multi-fight deal. According to , on July 11, 2015, McGregor earned $5 million when he defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189. He then made another $12 million in just 13-seconds during his fight against Jose Aldo.

And McGregor didnt slow down there. In 2016, he made an estimated $15 million for his fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 and made an additional $25 million for their rematch just one year later. But, he really raked in the dough in 2017. Thats when, according to , he made between $85 million to $100 million for a match against Floyd Mayweather.

<h1> Fighting isnt the only way McGregor makes his millions. </h1>

Beyond fighting, McGregor also makes a healthy income thanks to a number of endorsements. Those endorsements include a multi-million-dollar deal with both <a href="http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/conor-mcgregor-monster-energy-reebok-renewals" id="b57b4643-ad0c-35d1-a1bf-cecf961efce5"> Monster Energy </a> and <a href="http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/conor-mcgregor-monster-energy-reebok-renewals" id="db02ff5e-ec76-3618-a1a2-ad9673f8fe30"> Reebok </a> . McGregor also has deals Beats by Dre and Anheuser-Busch, Money reported.

In 2018, McGregor also launched his own clothing line, <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/conor-mcgregor-dresses-to-impress-and-pitch-new-august-mcgregor-suit-collection-1202995439/" id="016801e5-6038-351f-a47a-583418f4c755"> August McGregor fashion </a> , He even launched is own whiskey, , meaning hell likely make a few hundred more million before he actually retires for good.

s career can only be described as a meteoric rise from nothing to something. Less than a decade ago, the 31-year-old UFC fighter worked as a plumbers apprentice. As he told Jimmy Fallon in a 2019 appearance on  , at the time, he was fighting in low-level matches earning about $100 a fight and collecting welfare in Ireland to get by.

Conor McGregor's Net Worth: Here's Everything We Know

Between the backaches and the shortness of breath, Romele decided it was time for a change. He also had his family history to consider: "My mother suffered from heart failure at an early age that almost cost her life, and my grandfather had diabetes," Romele says.

Romele started by investing in a good scalethe <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/uk/gym-wear/a27954356/fitbit-comparison/" id="7ff719c2-acf5-3c74-a37e-bc0ca49fe9e7"> Fitbit Aria 2 </a> , which synced up wirelessly with his daily fitness tracker, allowing him to monitor his progress without manually entering it into the device's app. "Even though it was scary at first, I began to track my weight and body fat percentage," he says. "When I started, I was 285 pounds with 37 percent body fat, which is in the obese range."

Romele also tracked his step count using a wearable, the Fitbit Versa. He went on walks every day to make sure he hit at least , and quickly realized that fitting in physical activity didn't have to mean hours and hours in the gym.

"These walks would often be at lunchtime where I would go with coworkers to pick up healthier lunch alternatives, even to places a little further to get those extra steps," he says. "I began to take advantage of Fitbit's [coaching program], too, which helped motivate me through guided workouts and eventually became a regular habit."

With his workouts building momentum, Romele moved on to overhauling his nutrition. He started tracking his food, and to his great surprise, he had been eating around 4,000 calories a day thanks to copious amounts of takeout. He decided to start cooking for himself. Just four weeks into his new routine, Romele had already dropped 20 pounds.

A Modest Step Goal Helped This Guy Lose 100 Pounds

"As a very data and visually focused person, once I started to see the downward trend in my weight through app, and I wanted to keep it going," he says.

Beyond losing weight, Romele also eased his back pain and found his lung capacity increasing. He even added running a few miles a week into his usual 10,000 steps a day routine. By combining tracking his calories and working out more, Romele was able to drop 100 pounds and 20 percent of his body fat to hit his new weight of 185 in just one year.

"A lot of friends and coworkers have told me how they have been inspired by my journey and helped them to lead a healthier life, which is great because so many have inspired and encouraged me," he says. "I feel better, mentally and physically. I've noticed I have more energy compared to when I started."

For people looking to follow his lead, Romele advises them to first get over the dread of exercise. "What I came to realize is that any exercise is better than no exercise, even if it means going on daily walks or doing as little as ten squats," he says. "Be patient, and stick with it. A lot of people are in the old mindset of thinking diet means temporary, but it simply isn't. Don't try to change everything at oncetake it day by day."

Brendan Romele can't remember a time when he was within a healthy weight range. Even as a kid, he was always the "bigger" guy in class. This fact never really bothered him until his late twenties, however, when his weight climbed to nearly 285 pounds. That's when he truly started feeling it: The extra weight that made his body behave like a much older man's.

This Guy Used a Fitness Tracker and a Daily Step Goal to Lose 100 Pounds in a Year

Ive always been a bit of a yoyo in terms of my weight, Aaron-Sipple tells Men's Health. It used to be easy to put on and take off in his younger years, bus as time went on, it became harder and harder to lose the weight after he packed it onespecially after the birth of his daughter.

When my daughter was born, I piled on the weight very quickly because I suddenly stopped exercising, he says. I was so tired! Life outside of being a dad became about ease. Not exercising was the easy option. Getting [takeout] was the easy option. I dont like saying it about myself, but I chose the lazy option every time.

After his daughter came into the world, Aaron-Sipple says he stopped getting acting work because he felt and looked terrible, and he lost all his confidence along the way. I didnt realize at the time, but me choosing the easy option when I was tired was me digging myself into a deeper hole mentally and physically.

At 29 years old, Aaron-Sipples world was turned upside down when his doctor diagnosed him with diabetes. It was a serious punch in the face, he says. I had abused my body so much that a part of it stopped working properly. An early death was the lightbulb moment I needed to really take back control of my health.

Before his health scare, Aaron-Sipple always lost weight through fad diets and quick fixes. This time, he went for the long-haul approach instead. I read everything and anything to do with fitness and healthy eating, including Mens Health, he says. (We swear he said that.) And honestly, the simplest way to lose weight is to eat a little less and exercise a little more. I know, shocking, right?

He started by joining a local gym. Next, he went on the internet to calculate how many calories he should consume a day for . Then he just made small tweaks in his diet.

He started eating fewer carbs. Then, he ate less fat and added in more protein. He then cut out all refined and added sugars both for his diet and his diabetes diagnosis.

I would say my biggest hurdle in the beginning was weekends," he says. "I had become so accustomed to drinking and getting [takeout] at the weekend, I felt a bit lost."

Aaron-Sipple quickly got over his weekend struggles, because he started seeing resultsquickly. His clothing started getting looser, and his belts needed a few new holes in them. Within a few months, he'd lost about 70 pounds. But he wasnt done.

Aaron-Sipple kicked things up a notch by hiring an online coach from Charlie Johnson Fitness to write him a bespoke nutrition and training plan with his diabetes diagnosis in mind. Now, Aaron-Sipple was hitting the gym several days a week for paired with cardio several days a week.

Hiring a coach, "made me accountable to someone," he says. "He would get in touch to ask about my progress, and you didnt really want to let him down.

Aaron-Sipple didnt let anyone down. Within a year, he lost a total of 93 pounds to hit his new weight of 189.

It feels amazing. I grew up as the fat kid, and then chunky adult, not once did I ever think I would feel comfortable taking my top off, Aaron-Sipple says of how it felt to lose all that weight. I always convinced myself that being big was just my body type and that abs and muscle definition was just something I wasnt capable of achieving. Putting the right food in my body and exercising not only has made me feel better physically, but it has also helped me fight off years of anxiety and depression. Life hasnt got easier, but I just feel better equipped to deal with it now.

As for how you can get there, too, Aaron-Sipple recommends making small changes instead of overhauling everything at once. He also says consistency was key. And if you veer off-course one day, just put it behind you

Ive been guilty of it in the past: A bad meal turns into a bad week, bad month, and then suddenly Im back where I started, or worse, Aaron-Sipple says. But I got told something that helped transform my mindset: When you build a house, and you take a day off, you dont go back and knock down everything you already built, you just pick up where you left off.

This Man's Health Scare Let Him to Drop 93 Lbs.

Steve Aaron-Sipple use to think a few extra pounds looked good on him. As a 20-something actor in London, he says it even helped him score a few roles. However, by the time he hit his 30s, Aaron-Sipples few extra pounds turned into a few too many, until he hit 282 pounds on his six-foot frame. But some major life changes would ultimately inspire him to lose weight and transform his bodyall the way down to 189 pounds.

This Man Changed His Diet, Joined a Gym, and Lost 93 Pounds

Initially, Patel, now 50, ate to build himself up, thinking that the more he consumed, the bigger he'd get. This pattern continued well into adulthood until his weight eclipsed 260 pounds, and his doctors began to warn him of the onset of diabetes. Worse, he had a family history of early heart attacks, and understood he was tempting fate.

I knew if I didnt sort this," he says, "I wouldnt be able to watch my two sons grow up." It wasnt until a vacation in Thailand in 2018, however, that Patel realized just how dire his situation had become. Id been indulging in a few too many beers and tasty foods, he says. When I came back, my borderline diabetes was in danger of becoming the real thing, my blood pressure was out of control. My gout had flared up, and it felt like a glass shard was being pushed into my foot and knee. I remember just crying as I looked at myself in the mirror. That was my lightbulb moment.

To get himself back on the right path, Patel started by simply , ensuring that he hit 10,000 steps a day. He paired that eating lessjust a little bit, at first. While these small changes had a modest impact, Patel couldnt fathom how he'd lose all of the extra weight. So, he enlisted the help of some professionalsspecifically, the trainers at RNT Fitness, a UK-based gym chain that specializes in dramatic weight loss transformations.

Id seen some friends get great results with them, and I needed the mentorship and support to help me along, he says. They created personalized nutrition and training plans that worked around my busy day." With a plan in place, Patel started working out three days a week using a series of <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/total-body-workout/" id="d8952d8e-44ec-375f-a36c-c6f60d3031d5"> full-bod </a> <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/total-body-workout/" id="c43ec9d3-b6d9-3f46-ab3e-4a85aac7f341"> y </a> workout plans. He then progressed to a variation of an as Patel got stronger.

Patel says the first six weeks were a breezehe rapidly lost weight and saw a massive transformation in his body. It was great for momentum, and it felt like my body was in complete overdrive, he says. It felt like exactly what I needed, but I knew this was going to be a long road ahead.

Still, there were roadblocks along the way, Patel admitsfor starters, not everyone in his life was as supportive of his weight loss goals as he'd hoped. Rather than dwell on the haters, however, he stayed focused and committed. It was this me time that allowed me to push forward, he says, I also created so much accountability with my coach and in the community at my gym. After a few more months of working out with his trainer and eating more mindfully, Patel officially hit his new goal weight of 156 pounds.

Fixing His Diet Helped This Guy Get Shredded

Im a different man, he says. I feel ten years younger, and Im constantly bouncing. I let myself have no excuses. Active father? Check. Multiple businesses? Check. Age? Check. Health issues? Check. Social commitments? Check. I said no more excuses, and just executed.

Beyond losing weight, Patel also saw a wide range of improvements to his health: He's no longer pre-diabetic, no longer suffers from gout, and feels more energetic than ever. If youre reading this, remember that we all have it within us to create something special of ourselves, Patel says. Find your why, connect with it, and use it as fuel to transform. Look deeper than aestheticsits always more than the physical.

Diksesh Patel didnt exactly have a dream childhood: He grew up in a rough neighborhood in London, where he often found himself on the wrong side of beatings, muggings, and bullying. Over time, he gradually turned to foodand overeatingas a coping mechanism.

Fixing His Diet Helped This Guy Lose 100 Pounds and Get Shredded at Age 50

After quitting sports, Priests life took a bit of a downward turn. I grew up in a single parent home and had a bit of a drug history. I spent my 16th birthday in rehab and did not have the outlets, Priest says. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Priest got his act together, entered community college, and found his true calling: nursing.

In two years, Priest graduated his registered nursing program and was off to work. But at the same time, a few unhealthy habits-like eating junk food and living a sedentary life - were kicking in.

I worked for the first six years covering post-op heart surgery patients in an intensive care unit, he explained. I saw a lot of things that most people don't want to ever see. It really scared the crap out of me, but not enough to really take my own health seriously at that point.

At least one good thing happened at the hospital: Priest met his now wife. The pair moved to a small town for her to attend pharmacy school. While happy for his wife, Priest found himself more isolated than ever, thus gaining more weight than ever until he hit his highest point of 230 pounds.

I was the guy with the mindset of I'm going to eat like crap, I'm going to do whatever I want in terms of nutrition. I'll drink my beers on the weekend, whatever. And I justified it all with two or three jogs a week, he explained.

At the time, Priest was just 30 years old. But his doctors were already warning him about his weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and so on. Priest knew he had to do something but just didnt know what. Until one day, he walked into his gyms spin class.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCCld0hHRa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="21e10a04-e324-3094-a023-a214e1f6a84b"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCCld0hHRa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="ac2e6352-6008-3229-ae97-327db4d92e3b"> Absolutely not feeling this today! But Ive never left the gym and regretted that I went. Even the shittiest workout is better than no workout at all!! Its all mental. If you want to learn more about my mental preparation and the way I train my clients please message me. Enjoy your day!! #fitnessmotivation #fitnessblogger #fitnessaddict #dadbod #dad #dadbodhealth #dadbodfitness #fitnessblog #fitnessjourney #health #wellness #getinshape #fitnessbody #weightloss #fitness #goals #fitfam #fitdad #fitdadproject #fitnessgram #gymlife #familyfitness #kids #father #fitdadlifestyle #loseweight #healthylifestyle </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dadbodhealth/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="6a8b166f-0dcf-31ca-ace8-7dffb855173d"> Jason Priest - RN, ACE PT </a> (@dadbodhealth) on Aug 28, 2018 at 11:01am PDT

I got addicted to spin classes, he said with a laugh about his routine of attending class four or five times a week. It gave me an outlet and I took it, I ran with it.

At the same time, Priest shifted his nutrition. He stopped drinking fruit juice and replaced it with water. He stopped snacking on late-night meals and eating ice cream every day. He instead focused on increasing his lean protein intake and now eats fresh fruits and vegetables as often as possible. Thanks in part to these changes, Priest dropped 60 pounds to meet his goal weight of 170. Though hes still got a lot of love for the spin classes that got him there, Priest has since moved on and now does a for a weight routine and two days of steady state cardio to keep his heart healthy.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxUw7uhKnb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="f144eacc-37fe-3e34-a73c-308f27c38d9b"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxUw7uhKnb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="4a543189-651f-304a-a811-049032152e91"> Ate like crap for 5 days in San Francisco. Drank beer, ate burgers, tacos, you name it. But I knew when the trip was over I would return to Dallas and jump right back into my ninja mindset and have all my priorities strategized. Maintaining a great physique is extremely simple. I didnt say easy but I did say simple. You see when you have the proper mindset and follow my very simple process you can ditch the Dad Bod for good and get into the ideal physique you deserve!! Message me for more details about my Ditch the Dad Bod Transformation programs. Happy Hump Day!! #weightloss #weightlosstransformation #weightlossjourney #health #healthylifestyle #dadbod #dadbodhealth </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dadbodhealth/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="6a8b166f-0dcf-31ca-ace8-7dffb855173d"> Jason Priest - RN, ACE PT </a> (@dadbodhealth) on Oct 10, 2018 at 4:16pm PDT

I'll be 40 this year and I'm in the best shape of my life, he says. I'm in better shape now than I was when I was playing high school soccer in terms of my physique. I take a lot of pride in that being my age because it's just not that common.

Priest was so inspired by his new way of life that he decided to overhaul his career too. After moving back to Texas with his family, Priest became a and a fitness nutritional specialist so he could help other people just like him.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPncObh8yK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="d8d08deb-d2d3-3bd0-a4b2-0278ba89ec8c"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPncObh8yK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="288f6d9b-9557-3798-a2b1-e5a7e4b66b2a"> Travel often? Always on-the-go? Here are some key tips to keep it healthy! </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dadbodhealth/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="6a8b166f-0dcf-31ca-ace8-7dffb855173d"> Jason Priest - RN, ACE PT </a> (@dadbodhealth) on Mar 20, 2019 at 1:46pm PDT

I get to help busy dads and busy professionals redefine their own dad bod and get in great shape and feel good again and be able to keep up with their kids, he said.

Priest doesnt want people-or his clients-to get it twisted, however. He still enjoys a tasty cheat meal every now and then, and he doesnt feel bad about it.

I post a lot of pictures of burgers and tacos on social media and of the things that I really love because I truly believe that in order to have a sustainable plan, most people can't go and follow a six meal a day meal plan from a personal trainer and live that life, he says. You've just got to develop that mindset where you have the discipline and the structure in your life to be able to view those as your exception versus the norm.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BoSxvKZh0xL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="07162409-633c-3fe0-a714-cacf10ba78d3"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BoSxvKZh0xL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="0e1d4181-a340-3a31-a178-a00b6cf3ed96"> Part of ditching the Dad Bod is eating the foods you love and still having a beer or two. - The burger has cheese, ham, hasbrowns, bacon and a fried egg. Sweet potatoe fries as a side. Mosaic IPA and a giant homemade waffle cone with peanuts butter topped ice cream. - Im a firm believer in eating all the foods you love!! - #fitnessmotivation #health #healthylifestyle #dadbod #dad #dadbodhealth #weightlossmotivation #weightloss #fitness #goals #fitfam #fitdad #father #weightlosstransformation #weightlossjourney #gethealthy #instahealth #motivation #determination </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dadbodhealth/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="571d823c-5022-3f1e-a5d0-c276560b0412"> Jason Priest - RN, ACE PT </a> (@dadbodhealth) on Sep 28, 2018 at 7:32pm PDT

Not everyone loves to exercise, he says. Getting started is the hardest part. But once you do, you'll reap the benefits. It's a matter of buying into the process. You have to embrace the struggle and embrace the challenge. You don't want to look back five years from now and say, I wish I would have.

How This Guy Lost 60 Pounds and Nuked His Dad Bod

Jason Priest never thought hed grow up to be overweight. As a kid, he played a number of sports at once and even had a few athletic scholarships roll in toward the end of high school. But thanks to a few injuries and burnout, Priest walked away from all that athletic glory. Slowly but surely, without those steady workouts, the weight crept on until he hit 230 pounds-around the time he turned 30. His weight would have continued climbing had Priest not walked into a single spin class that chang...

Spin Classes Motivated This Man to Lose 60 Pounds and Get Fitter Than Ever

Physically I was a mess, Cunningham says. I sustained a back injury while playing American football-yes, we play it badly in the west of Ireland- leaving me in lots of pain and unable to fully use my legs. Cunningham suffered a herniated disc, which affected his everyday life right down to his ability to walk. And in his old job as a casino manager, walking around the floor was a paramount task that quickly turned excruciating every day.

This Guy Started Eating Healthier and Lost 165 Lbs

Beyond the injury, Cunningham explains that over the years his job also helped him developed some seriously nasty eating habits. Each night, hed sustain himself with either a burger, a quick kebab, or some type of takeout from the casino. Eating like this every day, sometimes multiple takeaways per day followed by numerous cans of soda, my weight ballooned.

He knew things with his health werent great, but a visit to the doctor gave him the harsh reality check he truly needed. He was a straight talking no messing kinda guy, Cunningham explained of the spinal doctor he met with about his injury. I needed to take off my shoes for him. I couldnt. Eventually, I got them off by using my crutches.

Watching Cunningham do this, the doctor decided it was time for some tough love. He told me that I had caused this injury myself by being so overweight and that I would possibly not see my 40th birthday if I continued along the same path, Cunningham says. I left the surgeons office that day upset, angry, and scared but decided that moment was the moment I was changing my life. This was my lightbulb moment.

This talk with a no-nonsense doctor, coupled with his weight and injuries, left Cunningham with one choice: Walk away from his beloved career, his clients, and his coworkers and focus on saving his own life full-time.

Of course, saying you want to lose weight and actually doing it are two wildly different things. Cunningham, an admitted gym novice, didnt want to go it alone. So, he did a bit of internet searching to find personal trainers in his area. Thats when he stumbled upon trainer Paul Dermody.

Something about this ad made me contact him straight away. I had seen one particular before and after picture that amazed me, Cunningham says. On their first call, Cunningham let Dermody know hed likely be the most difficult client hes ever had. Dermody simply texted back it would be no sweat at all.

During their first session, Cunningham learned a valuable lesson from Dermody: Weight loss isnt just about exercise, but about pairing it with healthy eating as well. To help him with a food overhaul, Dermody had Cunningham download the MyFitnessPal app to start counting his calories and watch his nutritional intake. Going from seven to 10 takeaways a week to eating clean was always going to be difficult. I found this extremely tough. But with time this improved a lot, Cunningham admits. As for his workouts, Dermody first kept it simple with his client, asking him just to walk to the gym for their weight sessions. Eventually, Dermody had Cunningham work up to

After a few months, Cunningham's friends and family began complimenting him on his new appearance, often telling him he looked leaner and healthier. But it took Cunningham a bit longer to see that in himself. I was so used to being so big for so long I almost chose not to see results or accept compliments, he said. This was a new phenomenon to me.

Cunningham continued to play head games with himself throughout his journey and admittedly self-sabotaged often. I lied to Paul a lot, he says. I would train hard after work and go straight to a deli counter or takeaway outlet and eat 2,500-3,000 calories, he admitted. Madness when I look back at it. I needed to rewire my mindset.

Thankfully, Dermody chose not to give up on him. The pair worked together to change Cunninghams habits, keep his goals realistic, and his gym sessions within moderation. And with Dermodys help, Cunningham dropped 165 pounds to hit his new weight of 273 pounds. He plans to keep going until he hits his goal of 200 pounds.

I feel amazing now, Cunningham says. Long gone are the days of buying all my clothes at an online fat guy website. I can now walk into most shops and leave with something. Even walking through Galway city, I feel much more confident, and the compliments from people are amazing.

He even admitted that hes learned to take a compliment every now and then. Im walking taller and prouder than ever before. As for what he hopes others will take away from his story? Go for it. Its never too late to start. Make the decision in your head, then make the decision to see it through.

He notes that regaining your health doesnt need to be expensive. Walking is free, MyFitnessPal is free, he says. Its not going to be easy. Its not meant to be. Its a test of character, mental fortitude, and extreme willpower. But there are no more excuses.

David Cunningham, a 34-year-old from Galway City in Ireland, knows how to make a tough decision. A few years ago, at the age of 31, Cunningham was working as a casino manager. It was a job he truly loved, but it was also one that took its toll on his body. Thanks to late-night work followed by plenty of late-night eating, Cunningham found himself both injury-plagued and weighing in at 438 pounds. So, he decided to go all in and bet on himself by making the decision to walk away from his caree...

How This Guy Gave Up His Unhealthy Eating Habits and Lost 165 Pounds

But that badge of honor came with a price. Nearly two decades worth of big collisions, battles for loose pucks, and bare-knuckle brawls resulted in broken bones, surgeries, and more than 20 concussions. Scars healed, but the pain lingered.

The dream could have become a nightmare for VandenBussche if he chose to go down the painkiller rabbit hole. But he didnt. He found cannabidiol.

\"We were given opiates by team doctors. Looking back, Im surprised Im still alive.\"

<a href="https://www.menshealth.com/cbd-cannabidiol-facts/" id="1c1f0d18-8874-3ec2-af84-47239bc4ad77"> Otherwise known as CBD </a> , cannabidiol is one of the 100+ chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, found in cannabis plants. Unlike its close chemical cousin tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, CBD cannot get you high. What it can do, purportedly, is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28349316" id="35bdac77-0e8e-3799-ac60-c6a752a29110"> help people sleep better </a> , <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/" id="dc925e85-9542-3d55-ac9d-723449c78eb5"> improve muscle recovery </a> , and even <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a21951402/marijuana-cbd-oil-fda-epilepsy-epidiolex/" id="69149bab-8169-3e1d-abeb-a6a8dd765637"> assist with more dire medical conditions </a> like epilepsy.

One of the greatest supposed benefits of CBD is its potential to manage pain, which has given rise to a new crop of unlikely cannabis advocates like VandenBussche: Professionals who know what it's like to have to overcome pain to perform their job at the highest level.

Dozens of current and former pro athletes have publicly come out in support of further clinical testing and full access to CBD. Some have founded organizations like <a href="https://www.athletesforcare.org/" id="0792a32f-846a-3aee-a259-0e54eec23592"> Athletes for Care </a> , which offers resources for athletes, urges further research, and promotes CBD use. Others have gone so far as to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/25/investing/tiki-barber-cannabis-investor-grove-group/index.html" id="30fc6400-dd11-3feb-af31-24e6259c1b46"> invest </a> or partner in CBD or marijuana companies.

Athletes serving as hype men for hemp appears to be effective; in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a22126593/what-is-cbd-oil/" id="399aea20-9647-3e73-a368-54ba24dd7657"> removed CBD </a> from its list of banned substances. With more athletes poised to step into the cannabis spotlight, here are some of the early adopters on why they support CBD and how they knew it was cool before everyone else did.

Pittsburgh Penguins v Philadelphia Flyers

<h1> Ryan VandenBussche, 46, retired NHL enforcer </h1>

Like many people, VandenBussche learned about CBD through word of mouth and his own due diligence. Once he tried it, he knew others had to learn about it too.

As a 14-year professional athlete that has had a dozen surgeries, many broken bones, and north of 20 concussions, it's better than the alternative, VandenBussche shared with MensHealth.com. As athletes, we were given opiates by our team doctors. Looking back after years gone by, Im surprised Im still alive.

Now, VandenBussche teaches others about what CBD can and cant do for you.

I believe in all of the healing properties of this plant so much that I went out and purchased a 64-acre farm and submitted an application to Health Canada back in 2013, he said. Currently, hes working to turn that farm into a medical cannabis that could help others for years to come.

<h1> David Ahrens, 60, retired NFL linebacker </h1>

Like Vandenbussche, Ahrens came to discover CBD for himself after hearing about it over and over again. One of 136 former Indianapolis Colts players named in a 2011 concussion lawsuit against the NFL, Ahrens spent years using opioids to manage his chronic, post-playing pain before trying CBD.

I enjoyed a 10-year playing career [from 1981 to 1990]. I have taken more pain pills in that time than most people have in their lifetime. I wish I had known about the benefits of CBD much earlier, Ahrens, also an athlete advocate for Athletes for Care, told MensHealth.com.

All the doctors ever gave us was codeine, Tylenol-Codeine No. 3, and other stuff, he said. In the beginning of my career, it was handed out like candy. We had to play. There was no care about player health-only your performance was important.

\"I wish I had known about the benefits of CBD much earlier.\"

Ahrens says doctors would even walk the aisle of the team plane and hand out pills en route to and from road games.

And we were provided with a couple of beers on ice under our seat. Guess what would happen? he said. It wasnt until later in my career that docs and trainers had to write down who got what and how many.

Today, Ahrens advocates for CBD use because of how much it has helped him. I dont need pain meds like I used too," he said. Every day on TV there are commercials advertising the next best drug, and the second half of the commercial is all about possible side effects. Well, I have never heard of a side effect from CBD.

[Ed. note: Make sure to discuss potential side effects and/or reactions to other medications with your physician before trying CBD for the first time.]

Philadelphia Flyers v Pittsburgh Penguins

<h1> Riley Cote, 36, retired NHL winger </h1>

Cote came to be a CBD believer way back in 2012 after reading the book Hemp For Health. It opened my eyes to the world of non-intoxicating cannabinoids, he said.

According to Cote, his personal experiences with CBD have been nothing but positive. He began taking it as a supplement to mitigate and minimize the potential damage he caused to his body after being in more than 250 hockey fights.

I quickly realized it wasn't just helping with my brain health, but it also added another dimension to my sleep, and its subtle calming nature helped with anxiety, he shared.

As for why he co-founded Athletes for Care (and even started his own line of CBD products), Cote said he felt it was simply too important not to.

Its very clear to me now that there is a much better and more sustainable way to manage what I call the recovery process, he said, adding that its all about allowing an athlete-professional or otherwise-to live their best life. It doesnt matter who you are. We all have to manage these things to live a higher quality of life without taking a bunch of pharmaceuticals that typically create dependency and addiction."

In his younger days, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/player/ryan-vandenbussche-8459109" id="9d6ff90a-d1af-3cad-ae86-73543827c501"> Ryan VandenBussche </a> lived a life others would consider a dream. At just 19 he was already playing professional hockey, first in the minor leagues and then moving on to the big time in the NHL. Over 14 years, he became known as one of the toughest enforcers in the league.

Meet the Pro Athletes Advocating for CBD

I had become incredibly lazy. I think I even knew that much myself at the time, Griffin says. But I simply didn't have the want or the drive to go and change it.

At his job as a member of An Garda Siochana-the Irish police-Griffins day-to-day involved shift work. That meant a lot of lying around between shifts, doing nothing but scrolling on his phone and eating.

Sure, he loved sports, but as the pounds piled on, he found every excuse to stop playing and decided to watch them instead.

I used watching sports as an excuse. Id order pizza or Chinese take away to have with the game. I justified bad eating habits this way, he says. Thanks to unlimited cable, that meant any game was at his fingertips-and takeout was a mainstay.

This Cop Learned to Meal Prep and Lost 100 Pounds

Somehow, Griffin just let it all go, and got to his heaviest weight without realizing it. But the people around him-along with all of his old clothes-certainly did. Griffins first weight loss lightbulb moment came when he had to get a suit tailored, as it no longer fit. The tailor commented that Griffin was now quite chunky for the outfit.

His next epiphany occurred after he returned from a holiday in the Canary Islands in August of 2018. I went looking for holiday snaps, only to see something that startled me, Griffin says. A photo of me, taken accidentally and unposed, after I took a proper photo in a green t-shirt. I was pouring out of it, it was hugging me worse than any t-shirt I could recall. Seeing it, I remember thinking is that what people see when they look at me?

That same week, Griffin found himself as the butt of a sly joke made by a work colleague regarding his weight and his consumption of food.

It bothered me so much at the time, more so than many more sometimes more obvious fat jokes, he saud. This comment, Griffin explaid, was the straw that broke the camels back-but instead of dwelling on it now, he prefers to focus on the more positive end result: A 100-pound weight loss transformation and a new outlook on life.

After hearing the joke and seeing himself in his vacation photo, Griffin reached out to an old friend, Paul Dermody, who just so happened to be a personal trainer. That in itself was tough, Griffin says. That message was both a sign that I had gone to a point I couldn't fix alone and yet, all the same, showed that I was willing to change. Many say they 'wanted' to lose weight-for me, I 'needed' to lose it.

Dermody quickly helped Griffin get back on track by having him log all of his food through an app. This immediately showed Griffin just how unhealthy all his favorite foods really were. Rather than dwell, or even banish tasty treats forever, the pair worked toward and achieving a calorie deficit each day.

Then came the workouts. Dermody gave Griffin a goal of 10,000 steps a day. No more sitting for hours on end in front of the TV between shifts. For Griffin, one of his most significant changes was the simplest: He bought Tupperware. Lots of it.

He , which he explained was a big help for me, as I know what I've cooked, and if I've put in the time to cook it I'm more likely to feel the want to eat it myself. Within the first few weeks, Griffin saw the scales move-and move fast. I made significant changes by simply being better at moving and getting workouts in, accompanied by being in a good deficit, he said.

Though he was pleased by seeing his weight drop on the scale, he was more excited to see how he looked in all those previously tight-fitting t-shirts. I saw a difference in myself after a month or so, colleagues began to comment after two. And while I had many moments of happiness at specific weights on the way down, for me, my first wow moment came around Christmas, about four months in when I was planning outfits, and suddenly realized that the clothes were now far too big.

Just four months into his journey, Griffin was fitting into old sizes, and no longer had to buy from the Big &amp; Tall section. As he noted, it was a moment of pride that left him sitting with a smile on my face and a fire in my belly to keep going and to make even bigger improvements and changes.

In just seven months, thanks to his own willpower, support from those around him, and a new love of Tupperware, Griffin, now 28, dropped to his new weight of 244 pounds. And he has no plans to slow down until he hits his goal weight of 198 pounds.

Its about improvements-being better than I was yesterday, or last week, or even six months ago, which granted, wouldn't be tough, Griffin jokes. I'm losing weight for my future.

Griffin added that he picked my confidence and self-esteem of the floor, and I'm starting to feel like the old me and thinks anyone can, too-all they need to do is start. Have a goal, he suggests. It doesn't have to be specific, but be focused on something. He notes that there will most certainly be days you dont want to train, or dont want to eat a salad, or just dont want to do anything at all, and thats ok.

You're not gonna go for the next 60 or 70 years without cravings, he says, But ask yourself: Why did you start? How did it feel when you first saw changes? Is this gonna get you closer to your goal?

Finally, he adds, be patient. It won't happen overnight. Find a way to enjoy the process, whether that's the actual diet that works for you, or the training. To each to their own.

Like most men, Stephen Griffins weight gain came on slowly. A few pounds crept on here, another few pounds there, and soon enough he was weighing in at 342 pounds by his mid-twenties. As a member of the Irish Police, Griffins weight not only became problematic, it also became the butt of a few jokes. But those very same snide remarks motivated Griffin to drop 100 pounds-and now hes the one laughing.

This Police Officer Learned to Meal Prep and Lost More Than 100 Pounds

But when his own child entered the world, Larson knew he had to make a change. And change he did, achieving a 180-pound weight loss.

I was always a husky kid, as my mom would say growing up, Larson told Men's Health. I remember playing outside and participating in cub scouts and boy scouts. I was not morbidly obese, but I was definitely overweight.

Throughout elementary school, Larson hid his weight behind a mask of humor, constantly trying to be the class clown to blanket his pain.

I always felt like I had to give something or prove something to be liked, he said.

Eventually, Larson had to transfer to a new middle school where he knew no one, and continued to gain weight out of his loneliness. At the same time, his father turned to hardcore drugs, as Larson put it, and alcohol. Larson, his mother, and brother simply focused on surviving.

I went from someone who would go out of my way to get attention, bring humor, and make light of scenarios, to someone who was passive, timid, shy, and had no self-confidence, he said.

Things went further downhill in high school, when Larsons weight ballooned past 300 pounds. By the ninth grade, he was wearing size 42 jeans. By college, he was a size 48 and 360-plus pounds, though he doesnt know for sure, as he stopped counting.

Soon enough, it all changed. In his early 20s, Larson met the girl of his dreams and asked her to marry him on a trip to Hawaii. Not only did she say yes, but the couple had some more big news in store for them.

The ring wasnt the only surprise we brought back from Hawaii. My wife actually got pregnant while we were there, Larson said. When my wife was pregnant, that pushed me to really think about what I was doing to myself and what I wanted. And I chose to not put myself in an early grave.

To start, a then-23-year-old Larson began by walking on a treadmill in the back corner of his local gym so no one would see him. Though he felt embarrassed to be there, he knew each step was a step toward his new self. (Want to try walking for weight loss? )

Next, he dug into to learn what foods he should be putting in his body, including lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and unprocessed foods. After mastering both his nutrition and his treadmill routine, Larson started implementing a <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a25666996/full-body-workout-new-year/" id="194bd731-e111-360b-a736-73b7bde14025"> full-body weight routine </a> , as well.

The first results for Larson were that he could walk further. Then he could walk without getting winded. Then he could run.

That moment when he could finally finish a walk without taking a break was "heart-wrenching," Larson said. It really sinks in how bad of a position you are in, but it also shows that you are making amazing progress and are really changing and saving your life.

Admittedly, his one struggle remains with food. After a lifetime of eating poorly, Larson had to rewire his brain and his stomach on what healthy food should taste like.

I still have my moments with food as it is still a work in progress, he said. I was able to get over this by doing lots and lots of research. I learned everything I could and I implemented all of this knowledge in order to make progress.

With all of these lifestyle changes, Larson was able to drop half his body weight, getting down to 180 pounds. Now, at the age of 26, he weighs 210. (He gained some weight when he put on more muscle mass.)

When I reached my goal weight, I was so excited. Honestly, it did bring a couple of tears to my eyes when I weighed in and saw the weight, Larson said. It is like fighting a war for three years where you are making progress, but then you are pushed way back and having to fight your way forward again.

After so many battles, it looks like Larson has won. As for how others can replicate his success, Larson says, Just start. You will have time to figure everything out, but starting needs to happen right away.

The Exercises That Helped this Guy Lose 180 Lbs.

It seemed like the world was working against Brandon Larson from the start. As a kid, Larson had more important things to worry about than his BMI. His father was a drug addict and an alcoholic, and his family had to scrape by for the basics. His weight was never really a top priority, which is why by the time he hit his 20s, he reached 360 pounds.

This Man Owes His 180-Pound Weight Loss to Walking on the Treadmill and Full-Body Weight Routines

He kept gaining excess weight throughout his childhood thanks to a sedentary lifestyle, plenty of online gaming, and a lack of knowledge on what healthy really meant. All that contributed to Ismail hitting 470 pounds in his early 20s. But, after taking on a challenge to eat 18 hot dogs in one night, Ismail realized he no longer garnered respect from those around him-or himself. So, he did something about it: He put down the <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/g26835385/healthy-hot-dogs/" id="9b1031a2-72a5-3fc7-a1e8-0c099d6414ac"> hot dogs </a> , learned to ski, almost died, and lost 200 pounds in the process.

The biggest factor that contributed to my weight gain was honestly a lot of ignorance, Ismail told Men's Health. We didnt have much money growing up. It wasnt about the quality of food, but quantity. Why spend eight bucks on a salad when I can get eight cheeseburgers for that much?

Beyond the economics, Ismail said he also used food as a coping mechanism to deal with stressful and sad times. Ironically, food was also a coping mechanism for dealing with my obesity itself, he said. Ive always been made of fun of, bullied, and teased for my size. I would eat the pain away.

Ismail knew he wanted to lose weight. So, he tried. And tried. And tried some more. He tried keto, supplements, fasting, fad diets, and everything in between. At one point he lost 60 pounds, only to gain back 100. He did that until he reached his heaviest weight of 470 pounds.

Being 470 pounds is not a normal size, people look and treat you differently. Your ideas arent taken as seriously. People look at you up and down and disrespect you, he said. I stood out, and it hurts to know that people can look at you with disgust without ever knowing me.

Though painful, it was this feeling of disrespect that finally pushed Ismail to his breaking point.

While attending a baseball game with friends Ismail was challenged to eat 18 hot dogs on dollar-dog-night.

I was arrogant and prideful and I said yes I can eat 18 hot dogs. And I did. People took photos and made Facebook posts of me eating 18 hot dogs, he said. Though he saw it as an achievement at the time, his sister quickly set him straight.

I told my sister what I did. Her response to me was, Why? And that resonated with me. I realized that people were laughing not with me, but at me.

From there, it all clicked. He knew that if he wanted respect he first needed to respect himself.

The first step for me was acceptance, Ismail said of the start of his journey. Not just accepting how big I was, but accepting that I couldnt go back. I had to do this.

So, he started with small changes like cutting out soda and reducing his portions from super-sized meals to a regular combo.

This worked for the first 40 pounds. But after that, it was time to kick it into high gear by . He aimed to keep his daily intake to under 2,800 a day to lose two pounds a week, based on his weight and 64 frame. (Want to give calorie counting a try? Heres how to .)

Ismail riding a mechanical bull at 380 lbs.

I realized that 2,800 calories of junk wasnt going to fill me up, he said of changing up his food routine. I was hungry all the time. So I started eating more chicken and broccoli and other healthier choices.

After food came workouts. All he ever wanted to do was become an athlete and learn to ski. And he almost did, until 2017. At that time, at age 23, Ismail had already lost 90 pounds. But he nearly derailed it all when he tore his ACL while-of all things-attempting to ride the mechanical bull at his office Christmas party.

My leg got caught, and pop went my ACL. I couldnt walk the day after. Six weeks later, I ended up having a allograft surgery to replace the ligament, he explained.

But, even this setback couldnt deter him from his new lifestyle. Because his movement was limited, he focused solely on his diet, which ended up being a blessing in disguise.

I focused on eating right and used to supplement a lot of meals because I couldn't cook or really move. I lost 30 pounds during the first three months of recovery, Ismail said.

Additionally, he began physical therapy, where he also met , the director of strength and conditioning at Memorial Hermann, who helped Ismail get back on the path toward the athletic goals he always dreamed of.

Between the nutritious meals and a brand-new conditioning workout routine Ismail dropped 200 pounds-or, as he says, one Hugh Jackman-to hit new weight of 270 pounds.

I can walk 12-plus hours a day where before 1 hour would knock me out, Ismail explained. I can jump. Like actually jump. I find myself dancing while listening to music and being amazed at how light everything feels.

In early 2019, two years after tearing his ACL, Ismail hit the slopes to finally fulfill his dream of skiing. During one of his very first lessons, he tripped downhill and crashed onto his stomach, which caused him to rupture his spleen.

I lost a full 4.5 liters of blood, and I was rushed to the ICU. Unfortunately, my spleen had to be removed. I stayed in the ICU for a week to recover. Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive. Im just very happy that I still am, he said.

But, even a little thing like staring death in the face wont stop Ismail from moving forward and continuing to work toward his final goal weight of 200 pounds. And he's still grateful for each and every aspect of his weight loss experience-even the challenges.

I remember how happy I was being able to physically ski, he said. It was something I had never been able to do. Its why I've worked so hard. I cant wait to go back.

While he recovers from this injury, Ismail is still focusing on his nutrition and is making plans to run his first half marathon later this year. He has a few more skiing lessons he plans to finish up when winter rolls around again, too.

Its all on my bucket list, and I am gonna do it all, he said. I have plans to go white water rafting in July and I never would have dreamed to be able to do so.

For others, Ismail thinks the takeaway is this: Find a reason that getting healthy is important for you. Then, the rest will fall into place.

Losing weight is simple, but its not easy, he said. Its like learning a guitar or a new language. Its practice and commitment. You have to make time for it and organize your life around it. You wont notice changes for days even weeks at a time. You have to trust the process and keep working on it.

Hotdog-Eating Challenge Leads Man to Lose 200 Lbs.

Stacey Leasca

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