A few years ago, doctors gave Aleksandr just two years to live. He was just over thirty years old and weighed close to 270 kg. He had suffered with his weight since childhood; following a critical illness, physicians strongly advised him to follow a strict diet, but neither Aleksandr nor his family heeded the advice. Pastries, candies, and sugary sodas became part of his everyday routine.

Over time, his health deteriorated significantly. His right leg veins swelled, he felt liver pain, and his hemoglobin levels went dangerously low. He could no longer sleep lying down, just sitting up. Constant weariness, shortness of breath, and eventual isolation from society ensued. Even at home, everything collapsed: his wife, who had been with him for years and married him when he was already obese, couldn’t handle it any more.

She said she couldn’t live like that, so she took their son and fled. The marriage ended in a divorce. Aleksandr attempted to find work after being abandoned by his family and without a permanent career. But he was rejected everywhere; his weight was an impediment even where it shouldn’t have been. So he purchased a used automobile and became a cab driver. Nearly a year passed – alone behind the wheel, with increasingly heavy thoughts. He attempted to reduce weight through stringent diets, weight reduction challenges, relapses, and new endeavors.

However, as he subsequently admitted, “the day came when I was tired of dying.” He started small: walking, reducing sugar intake, and drinking water instead of sugary beverages. Then came a visit to a nutritionist, diet management, and online community assistance. Slowly but steadily, he lost weight. He then joined a gym.

At first, he could hardly stand 10 minutes on the treadmill. But persistence paid off. After a year, Aleksandr weighed 130 kilograms, and six months later, 90. During that time, he not only changed his body but completely transformed his life. He completed his second degree and became a certified fitness trainer, specializing in working with obese clientele.