"Up until recently, I was fat all my life," says Ross. "Growing up fat was sort of like an identity, you know what I mean? That's who I was and I used it to my best ability in that I made it funny. I was always known growing up as the funny fat guy. I just became used to that."
Ross was at his heaviest during college, weighing in at 230 pounds, and he reflects, "Inside you think, like, 'I can't believe I'm fat.' Every once in a while I would look in the mirror and be like, 'Oh my God, you're the fat guy.' But that's not how you feel inside."
After his father died at too young an age, Ross decided it was time to make a change. He had turned down the opportunity to appear on "Celebrity Fit Club" before, but now he felt he was ready.
"It was time for me to get healthy," he says about participating in the show in 2007. "When I started 'Celebrity Fit Club,' I was 214 pounds and at a complete loss of how to be a healthy grown-up. And I know I'm not the only one. [I was] scared out of my mind."
Jumping at the opportunity to get a free trainer and nutritionist, Ross learned how to eat right and exercise correctly, reducing his weight by 50 pounds by the end of the show.
"My outlook on the world improved when I lost weight because I liked myself more, I wasn't ashamed as much," he explains. "I understand how people would think if they're big that maybe they don't deserve stuff, they don't deserve to be happy, they don't deserve to be loved, you know? I get that. But we all deserve that. We all deserve to feel like we are worth it. And getting there was the most important journey I have ever been on."
Watch "The Insider" for more with Ross Mathews!
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Comments (21)
Your video was inspirational and I will pray for your healthy success. In 1990; I was a 5' 3'', 225 lb, Pizza & Pasta eating 28 year old who had trouble walking a flight of stairs. Doc Pierro reminded me of my weight gain over the years...
I have lost 230lbs and want to loose 50 more. I want to do it all too. I can do so much more now, like ride on amusement park .and on swings. You are very brave to be so public in your journey. Eat healthy and stay true to yourself. All...
I'd like to try pilates too, Ross.
I'll be interested to see what you think of it.
:)
GatorKim
I also can relate to being the funny fat guy growing up! it sucked lol]
But you're so...
Andrew M !! You got dream .