Matthew Bickel, 45, weighed over 500 pounds—gaining about a pound a month for 10 years. He could eat an entire pizza, six sodas, and a big dessert in one sitting. After being diagnosed with prediabetes, Matthew finally decided to make a change. He started on an epic journey of exercise and changing his self-image. He’s about to embark on his new goal of completing one of the most challenging endurance races in the world.
I’VE BEEN OVERWEIGHT my whole life. Even when I played on my college football team at Baylor University, I stood out as the biggest and strongest guy at 350 pounds. After I finished playing, I gained a pound a month for 10 years. At age 30, I weighed 532 pounds.
Food was my constant. It was something I could always turn to when times got tough. Looking back, that led to a big dependency and food addiction. At my heaviest, a typical meal for me looked like a Thanksgiving dinner or birthday meal for most people. I ate massive portions, with no consideration for the nutritional value of any of the food. I’d have an entire pizza, six sodas, and a big dessert, like six cookies.
The other reason for my weight gain was a lack of self-love. I had a poor self-image and it negatively affected everything I did. I used food to eat my feelings, even when it was making everything worse. Physically, I was constantly in back pain and had no energy.
‘My Heart Was About to Pop Inside of Me’
MY LIGHTBULB MOMENT came when I was eating one of those massive meals. I suddenly felt disgusted. I had finally gotten sick of looking and feeling horrible all the time. I was also told I was pre-diabetic. My heart was about to pop inside of me. I just felt that if I didn’t make a change, I was going to die.
My process for losing weight was to work out again. I began with walks and hikes. I got very passionate about hiking and nature! I walked every single day in the mountains. I also switched to water as my only beverage and learned how to cook healthy food.
My community of friends helped me during my weight loss. They are some of the most incredible and inspiring humans on earth! They push me and normalize the goals I have, which most people would consider impossible.
I slowly got back into the gym and eventually discovered CrossFit. I got super into functional fitness, which led me to cycling and running. I lost 100 pounds very quickly, probably in less than six months.
‘I Can Wear Cool Clothes Now’
IT TOOK ANOTHER three or four years to lose a lot more weight. Since the initial 100-pound weight loss, it’s been a slow grind. I’ve gained and lost weight through the seasons of my life, but I am now the lightest I’ve been since I was 14 years old.
Through a renewed love of fitness, I’ve lost a total of 252 pounds over the last 15 years. I’ve documented my hard work on Instagram (@bickelco). Best of all, I can wear “cool clothes” now. Most big people will tell you that it’s such a bummer when you have to wear a 4XL. There aren’t that many cool clothes in that size.
‘I Want to Prove to the World That Anything is Possible’
IN AUGUST 2026, I’m going to run the Life Time Leadville Trail 100. I do ultramarathons, but this is my biggest, craziest, and scariest goal. The race consists of running 100 miles of high-altitude, Rocky Mountain terrain (starting at 10,200 feet). You then have to climb 12,500 feet. Every single decision I make between now and then is based on being successful at completing this race.
Over the past six months, I’ve lost 30 pounds to get to the lightest weight I’ve ever been for the race. I plan to lose 30 more before August. I want to be the first person to have ever weighed over 500 pounds to complete this race. I want to prove to the world that anything is possible!
Today, I’m deep in ultra-endurance preparation, training 15 to 20 hours per week with a mix of running, hiking, stair‑climbing, speedwork, and long Zone 2 cardio sessions. I’ve already completed several significant endurance efforts, including three HYROX competitions in 36 hours.
The advice I’d give to anyone starting a weight loss journey would be, first and foremost, to love yourself. Loving yourself is hard when you’re severely obese, but it will give you the fuel to go forward. From losing this weight, I’ve learned that I can do anything. I am unbreakable.
Lisa is an internationally established health writer whose credits include Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Men’s Health, Oprah Daily, Woman’s Day, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Glamour, The Washington Post, WebMD, Medscape, The Los Angeles Times, Parade, Health, Self, Family Circle and Seventeen. She is the author of eight best-selling books, including The Essentials of Theater.
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