Zack Cash, 40, a retail manager from Jasper, Georgia, grew up in a low-income household where food options were limited. Most meals were based around potatoes and fast food. Growing up, he adopted a mentality to always finish the food off his plate—even if he was full. At his highest, he weighed over 300 pounds. When his mother, who also dealt with weight issues, passed away from a heart attack, Zack grew concerned for his own health. He decided to honor his mom and break the cycle by educating himself on nutrition. He’s lost 70 pounds and counting with his mom being a continued inspiration to do better. Here’s his story in his own words.
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN big. Many of my family members have had challenges with their weight. My family history also includes high blood pressure and heart attacks on both my mom’s and dad’s sides.
I grew up in a low-income home and wasn’t knowledgeable about what is considered a nutritious meal. Most dinners were based around potatoes. My parents would make potatoes in different ways: mashed, baked, or fried, with way too much in the way of toppings and condiments. I also grew up on fast food. My order at McDonalds was a double quarter pounder with a large fry and a large sweet tea.
By the time I turned 39 I weighed 310 pounds. I barely had the energy to get out of bed. Whenever I had a day off from work, I’d just stay in bed all day with some sort of brain fog. I knew I was unhealthy, but I didn’t actually think about the full effect it was having on me.
My Mom’s Passing Was My Wake-Up Call
TWO YEARS AGO, I lost my mom to a heart attack. We had a really close relationship. My mom struggled with her weight her entire life. By the end, she had a Ziploc bag of prescription bottles. I was also having chest pain from heartburn and acid reflux. My mom was always worried that I would have some of the same medical issues that she had because of my weight.
In June 2025, my chest pain became more frequent. That’s when my doctor broke the news: I had prediabetes. If nothing changed, things would only get worse. After everything I’ve seen my mom go through, I became terrified. I felt like my mom was watching over me as my guardian angel, saying, “Zack, you need to do something!” This was my wake-up call.
Amazingly, that same day, I got a postcard in the mail from Twin Health. Twin Health is a program that creates an AI-powered “digital twin” of your metabolism, and offers personalized recommendations throughout the day regarding nutrition, activity and more via a smartphone app. I signed up. This digital twin helped me learn how to eat better by tailoring recommendations to my metabolic needs at the moment.
For example, I learned that I don’t have to follow a strict diet. Instead, I had to learn how different foods affect my blood sugar. This worked for me, because I didn’t want to be on a GLP-1 medication for life. I’d rather learn how to live better.
I Made It My Mission to Find Healthy Choices
ONE HELPFUL TOOL was the food scanning feature in the app. It helped me see what foods at the grocery store or a restaurant are “green.” This would mean it’s a “go” for my metabolism, as in it wouldn’t spike my blood sugar. So I started scanning everything!
One time, I grabbed a frozen meal I thought was a healthy choice. But when I scanned it, the item came up as “red.” This meant “stop” as in not good for my metabolism. That’s how I figured out that the frozen meals I liked used a lot of potatoes and were high in salt and sugar. Basically, not good for my blood sugar!
Still, that doesn’t mean I cut fast food out of my life. A chili bowl at Wendy’s ended up being ‘green’ for me because the protein and fiber made it a healthy choice. My rule is I don’t go to any fast food place that doesn’t have a healthy option. At Chick-fil-A, I’ll order a grilled chicken sandwich with a fruit cup. At Panda Express, I’ll get a low-calorie chicken option with super greens like broccoli and cabbage.
I also learned to trade foods I love (fried chicken and french fries) with healthier options like lightly breaded chicken and baked sweet potato fries. One of my favorite new foods is a grain-free granola with seeds, nuts, and dried blueberries. I love pairing it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast. It’s great finding new foods to enjoy.
I grew up always finishing my plate. It was ingrained in me not to waste food, but as I got older, I found it was better to listen to my body and stop when I get full. What helped was educating myself on nutrition. I learned about serving sizes. I learned how much fiber and protein I need each day. Both help you feel fuller faster, and stops you from overeating. Another trick I do is meal sequencing. This means eating your protein, fats, high-fiber foods, and non-starchy veggies before your carbs to prevent blood sugar spikes. Basically, I eat with purpose now.
What My Life Look Like Now
IT USED TO be hard for me to walk any more than was necessary. Now, I have a lot more energy and feel more present at work—I even got promoted! I often reach 11,000 steps daily. I wear an activity tracker so I can track my progress in the app. I also love doing a few 15-minute Peloton classes like yoga, strength training or stretching through the Twin Health app. For me, it’s not about the intensity of the exercise. Consistency is what’s more important.
After my first four months with Twin, I lost 55 pounds. I went from 305 to 250. I hadn’t been that weight in over a decade! In total, I’ve lost about 70 pounds in seven months. My mom would have been my biggest supporter on this weight loss journey. I know it. She would cheer for every success I’ve had and push me to keep going.
Currently, I’m about 241 pounds. My goal is to get down to 200 pounds. My A1C has also gone down from around an 8.1 to around a 5.4, which means that my blood sugar levels are back in the normal range. I also haven’t had heartburn or acid reflux in months. This health transformation saved my life.
Zack holding his old, oversized shirt
I remember that after two and a half months, my clothes were getting baggy. I thought smaller sizes would be too tight, but I went shopping and tried on size 42 pants and a 1X shirt. They actually fit me! I haven’t been a size 42 since high school. I started crying in the dressing room. It was a big moment. Today, I wear size 40 pants.
One of my goals since my weight loss is to take my niece to a theme park, like Disney or Universal Epic Universe. Before, I would get turned away from several rides at a theme park because of my weight and it was embarrassing. Now, I want to ride all the rides with her, and enjoy it!
I want other people in similar situations to know it’s possible for them to make a change too. And that calories aren’t everything. Instead, it’s all about learning food and exercise affects your blood sugar and body overall. That’s how you make a lasting change.
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