Motivational Spotlight: How X-Weighted Fan Kevin Hennessy Lost 164 Pounds
Jan 13, 2010
Losing a significant amount of your body weight is no easy feat, let alone losing 164 pounds in 10 months, which is what Kevin Hennessy was able to do.
Hennessy's start weight was 320 pounds, and he had a 52-inch waist. Hennessey says that the weight just crept up on him over the years: One day he just woke up and was too big for a seat on an airplane. "I'd drink up to 20 triple cream double sugar coffees a day, food for me meant going through a drive through, then I'd drink quite a lot of alcohol so that I could sleep every night, only to get up and start again the next day," he says.
The decision to get healthy was a sudden one. "I came home from work late one night, and my 13-year-old daughter was still up. I asked her why she wasn't in bed, and she said that she couldn't sleep because she was worried that I was going to die. She told me that she had heard of so many people having heart attacks because they were fat, and she was scared. That was the turning point for me, I knew I wanted to be around to watch her grow up," says Hennessey, "It was like a switch went off in my head and from that moment I was done, I started eating right and looking after my body."
Once Hennessy started his weight-loss journey, he watched X-Weighted whenever he could. "It was very motivating, because Paul Plakas was on there helping people like me. It would give me strength; I saw where others failed just like when I failed. When I binged, it made me get up and start again the next day," he says "I learned through Paul that you just put your foot forward and you keep going."
At the beginning, working out was not easy for Hennessy, "When I first started I could do about 2 1/2 minutes on the treadmill, and then I would spend 15 minutes in the pool - that was about as much as I could manage," he says. Over time, he got much fitter and he was working out for an average of 2 1/2 hours a day. "There were a lot of hard things about being fat and working out at the gym. One day I got stuck in a piece of equipment," he says, "then there were the occasional rude comments from people and people staring at me when I was working out."
There were periods in his journey where Hennessy's weight loss was fast, at one point he lost 18 pounds over 14 days, but he also had his fair share of plateaus. "Sometimes I wouldn't lose weight for a couple of weeks, but through watching the show and talking to other people I was expecting that to happen. You just keep pushing it, I changed up my exercise routine and soon started losing weight again," he says.
The transformation that Hennessy affected was incredible. He went from clothes that were a size 5XL being too tight, and having trouble finding clothes that would fit, to having the opposite problem - now he is so slim that he has to shop in completely different stores.
His friends are amazed at how much has changed. "I've run into friends that haven't seen me in a year, and they didn't know who I was," he says, "Until they heard me talking they had no idea it was me."
To those that are starting their own journey towards fitness, Hennessy has this advice: "If you fall off the cart, don't beat yourself up over it. Just get up in the morning and start over again. We are going to fail, the secret is not to get so depressed about it that you give up, because you can't give up."
Print
EmailCategories:
Great Journey
Great Journey thanks for sharing!
So many changes
With that great weight loss, you must feel like a whole new person! You will be able to help people who are just starting a big struggle.
Well done Kevin!
Well done Kevin! Just like quitting smoking, you have to be mentally prepared to lose weight. That's where I'm at right now - I'm ready.
Your story is an inspiration to all of us. Thanks for sharing.
What an amazing story of
What an amazing story of inspiration, congratulations on your hard work. It gives me an idea of how I can apply some of your methods of working in difficult times to myself. Thank-you for sharing your success.
Great job
What a motivational story, you are truly amazing and I hope I can find the same strength you have found to make this weight loss journey successful!
Your motivation is such a gift.
Congratulations on your success. You should be very proud of your accomplishments and your daughter must feel so good to know she was such a big part of that.
Everyone's trying to sell the latest and greatest weight loss pill. Motivation is the only treatment that we need isn't it? We can do the rest if we have motivation.
Your story was a gift of motivation. My journey won't be without pitfalls I'm sure - but I'm going to get there!
Thank you!
AMAZING
Kevin you are absolutly amazing, so inspirational to all of us on our journey of weightloss. Reading your story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us. Congratulations on your weightloss you have inspired me so much to keep on going. Thank you so much :)
Thank-you
Thank-you for posting your story. I am just starting out on my weight loss and your story gave me hope and motivation. The other day my 6 year old daughter said people have to be skinny to be a dancer...then she started to point out who is skinny and how her Dance teacher is skinny. she looked at me and said "Mommy, you are f.. not skinny" it broke my heart to know my daughter was about to call me fat...not because she was being mean, she is just very honest and free spoken. I want to be a good example for my kids and I don't want them to have the same struggles I have!
Thank-you again
Peggy
Congratulations Kevin
Congratulations on finding a healthy bodyweight that makes you feel good and happy. You look great!
You da Man
Way to go...be proud. Your daughter does have the best role model in you. Keep being positive! When I feel i am slipping on my excerise and diet, i will come back and read your story!
Wow Way to go
Congratulations!
Your story is very motivating and inspirational.
Congratulations.
Liz from Calgary
WoooHooo
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
I'm even more motivated after reading your story! Your honesty helped so much. To hear someone share about the 'not so pretty' aspects of weight and weightloss helps!
Keep it off :)
Warmly,
Bonnie
Congratulations Kevin!
Congratulations on your weight loss and better life style that you have created not only for you but for your daughter too. This is a huge achievement of yours. I have 33 lbs to lose and think this is an enormous amount for me but you have inspired me that I really can achieve my goal as well. I am very happy for you and your daughter. Thank you for sharing this with everyone.
wow!
Great job Kevin. You are truly inspiring!
inspiration
I agree, Kevin's story is amazing and certainly helps me believe I can lose my weight.
Thanks so much Kevin
Your story is amazing and congrats on the hard work that you did - you are a hero to us all!!!!!
Wowza!
164 lbs is 1 lb less than I weighed in at the start of this challenge. I cannot imagine having to lose that weight in 10 months to boot. This is amazing and so happy for Kevin!
Here is motivation
Thank you for your inspirational story! I am currently very motivated but staying motivated and on track is going to be the key! I will remember this story and re-read when needed!
Thank you !
J
I agree
I often have given up... not this time!!
Awesome job!
Congrats on such a great accomplishment!
I really needed to read you story tonight - I blew it a number of times today, but after reading your story, I know I can get back on that wagon and keep on track. You're absolutely right about not getting depressed about a slip up - it happens to the best of us and we should forgive ourselves. After all, we are only human.
Thanks again Kevin. You truley are an inspiration!
Yes!
I bet your daughter is so proud of you and you should be proud of yourself! Awesome change!!!
This motivates me!
What a great job! Reading stories like this really motivates me and makes me believe I can reach my goal!
Great Job Kevin
That's awesome. Congratulations!
You're giving me hope to stay at the gym longer than 1 hour.
Amazing and Inspiring
Thank you so much for sharing your story! It is so inspiring. Way to go!
AWESOME
Thank you for your story....you did it because you were ready...exactly where I am at....I believe only when you are ready to change you will.
Congrats
thank you for sharing your
thank you for sharing your story
YOU ROCK!
Great job, Kevin. Losing weight is tough, I don't care who you are. And you have done amazingly. So proud for you-- it must be exhilarating just knowing how much better you feel and look. Enjoy the new you, and once again, congratulations on achieving such a daunting number of pounds lost!
Wow
So inspiring. That's a lot of weight to lose in a very short period. Congrats!!!
What a great story
I really enjoyed reading about your weight loss journey. It gives hope to so many who need it.
An inspiration!
Your story is such an inspiration. So many times have we all fallen off the wagon and not start again. I will take your advice and if I have a bad day, just start again the next day. So far since I have started this challenge, I have had the willpower to resist many tempting offerings of chips and candy and do a workout for 20 minutes a day. Hope my 13 year old daughter will look at me as a inspiring role model.
Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Great Job
Wow Kevin that is wonderful and all of the hard work you have put in is very inspirational. Keep up the good work and never doubt what you can achieve.
YOU GO MAN!
I think we all have to find the 'click' and also the forgiveness that it takes to succeed. Thanks for sharing a bit of your journey. We are all taking that trip but will need to find our own path in order to reach our goals and maintain.
Way to go, Kevin!!!
What an inspiration!!! You should be very proud, Kevin. Your story gives me hope.
This is amazing.
YOU are amazing.
Congratulations, your daughter must be so proud of you, and I can see JUST why!
:) Truly inspirational.
Needed that.....thanks
I too am having an "off" day today. Struggling with the healthier vrs. not so healthy food choices. Then I cam accrosss your story. It kinda gives me hope as in helping with making the "better" choice today. Just when I needed it the most. So thanks Kevin I appreciate it very much.
Cyber High Five!!!
My goodness Kevin, your story is truly a motivation maker!!! WTG on your successes and for reminding us all that if you keep on keeping on through those inevitable roadblocks, that we will all be able to achieve our goals!!!
Wow! Way to go Kevin!
What a great story! You must be so proud of your accomplishment. I agree about getting right back on track if you have a bad day. I look at it a week at a time, 21 meals in a week. If you have changed to healthier choices and are doing the right things in regards to choosing whole grains,lots of high fibre/filling foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, lots of water, if one meal is a "bust", don't quit! Get up the next morning and at your very next meal, make the best choices you can and you'll be right back on track! Keep up the good for and thank you for sharing!
Thanks Kevin! You're right
Thanks Kevin! You're right we are going to have days where we fall off of the wagon but we have to remember that tomorrow is a new day and we can start again. It didn't take us a day to gain all of our weight and become sedentary nor should we expect to fix ourselves in one day! Good job, you truly are an inspiration and I'm sure your daughter must be so proud of you!!!
Fantastic
You are an amazing role model Kevin! Completely inspirational! What an amazing job
Thank you for sharing your
Thank you for sharing your story Kevin!
You are a great inspiration to all!
Exellent job.
Thanks for sharing your story and giving me hope.
Awesome!
You have gone from being the student to the teacher! You are an inspiration to all of us, thanks!
Thank you Kevin!
Thank you for sharing your story Kevin!!
After a really rough day of some tough realizations yesterday there is your story!
I too have a 13 year old daughter. She deserves more from me. I can do this and I will!! Why? Because you have shown it can be done!!
Thank you again Kevin!
Take care,
xo
Lisa
Congratulations!
You should be sooo proud. Just yesterday I ran into a past co-worker that I have had moved to another company. He WAS a big guy when he worked with us. I went to the 'returns' line in the store, and he was already standing there waiting his turn. I didn't recognize him - not right away. He starts (what I thought was just) friendly chat with me. Asking if I'm here to cause trouble and being all joking and friendly. Almost to the point where I found him soooo social I was almost creeped out. Then - he seemed to 'know' me and I looked closer at him and the next thing he said - I recognized his voice. I was like... holy... I did not even recognize you at all! He was transformed and after losing he believed 80 pounds. So I can only imagine your change.... 2 times that loss... It's absolutely AMAZING.... and yes... your daughter now has the best role model ever. Stay on the Train... it will be worth it in the end! I'm a member of the National Challenge and did the fitness test in Halifax. Looking forward to shaving pounds and hopefully a minute or more off my fitness test in July 2010.
You Rock Kevin!
You did a great job and you are now the BEST role model that your daughter could have!