A Durham, North Carolina, A man turned his life upside down after receiving serious medical news.
Derek Barnett, 55, was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 10 years ago, according to a report by SWNS.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and was a size 38.
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Barnett, a construction worker who is currently unemployed due to… Health issuesignored his diagnosis, telling SWNS that he “didn't think anything of it.”
“Everyone has some kind of thing,” he said.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and was a size 38. (Sonus)
But the man's condition worsened, developing cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer, also known as Liver cancer.
In January 2024, Barnett received a letter from his doctor with some bad news – he likely only had six months to live if the cancer continued to grow.
“When they gave me that letter last year, it became real,” he said.
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“That note said: ‘If the cancer gets aggressive, you have six months to live.’ I saved him, I looked at him every day, and he beat me.”
Barnett's doctors told him the best way to regain his health was to do so Weight loss – And he knew it was time to motivate and act.
“I played baseball, tennis and soccer in college in the 1980s, but as I got older, I gained weight,” Barnett said. (Sonus)
“I said, ‘OK, we can do this,’” he told SWNS. “I'm a fruit addict. I went on a trip Main fruit diet Basically.”
Barnett began limiting his diet to “very small meals” throughout the day, including lots of his favorite fruits.
“It's about eating right, staying active and never giving up.”
“I can eat a whole watermelon in one day, but I also eat apples, oranges, grapes — anything that's in season,” he said.
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“I have protein shakes too. I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't eat much meat, because it's very filling.”
Barnett recently hit A.J Record weight loss For 164 pounds. He stated that he lost weight by following this diet, and that “his results look great.”
Barnett reported that he feels “great, and I'm just getting started.” (Sonus)
“I haven't weighed this since I was probably 15,” he said.
Barnett said he still has work to do Toning his muscles “to catch up with the loss of skin,” but he keeps moving forward.
“My clothes are a little big and baggy, and it's hard to afford clothes when you lose weight so quickly, but I feel great,” he said.
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Barnett also maintained his weight Stay activeDespite his physical limitations.
“I suffer from osteoarthritis in my right knee and need a knee replacement,” he revealed. “I can't run or climb stairs, but I'm doing the best I can.”
Barnett was able to lose more than 70 pounds by following a fruit and protein shake diet, in addition to regular exercise. (Sonus)
He stated that his workouts usually involve sitting on chairs and “using small dumbbells.”
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He added: “I don't stop, but I do it without hurting myself.” “Losing weight just means staying active, and finding anything you can to do to get off the couch.”
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Barnett told SWNS that he will find out about his diagnosis in February, and that he hopes to inspire others with his successful weight-loss journey.
“I definitely don't want cancer anymore,” he said. “I don't want to have a liver transplant. I want to live an active lifestyle.” (Sonus)
“If I can do this, anyone can do it,” he added. “I've done everything the doctors told me to do. It's about eating right, staying active and never giving up.”
“I was 55 and he was 90,” he continued. “Now I'm 55, I'm going to be 20 again.”
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Barnett hopes to return to work and live.”A full and active life“, according to SWNS.
“I want to ring that bell next time I see my doctors and tell them I did it,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
