Former NFL quarterback Jared Lorenzen lost 100 pounds in a year
At the end of July 2017, former University of Kentucky and NFL quarterback Jared Lorenzen started the Jared Lorenzen Project. The “Hefty Lefty” had stepped on a scale for the first time in eight years, and the number he saw was shocking: 502.8 pounds. He started the project to chronicle his journey to get healthy again, and to inspire others to do the same.
Nine months later, Lorenzen is well on his way. He spoke with USA Today on Wednesday, and reported that he’s lost nearly 100 pounds since starting his journey.
How did he do it? It wasn’t easy, because at first he felt like his body wasn’t in the mood to fight obesity the same way his brain was.
“It turns out if you put your body through hell for about 15 years,” he said, “it doesn’t want to fight back. I still have these dreams I can do what I used to and it’s not necessarily true. I put my body through a little bit too much too fast and had to recover from it.”
Lorenzen started on a diet and exercise regimen, but went to the doctor when it wasn’t working the way he hoped it would. After some tests, he found out that he had problems with his thyroid and his testosterone levels. Fixing those jumpstarted his weight loss. As far as diet, he eats a lot of rotisserie chicken and shakes, snacks on fruit and unsalted cashews, and eschews ice cream in favor of frozen yogurt.
Diet is just one part of Lorenzen’s quest to get healthy. He’s been exercising as well, lifting weights several times a week and doing yoga. On his Facebook page, Lorenzen posts information about classes he’s doing in conjunction with the local YMCA. He also does public boot camps and health walks, like this one he did in early April on the University of Kentucky campus.
Back on UK campus with Public Health Walk
Posted by The Jared Lorenzen Project on Wednesday, April 4, 2018
The key to staying with it has been getting others involved. Lorenzen started the project to chronicle his journey and inspire others, but if you look at his Facebook for the project, he’s doing more than just posting pictures. He’s constantly posting videos and information about classes he’s doing at the local Y, and people show up to accompany him and to get in shape themselves. Even the comments on his page inspire him to keep going.
“When I get out of bed, I’ll grab my phone and start reading messages, like, ‘I was 340 (pounds) and I’m down to 305,'” he said. “It’s like, get your butt out of bed and go do what you gotta do!”
Lorenzen’s journey has already inspired people, and if he keeps on going, he’s going to inspire even more.
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Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @lizroscher
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