Jason Henriques, from Monroe, Connecticut, had become so overweight that he began suffering from a slew of health problems, including asthma that resulted in him being hospitalized, herniated discs, torn ligaments in his knees, and gallbladder issues. However, in 2016, when his young son Wyatt told him he wanted to grow up one day and “have a big belly” like him, he decided to turn his life around. The 44-year-old began made walking his top priority and eventually started going to the gym, focusing on rowing and weight lifting. Jason also completely changed his diet, cutting out all junk food and starting a food journal where he tracked the macronutrients he was consuming. He and his wife Maggie became dedicated to growing as much of their own food as possible, clearing out a quarter-acre of land to start a garden. They even built a chicken coop so they would have their own eggs. Within one year, Jason had lost 160 pounds and now works as a personal trainer at Row House Gym. Looking back, he says he’s grateful to his son for the comment he made about his stomach. “That moment is what changed not just my health and fitness, but the whole trajectory of my life,” he said.
