Man Loses 252 Pounds, Prepares for 100-Mile Mountain Race

Matthew Bickel once ate an entire pizza, six sodas, and six cookies in a single sitting without thinking twice. At 532 pounds, the former college football player had gained a pound every month for a decade, using food to cope with a poor self-image and emotional pain.

The wake-up call came during one of those massive meals when disgust suddenly washed over him. He had just been diagnosed with prediabetes, suffered constant back pain, and felt his heart straining inside his chest. "If I didn't make a change, I was going to die," he realized.

Matthew started with something simple: walking in the mountains. He swapped all his beverages for water and taught himself to cook healthy meals. Within six months, he had lost 100 pounds.

The next 152 pounds took another three to four years of steady work. Matthew discovered CrossFit, then cycling and running, building a passion for ultra-endurance training that transformed not just his body but his entire identity. He documented his journey on Instagram, celebrating milestones like finally fitting into "cool clothes" instead of 4XL sizes.

Now 45 and weighing 280 pounds, Matthew has set his most ambitious goal yet. In August 2026, he plans to run the Life Time Leadville Trail 100, a grueling 100-mile race through Rocky Mountain terrain starting at over 10,000 feet elevation. He wants to become the first person who once weighed over 500 pounds to complete it.

Why This Inspires

Matthew's transformation shows that radical change doesn't require perfection, just persistence. He's lost and regained weight through different seasons of life, but kept moving forward. His message to others starting their own journey centers on self-love, even when it feels impossible.

Today, Matthew trains 15 to 20 hours per week with running, hiking, stair-climbing, and long cardio sessions. He's already completed three HYROX competitions in 36 hours and continues losing weight strategically for his mountain race.

"From losing this weight, I've learned that I can do anything," Matthew says. "I am unbreakable."