NYC Man Loses 100 Pounds, Runs Marathon After Pickleball

When Ethan Noblesala bent down to tie his shoe on a New York City sidewalk, his body wouldn't let him. His stomach was too large to reach his feet.

That moment, combined with a prediabetes diagnosis at age 30, changed everything for the 33-year-old New Yorker. He'd spent the pandemic ordering takeout eight times a week, sometimes eating 10 sushi rolls in one sitting.

But Ethan knew crash diets don't work. Instead of overhauling everything overnight, he started with one glass of water each morning.

He gradually scaled back his takeout orders and started cooking high-protein meals at home. Simple swaps, like replacing regular pasta with low-calorie shirataki noodles, made a huge difference without feeling like deprivation.

Then his uncle introduced him to pickleball, and everything clicked. The fast-growing paddle sport became more than exercise. It became his social life.

"I made so many friends playing pickleball," Ethan says. The sport gave him a reason to move that felt like fun, not punishment.

He started playing at Life Time's indoor courts during winter, which led him to try their gym. Soon he was strength training three times a week, then exploring calisthenics and running.

In eight months, Ethan lost 85 pounds. After 18 months, he'd dropped 100 pounds total, going from 235 to 135 pounds.

In November 2024, he ran the New York City Marathon. The same man who couldn't tie his shoes crossed one of the world's most iconic finish lines.

Why This Inspires

Ethan's transformation happened during some of his darkest times. He lost his sister, went through breakups, and faced business challenges.

Instead of burying his pain in food or shopping like before, he walked, ran, and played pickleball. Physical health became the foundation for mental health.

Now he's paying it forward. Ethan co-founded WeFit Labs, a company built on the idea that made his own journey possible: fitness is better with friends.

"Don't think about large goals, but small health changes you can make in your everyday life," Ethan advises. He lives by a quote that kept him going: "Don't mess up the progress by rushing the process."

At 145 pounds today (he's building muscle now), Ethan is no longer prediabetic and feels more attuned to his body than ever. His next goals include reaching 10 percent body fat and mastering a calisthenics flag pole.

But he knows fitness isn't a finish line anymore—it's simply how he lives.