Professional strongman Eddie Hall just uploaded a before and after photo highlighting his weight loss journey that has taken place over the last two years. After dropping nearly 70 pounds and a considerable amount of body fat, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man is now discussing just how much it took to maintain his 2017 physique and how tough it was on his body at the time.
In Hall’s Instagram photo’s description he wrote, “What a difference a couple of years can make on the left around 196kg / 31.5stone and on the right around 165kg / 26stone. Both I’m very proud of but my insides are thanking me for losing the weight and getting fit again for sure now!!! How did I do it????”
His transformation is really impressive, especially given how much muscle he’s maintained, and it’s something that has had the media’s attention for quite some time — there were even rumors he was photoshopping his new body, rumors he swiftly denied.
In 2018, Hall was averaging losing around two pounds per week and weighed in around 164 kilograms, or 361.5 pounds. This was 70 pounds, or more than 31 kilos lighter than when he won the World’s Strongest Man in 2017. And while he is weighing in almost exactly the same now, a year later, he looks more defined, and comfortably lean.
When Hall was his heaviest, he weighed 433 pounds. Last year, during his weight loss journey he said “Jeeze I wouldn’t wish that torture upon anyone.” Hall didn’t just need to lose weight for health reasons, he also wanted to. He’s been actively promoting a healthy lifestyle through his various social media channels.
In an interview with Express that he gave two months ago, he went into more detail on the toll his weight took on him.
I knew that I was pushing the boundaries. I knew that I was basically risking my life with all the health factors – it’s very unhealthy being that big. So, I decided to take a step down from that sort of professional side of strongman. To lose a load of body weight, get fit, get healthy, and basically I just jiggled by diet around.
He also added that at the time he had basically cut out all carbs, following an “all-protein, all-fat” diet that he was combining with five or six hours of cardio per week comprised of boxing, swimming, and cycling.
“I feel really good at this weight,” he told Express. “I’ve got a six pack and I’m quite happy to stay at this, until I get a bit older [in his late 40s and 50s], when maybe I’ll have to reduce the weight a little bit more.”
He also posted a video this spring where he discussed his own battles with mental health, and what he has done to overcome his personal struggles. Here’s an anecdote at 20 minutes into his video where he talks about three little words that have shaped him.
“The only thing that got me through life was goal setting, that’s whats got me through so far. Sink or swim, those three little words can make such a big difference in people’s lives. Sink and dwell and hate the world and blame everyone else, or you swim, you set goals, you move forward and you do great things in life.”
Sink or swim, Hall chose to swim. We’re looking forward to seeing how his physique and performance progress.
Feature image from @eddiehallwsm Instagram page.