New YouTube Video: I Lost 170 Pounds… But Weight Loss Didn’t Fix My Mental Health
Hey friends,
If you’ve been reading here for a while, you know I write a lot about mental health, the outdoors, leaving evangelicalism, and, over the last year, my health journey.
Today I published a new YouTube video that might be one of the most personal conversations I’ve had in a long time.
I Lost 170 Pounds… But Weight Loss Didn’t Fix My Mental Health
People often assume that losing a significant amount of weight suddenly fixes everything. That once you hit a certain number on the scale, confidence appears, insecurities disappear, and life becomes perfect.
That hasn’t been my experience.
Losing 170 pounds has absolutely changed my physical health. I can hike farther, breathe easier, sleep better, and be more present for my family than I have been in years. I’m incredibly grateful for that.
But mentally? The story is a lot more complicated.
This video is about identity, body image, therapy, and what happens when you’ve spent your entire life being “the fat guy” and suddenly the world starts treating you differently. It’s about why taking care of your body matters—and why taking care of your mind matters just as much.
If you’ve ever struggled with your weight, your self-worth, or simply wondered why reaching a goal didn’t magically make everything okay, I think you’ll relate.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/OF_2uqTDxLY
And one small favor…
If you haven’t already, I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d subscribe to my YouTube channel. Watching the videos, leaving a comment, sharing them with someone who might need them, and yes… even not skipping the ads 😝 all genuinely help support the work I get to do.
Every view helps me continue making content about mental health, public lands, and helping people feel a little less alone.
Thank you all for being here. Seriously. Whether you’ve been following for years or just found this little corner of the internet, I’m grateful you’re along for the journey.
— Andy