A man from Durham, North Carolina, completely turned his life around after receiving serious medical news.
Derek Barnett, 55, was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease a decade ago, as reported by SWNS.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and wore a size 38.
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Barnett, a construction worker currently out of work due to health issues, initially dismissed his diagnosis, saying he “didn’t think anything of it.”
“Everybody’s got a type of thing,” he mentioned.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and was a size 38. (SWNS)
Unfortunately, Barnett’s condition deteriorated, developing into cirrhosis and later hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer.
In January 2024, Barnett received a letter from his doctor with alarming news – he potentially had only six months to live if the cancer continued to progress.
“When they gave me that letter last year, it became real,” he reflected.
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“That note said, ‘If the cancer gets aggressive, you have six months to live.’ I kept it, looked at it daily, and it took a toll on me.”
Barnett’s doctors advised him that the best way to improve his health was to lose weight – and he knew it was time to get motivated and take action.
“I played college baseball, tennis and football in the ’80s, but as I got older, I gained weight,” Barnett said. (SWNS)
“I thought, ‘Okay, I can do this,’” he shared with SWNS. “I love fruit. I basically followed a major fruit diet.”
Barnett started having “tiny meals” throughout the day, primarily consisting of his favorite fruits.
“It’s about eating right, staying active and never giving up.”
“I can devour a whole watermelon in a day, along with apples, oranges, and grapes – whatever is in season,” he explained.
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“I also consume protein shakes. I’m not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat much meat because it’s too filling for me.”
Barnett recently achieved a record-low weight of 164 pounds. He indicated that he shed the pounds by adhering to this diet and that his “results are phenomenal.”
Barnett reported that he feels “fantastic, and I’m just getting started.” (SWNS)
“I haven’t weighed this since I was probably 15 years old,” he noted.
Barnett expressed that he still needs to work on toning his muscles to “match the skin loss,” but he is determined to continue moving forward.
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He remarked, “My clothes are now a bit too big and loose, and it’s challenging to afford new clothing with such rapid weight loss, but I feel amazing.”
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“I’m always moving, but I do it safely,” he added. “Losing weight is all about staying active, finding any possible way to get off the couch.”
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Barnett indicated that he will learn about his prognosis in February and aspires to inspire others with his successful weight-loss journey.
“I certainly don’t want cancer anymore,” he expressed. “I don’t desire a liver transplant. I want an active lifestyle.” (SWNS)
“If I can achieve this, anyone can,” he stated. “I followed all the doctors’ advice. It’s about eating right, staying active, and never giving up.”
“At 55, I felt like I was 90,” he continued. “Now I’m 55, feeling like I’m 20 again.”
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Barnett hopes to return to work and lead a vibrant, active life, according to SWNS.
“I want to celebrate my success with the doctors and tell them I made it,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
