Weight loss: How a dad-of-two lost 40kg and will run in Sunshine Coast marathon event
An ex-Army private faces a marathon goal after shedding 40kg in a bid to keep up with his sons. See how a ‘no pills, lotions or potions’ approach worked for him.
Sunshine Coast
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A dad-of-two who shed 40kg in a year and will run in the Sunshine Coast Marathon was inspired to lose weight after he could not keep up with his sons.
When Townsville man CJ Flood, 32, could not jump on the trampoline with his oldest son or walk him to the skate park, and as his three-year-old started to move more, he knew he had to lose weight.
“It was like they were getting away from me,” he said.
The former Army infantry private had undergone a shoulder reconstruction and two knee reconstructions before he was 25 years old.
After he was medically retired from the Army and his second knee reconstruction he gained weight and in 2021, at 128.5kg, decided to do something about it.
The business owner who works from home said he was in almost constant pain.
“It was like literally being trapped,” Mr Flood said.
After doing research, Mr Flood found online coach Travis Jones.
The business owner credited the coach with showing him the steps to weight loss.
The pair will run 10km together in the Sunshine Coast Marathon and Community Run festival on August 14.
Mr Flood, who now weighs about 88kg, said he also had amazing support from his family and especially his wife.
“I didn’t take any pills, no lotions, no potions,” he said.
“It came down to ‘can I eat a little better, can I move a little more?’”
Mr Flood said there were ups and downs throughout the year, and running at the event would also show his oldest son achieving anything is possible.
“I’d love to be able do Kokoda Trail, just that sort of stuff, for me that wasn’t possible to dream of a year ago,” he said.
“It really sucks having to buy new clothes.”
Mr Flood’s mum, Maleny woman Catherine Taylor, said she was proud of her son’s achievements over the past year and excited for his future.
“He’s stepping into more of who he actually is,” she said.
She said he was also inspiring her to work on her strength following her own knee issues.
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