10-08-2025
Man's insane weight loss and body transformation triggered by his dad's brutal last words
A man who completely transformed his body has described how overcoming his mental health battles has changed his life for the better.
Josh Jones, 34, from Newbridge, completely changed the lives of him and his family after his weight loss journey not only saw him lose 7.5 stone, but also create his own fitness empire. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Josh decided enough was enough and that he needed to make a change.
Prior to lockdown, Josh was working for Howdens, and he would use food to cope with his job's stress levels, and to comfort him while suffering with the frequent panic attacks he experienced while battling with anxiety and depression.
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Josh said: "It got to a point in my darkest times where I couldn't even go into a supermarket to do a food shop because I was that anxious I would get panic attacks. It is true that your mental health can hit you at any time.
"When I was around the age of 18 my mother and father split up, which led to my father moving away, up to Birmingham. I went off the rails a bit, going out drinking, not looking after myself.
"I used to play rugby at a decent level, in all the Dragons RFC age groups, was fairly fit and healthy because of it, but then I fell into the wrong crowd.
"A couple of years after that, my father suddenly passed away. His last words to me were 'you need to sort yourself out' and it stuck with me really.
"It also made me realise how precious life truly is. He had his pension out on the Monday, died on the Thursday. He did not get to spend a penny of his savings, a moment he had waited his whole working life for.
"Just before lockdown, so in 2020, I found myself in a vicious cycle of getting up, going to work, and eating anything I could get my hands on, just to keep my energy going.
"I would constantly be eating fast food, because it was quick and easy, and as a comfort blanket to overcome stress.
"When I first had my daughter Milly, I was 21.5 stone. Looking back at my starting pictures now - I genuinely do not recognise that person.
"During lockdown I'd be on the takeaways, eating rubbish. In my role as a father I was being lazy, putting a lot of strain on my partner Ellie."
Not only was Josh's lifestyle affecting him in his personal life and in fatherhood, but also saw him on medications to prevent issues with his heart.
"I was back and forth to the hospital because my cholesterol was through the roof. It was almost double where it should've been," Josh continued.
"Ellie was training and I was just sat there being a slob pretty much. It was through my conversations with her that I was inspired to make a change.
"I started by going out walking, and saw the positive change in my mentality, and so I decided to reach out to an online coach.
"I set up a home gym and saw progress week on week, and became addicted to the results I was seeing.
"I made the decision to become qualified in personal training, and started coaching others who were just like me for free."
Josh coached part-time alongside his managerial role at Howdens for two years before he was able to go full-time in the job he loved.
Today, Josh's business, JJ Fitness, is a community with tens of thousands of followers, with case study after case study of people whose lives' have been changed by Josh's coaching.
Josh has coached people from all across the world, saying that alongside his clients in the UK, he is currently coaching people based in places such as Malta and the USA.
JJ Fitness is now made up of three full-time personal trainers- Josh Jones (@_jjfitness7), Lowri Stephens (@lowrrii_jjfitness) and Connor Chapman (@connorc_jjfitness) - and has a clientele of more than 250 people.
Since founding his business, Josh and Ellie have got married, and Ellie has been able to hand in her notice at her former job, and take on a role in JJ Fitness.
Josh added: "For me now, it still doesn't feel real that I get to call this my job. I love helping others so much - solely because I know how dark of a place I was in.
"It still shocks me when I am told the impact I am having on other people's lives, even though I do understand as I have been through it myself."
To see more from Josh, you can follow him on Instagram @_jjfitness7, Facebook @JJfitness77, or click here to visit his website:
