Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego --
At
his heaviest, Recruit Simon C. Bell, Platoon 1031, Bravo Company, 1st
Recruit Training Battalion, weighed 310 pounds. However, through a change in
diet, exercise and motivation, Bell now weighs 184 pounds.
Bell says his weight increased during
college when he played up to eight hours of video games a day and ate mostly
microwavable food.
“I played World of Warcraft or any
shooting game, and everything I ate was bad,” said the Houstin, native, Bell.
Bell said he knew why he was
overweight and was aware it was because of a lack of proper diet and exercise.
He explained he hit rock bottom and
was tired of being overweight and upset with himself for not being able to do
the physical activities his friends could do.
“When I first started (on his
lifestyle change), I didn’t know if it would work, but in the first week I lost
ten pounds,” said 22-year-old Bell. “Then I lost thirty pounds, I still felt I
looked the same, but friends and family noticed how much weight I was losing
and it made me feel good about myself.”
To begin the weight loss, Bell said he
started eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, stayed away from junk food,
went to the gym five days a week and ate foods high in protein.
“At first I couldn’t run down the
street, and I could only bench eighty five pounds,” said Bell. “But before I
left for recruit training my bench was up to two hundred and twenty five.”
Bell said his new interest of an
active lifestyle is what led him to joining the Marine Corps.
“I decided I should find something
that would keep me active and fit,” said Bell.
Recruit Larry Hamilton, Platoon 1031,
said he has seen all the weight Hamilton has lost in recruit training and what
type of person he is.
“He inspires loyalty through kindness
instead of force,” said Hamilton. “I’ve seen him struggle at times, and I
believe he is the type of person to not want others to go through pain and is
going to help them.”
Bell is scheduled to graduate July 10th
and says he plans to pass on what he has learned to those who struggle with
their own weight issues.
“I understand firsthand that obesity
is a problem,” said Bell. “It’s really hard to lose weight, and sometimes you
just need someone to help you.”