New Year New You

Written By Nick Zulovich

Photography by Jonathan Fredin

Willow Spring native Daniel Wright remembers when food was a crippling anchor in his life.

His binges could be three double-cheeseburgers consumed in mere minutes one day, or several pieces of fried chicken and biscuits on another.
After each binge, Wright secretly discarded the food wrappers in an attempt to hide his eating disorder, but his increasing weight gave him away. “I would be totally ashamed of it,” Wright said of his fast-food runs, a routine that pushed his weight to 454 pounds. Barely into his 20s, he suffered frequent pain in his back, knees and feet.

Finally, he’d had enough. A renewed dedication to his Christian beliefs lit the spark that created a life-changing physical transformation as well, one he says is aided by a superb family support system.

Now, broiled fish and chicken have replaced pizzas and cheeseburgers in Wright’s eating regimen, and exercise has taken the place of trips to a drive-through window.

Wright’s nearly two-year metamorphosis also occurred in front of millions of people, as he competed on the NBC reality television show The Biggest Loser, where overweight individuals, with the help of professional trainers, vie for a cash prize — and a rescue from obesity.

His TV experience has opened new opportunities for Wright. He’s often stopped by strangers while going through his daily routine in Wake County, and he’s sharing his testimony on faith and weight loss in engagements as far away as Iowa and Oklahoma.

“I owe 100 percent of the opportunity to what God has given me,” Wright said. “He teaches us that we can love him and love each other best when we take of ourselves. How can I show love when I’m 454 pounds? I couldn’t.

“I had to love myself the way God loves me in order to become a happier and healthier person.”

Now more than 200 pounds lighter, Wright plans to use his life experiences in a career as a youth pastor.

“I’m so passionate about using health and fitness in the ministry, especially when it comes to kids,” he said. “Kids are dear to my heart. I was an obese kid. It’s a huge platform to speak from. I’m so thankful that God has put me there.”

As fuel to go and do, Wright eats salads almost daily, including the cucumbers and tomatoes he used to despise.

He also goes through a heart-pumping exercise routine several times a week. He says it’s the most significant element he’s learned during his journey — how working out strenuously for 20 to 30 minutes can lead to greater weight loss than exercising at a slower pace for an hour or more.

Happier, healthier and smiling more than ever, Wright pledges never to return to the behaviors that trapped him with hundreds of unwanted pounds.

“It’s almost no comparison, because who I was before and who I am now are so different. I’m actually just trying to get to know this person. It’s almost like being a kid for the first time,” Wright said.

“(Making life changes) this early lets me know that I’ve got the rest of my life to enjoy this new person,” he added. “Now that I’ve discovered who I really am, I don’t ever want to go back