Last year, Eric Hites weighed 560 pounds and his marriage began to collapse, so the Indiana-based artist took matters into his own hands. To prove to his wife that he can properly manage his health, he began riding his bike across the United States to lose weight.
Hites efforts quickly got noticed on Facebook and he gained quite the following. After a few weeks on the road, his commitment to biking grew and his newfound passion for the sport saved his marriage. After 5 months, he is now happier than ever. He has posts on his page about his wife shaving his beard because he "was looking scraggly." He has also posted a progress video his wife made about him.
Over 33,000 people have liked Hites' Facebook page "Fat Guy Across America." A lot of people have posted words of encouragement on his Facebook page, which he says have helped him through his journey. He has ridden through bad climate and recently he rode while having a tooth infection. Many have quoted his dedication as a great source of inspiration.
In an interview with Fox News, Hites said he was "surprised" that his story has gained so much attention. "I was trying to get a bit of press so I could write a book after and my agent would be able to sell it a bit better," he says. "I never expected this much attention at all. And now, my wife is going to help write the book with me," he added.
Using Strava, he has been tracking his rides, which have noticeably gotten longer and longer. He has been pulling a trailer with him throughout his entire journey across America, which makes it even harder, but he is pulling through. Hites recently completed a 17 mile and an 18.3 mile bike ride.
His advice for people attempting to lose weight through biking is: "Start losing the weight, start feeling better. Pick a spot in the distance and don't stop pedaling or pushing the bike until you get there. Then, take a break, and pick another spot. It could be 50 feet away. That's how it was for me in the beginning: I'd pedal for 30 seconds and need a break, but I did that over and over again and got to where I am now."
