They say that the family who eats together stays together. They should modify that to "the family who chases change together stays together." This is what happened to Danny and Lexi Reed, who decided to start living a more health-conscious life to strengthen their relationship.

This may seem like a spoiler, but they did a great job of it, and over two years, they lost a total of 400 pounds. But as the old saying goes, it's about the journey and not the result, and this couple have had no problem sharing their journey. Read on for their fantastic story, and prepare to be inspired.

For Better And For Worse

When Danny and Lexi exchanged vows, they took to heart the words the priest was asking them to say. Particularly the part that goes, for better or worse, in sickness and health. But that doesn't mean they would stay the way they were forever.

This is why they decided to make a lifestyle change, and they did it together. It helps to have a partner doing the same thing with you. They may seem like competition, but they also motivate and support you. All of this helps maintain focus and achieve goals.

Weighing In At WWE Levels

In WWE, some of the heaviest wrestlers weigh in at over 500 pounds. Of those wrestlers, Happy Humphrey was billed as the heaviest at 800 pounds. Then there was Yokozuna, the companies heaviest ever champion, weighing in at 600 pounds. Danny and Lexi came in at a combined 700+ pounds.

Danny weighed 280 pounds on their big day, while Lexi was heavier at 485 pounds. What was worse was that they were comfortable with one another at those weights, but after their wedding, they realized they needed to make a change, especially if they wanted to live a long and happy life.

Taking The Fast Food Route

The one thing that affected them was the same thing that affects many Americans regarding weight gain... the easily accessible fast food. Even gyms are surrounded by many fast food vendors, tempting anyone to take a bite after their long and challenging sweat session.

For Danny and Lexi, it didn't even take a workout. They were ordering takeout on the regular and often went out to eat. All of this was from fast food establishments that don't have health on their agenda. What's more, the couple was consuming up to 6,000 calories a day, and it was becoming a serious health hazard.

On A Short Fuse

Danny started fearing that if they continued on the path that they were on, she wouldn't reach her 30th birthday, so they had to make a change. However, that is much easier said than done. Especially for a young and vibrant couple who love going out together and enjoying a meal.

To add to their problems, they were living primarily sedentary lifestyles. This, coupled with their eating habits, was a surefire course towards a bad thing happening to either one of them or both health-wise. A person should do roughly 150 minutes of exercise a week.

Losing Out On Everyday Things

They reached a point where ordinary things like fitting into a seat on the bus and even fun things like riding the rollercoaster were becoming more and more inaccessible. But their cycle was difficult to break, especially since they were so comfortable with one another.

As Lexi explained to The Daily Show, they used to binge-watch TV shows and mindlessly eat whatever was on offer. But they still wanted to fit in that bus seat and ride that rollercoaster, so they took action and made healthier moves. But to do this, they had to break some vicious cycles.

Even Simple Things Were Hard To Do

The rollercoaster factor was particularly saddening for Lexi, who was desperate to experience the thrill. The problem here isn't her weight itself but her size, which affects whether the safety bar on the rollercoaster can lock or not. If that doesn't happen, it's unsafe to be on that ride.

But there was an even more pressing thing that she needed to overcome, and that was how difficult it was to walk. Their lifestyle was affecting their social life and day-to-day activities and creating an endless cycle that was only getting worse.

Being A Lover And A Friend

The couple was quite comfortable with one another, having been together for ten years. So what Lexi looked like or how much she weighed didn't matter to him. Hence why he eventually proposed to her. She wasn't just happy about his feelings, but glad because she was marrying her best friend.

According to Love To Know, people get married for many reasons, beyond just being in love. Some do it for social status, others because of a life goal, and some to improve their life. But while some are nobler than others, you can't deny that Lexi and Danny's reason is respectable.

The Challenges Of Getting To The Big Day

While the big day came and went, leading up to it was another story altogether. Browsing and buying a wedding dress should be something exciting for a bride-to-be. But this wasn't the case for Lexi, who quickly discovered that, although unperturbed by her appearance, it wasn't easy planning a big day when you're overweight.

She was particularly taken aback by how difficult it was to find a frock for her size. She even said so on her Facebook page. But these were all the experiences that led to them deciding to change their lifestyle, and it came at the most opportune time.

Not For Obvious Reasons

Lexi had no qualms about her self-image. She loved herself and thankfully had found a partner who loved her as is, just as much. But planning for the future wasn't possible if your health status meant there wasn't much future left, and Lexi understood this.

They also had big plans to start a family, which required her to take back her health since having children can be challenging at her weight. Being obese can make it difficult to get pregnant since weight can affect the hormones that cause your ovaries to release eggs to be fertilized.

New Year, New You

While most health and lifestyle magazines lead their January editions with the famous line "New Year, New You," Danny and Lexi were living it. Their plans to have a baby required Lexi to be in tip-top shape, and Danny could probably also use a little slimming.

Weight loss isn't only good for women trying to get pregnant. Overweight men can also find it difficult with libido and general mood. Losing weight changes both of these aspects, which in turn leads to healthier intimacy and more chance of falling pregnant. Hence, it was a good idea for Danny to get on the program.

Let The Challenge Begin

It wasn't so much a New Year's resolution as it was a New Year's challenge. Danny and Lexi were challenged by a friend to go without what they have always done: No eating out, no cheat meals, no alcohol, and no soda.

Many doctors believe that a person can break a habit if they can go without it for 30 days. Danny and Lexi's challenge was for that amount of days; maybe their friend intended to try and break those habits? Lexi and Danny were about to find out, and it kicked off on 1 January 2016.

Bringing The Real Work

Of course, you cannot change the way you eat and not include exercise. While the two are not mutually exclusive, they do work well together. Any doctor or trainer will tell you that a mixture of a balanced eating plan and regular physical activity is essential to achieving a weight loss goal.

So what did Danny and Lexi do? They started exercising as part of their challenge, of course. This strategy works for toning and shaping your body while maintaining the meal plan. It also allowed them to put their nutrition to good use as fuel for their worn-down muscles.

There's Always A Slacker

One problem with doing things with other people is that someone is always a slacker. This is especially true when you don't have a choice with who you're partnering with. Sure, Danny and Lexi chose to marry for various reasons, but we doubt a successful weight loss journey was one of them.

Hence there were some teething problems. While Lexi was up for it and raring to go, Danny was a little resistant and lackadaisical with his approach. He had the least of the two to lose, and Lexi was the one suffering most at 485 pounds, but his lack of interest was a recipe for disaster on their goal.

#SelfMotivated

Having been together for ten years before getting married, Lexi and Danny discovered and built most of their bad habits together. This is what makes them even more challenging to let go of. They took comfort in those habits, often the hardest ones to release.

The problem this causes is that when your partner isn't motivating you, where do you find the motivation? This is when looking inside is very important, and that's what Lexi did, finding the inspiration to remain focused on her goal. The result was beginning to show too.

Love Thyself

Lexi had no self-loathing in her. She was okay with how she looked. But her work at a law firm getting people social grants hit her hard. She always listened to people talk about blood pressure or diabetes and realized she was on that path.

Although she says, she thought she wouldn't love herself anymore if she lost weight, she would love to take care of herself by being healthier and more active. The goal became a lot more than losing weight; it became about being the best version of herself she could muster.

Finding His Reason To Do It

Lexi had all of the reasons and motivation to make the change. Danny was struggling with it, though. He says because he was so comfortable with the routine of coming home and centering his downtime around food, it became difficult to let go for him.

As a youngster, he played sports and skateboard and kept the weight off easily. But since stopping those things, he picked up weight. The problem was that he struggled to make the change back. He decided to let Lexi be his reason. It was as much about him becoming lean and healthy as it was about helping Lexi achieve her goal.

The 30 Days And Beyond

Their motivation set their plans in motion, and for 30 days, they stuck to their plan, spurring one another whenever the challenge became overwhelming. In the image, you can see the before and after pictures of the couple.

But like we said, it's about the journey and not the ending, and there is a lot more journey to discuss here. It's important to note that sometimes major achievements start with a small challenge or short-term goals set to get the ball rolling. For them, it was setting continuous smaller goals that led to them achieving the bigger one.

Reversing The Role Of Food

Some things can be complicated, while others can be made simple. But it's often the most complex tasks that require the most uncomplicated philosophies. Take Lexi and her mindset about food. Changing their eating habits was the most formidable challenge for the couple.

But Lexi shared her simple philosophy with People magazine, saying that it was necessary to re-evaluate your relationship with food. For her, it was simply switching from living to eating; to eating to live. Part of this was portion control, which is an integral part of any diet.

Defining Their Challenge

Their 30-day challenge seems simple enough: Steer clear of takeout, eat out and cheat meals you may eat for a month. But really, what did that leave them with. Well, the other side of the challenge included cooking healthier meals and steering clear of alcohol and soda, evidently replacing it with water.

They also started tracking their caloric intake and, to add some bonding to it, they began prepping meals together. The latter is a good thing because it replaces whatever bonding during eating they did, l with bonding while making the meal. Of course,  they will still bond while eating the healthier meal as well.

Come Hell Or High Water

Like the adage mentioned in the title of the item, one of the key things to maintaining consistency is sticking to your daily routine no matter what. One of the biggest challenges, though, is starting it, especially when it comes to exercise and going to the gym.

Between the stares, some people may give an overweight person in the gym. Then there is the Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which is natural after early workouts but can be uncomfortable, especially if you're already overweight. These are all the things Lexi was anxious about, although she had a simple philosophy for those who stare: Embarras them by being the hardest worker in the room.

Simplifying The Plan Even Further

To make their plan even easier to pull off, Danny and Lexi came up with a genius way to simplify their plan. They broke it down into three easy-to-follow principles that were both fail-safe and foolproof. This was important to their combined 400-pound weight loss.

Their first principle was to focus on meal prep, keeping it as clean as possible while keeping it tasty, helping them avoid craving fast food. Number two was hitting the gym, even just for a half-hour workout. Number three was living a generally physical lifestyle, whether it was going on hikes or just walking the dogs.

It's A Lifestyle, Not A Trend

In Alcoholics Anonymous, they count your time sober in days. That way, you take it one day at a time. This is an excellent method to use for a weight loss journey as well, and this is how Danny and Lexi took their journey.

For Lexi, it was also important to understand that this was a lifestyle and not just a fad trend. She said as much, telling People magazine that when she walked into the gym for the first time, she acknowledged that this was the first day of the rest of her life. Similar to when she walked down the aisle.

The Early Day Pains

While they were sticking to their principles, the beginning was still highly challenging. This, according to Lexi, was because they had to deal with their  Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). As mentioned early, this can be a considerable challenge.

DOMS is a pain not felt immediately after a workout, but instead, after a good night's rest. It's not a bad thing and is usually gone after a few days, although it can surface if sweat sessions are modified. Immediate resulting pains are known as acute muscle soreness. Of course, the more they did it, the more they enjoyed it.

Eyes On The Prize

While all these little mini goals and reasons for motivation were helping them on their way tremendously, they still always kept their mind focused on the main prize... starting a family. Their family wasn't complete without a baby. They even had a mantra they used to say: "Baby Reed 2016."

This one was an especially strong one for Lexi, who understood that both her health and that of the child could be negatively affected by her weight. One of the main conditions that could stem from this is preeclampsia, i.e., high blood pressure during pregnancy. Although not exclusive to overweight people, being heavy can increase the chances.

Going Up, And Coming Down

The best feeling in the world when you're on a weight loss journey is stepping on the scale and seeing a lower number than you did the last time. The worst feeling when you're on a weight loss journey? That's seeing a higher number on the scale when you get on.

There are many ways that progress can be curtailed. Sometimes it's not even your fault. From water weight to the dreaded plateau, stalling and gaining weight signifies that something needs to change. Some people may become despondent and stop, but this is where a support system comes into play.

Lean On Me

We've mentioned before how important a gym buddy can be for motivation. But they are also good for keeping you honest and on your goal path. Both Danny and Lexi had their vices, but with one another's aid and watchful eyes, they made sure the other didn't stray off the path.

They had their common vices too. Like Danny, who often didn't feel like going to the gym, often stepping in to keep him on it. In the same way, often Lexi wanted to stray off the eating plan, Danny would be there to stop her from straying. All in all, they made a good weight loss team.

Bringing Them Closer Together

Getting the first month right was crucial; make no mistake. But it also laid down the ground rules for continuing their journey towards "Baby Reed 2016." Besides ground rules, it also brought the couple closer together in their common goal.

They even worked out a buddy system, as they learned to know one another's strengths and weaknesses during the weight loss journey. Danny told the Today show that this was crucial to their weight loss since the support they gave one another through each success and failure was important, especially in the early days.

Falling For Each Other Again

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but for Danny and Lexi, being in the gym daily made their bond stronger. It also allowed them to add more couples activities to their routine and give them even more common ground to build their love for one another.

These activities include romantic walks and even evolved into hikes, watersports, and cycling. They also found thousands of people who both followed and loved their journey. How is this possible? Well, Social media, of course.

The Best Way To Be Held Accountable

In modern times there is a saying, "If it wasn't on social media, did it even happen at all?" Or something like that. But Danny and Lexi believed in this saying and followed suit and posted as much of their activities and achievements on social media.

Lexi ended up going all out with her social media presence, opening accounts to document her progress on YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram. This not only helped keep them accountable but also got thousands more people cheering them on through their journey. They also inspired many others to start weight loss journeys.

People Started Taking Note

Social media has singlehandedly created some pretty major celebrities. From YouTubers to Instagram models, superstars are no longer seeking the traditional route to find stardom. But still, the mainstream can play a significant role in creating legitimate celebrities. That was the case for Lexi and Danny when Rachel Ray came looking for them.

The celebrity chef and TV show host came about their story after going viral in 2017. The story not only intrigued Ray but also fitted in with her show's theme. Hence she invited them to appear on an episode of her talk show. But then they had lost 300 pounds.

Finding New, (And Healthier) Ways To Cook Old Favorites

Changing eating habits is hard. Between enjoying the way things are and the fact that you always crave what you can't even more, it's the proverbial minefield. As previously mentioned, Danny and Lexi were no different, but they did find unique ways to make their meals tasty while remaining healthy.

They also managed to keep some of their old favorites on the menu. This is thanks to modifying the recipes and replacing less healthy ingredients with more nutritious ones. This also helped them manage their cravings better since they could still have what they liked more healthily.

Getting Back Out On The Town

When they started their 30-day challenge on 1 January 2016, they had cut out every vice they had: cheat meals, fizzy drinks, alcohol, and, most challenging, eating out. But eventually, like they were able to add their favorite meals into their eating plan, they were also able to bring back eating out.

Thanks to their newfound discipline in watching portion size, caloric intake, and how they order their meal, they could eat out without fear of curtailing their progress. They even went from ordering two portions a person to sharing one meal.

Plus 700 Days

Things didn't end with them reaching the thirty-day mark. That part is evident because we know they went on to lose a combined 400 pounds. But they did this after adding 700 more days to the weight loss challenge.

By then, Lexi had lost 312 pounds, dropping to 173 from 485, and Danny had dropped 90 pounds, going from 280 to 190. Thanks to this, they could not only now go for their goal but also achieve all of the other things they longed for, like that rollercoaster ride they dreamed of.

You Don't Always Know What's Best

At the start of her journey, one of Lexi's challenges was that she loved herself and didn't see anything worth changing. This was, of course, until the changes happened. By the end of her journey, she couldn't believe how she got by before.

She admitted to being a prisoner in her body at her heaviest and also acknowledged that she could do almost nothing. But as the weight came off, things changed, and they were so proud and confident that they started a bucket list of things to do when they reached their weight goals. 

Visiting Hogwarts Is On The Bucket List

Of course, now that they could do all the things they couldn't do before, they jumped on the opportunity to do it all. Boy, did they do everything they wanted. There were the activities like cycling, hiking, and watersport, and then there was also that visit to the theme park and their rollercoaster ride.

One trip that stood out for Lexi was one to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. They visited "Harry Potter World," somewhere they had longed to visit but never could because they didn't fit in the airplane seats. There they also rode some fun rides they couldn't before.

Living It Up

Before their journey, they thought they had it pretty good, but then they were avoiding the things that they now enjoy. IN many ways, this is what is known as being stuck in a rut. This is something that most people who suffer it don't even know is happening.

They just carry on with day-to-day living, following the same routines and killing time instead of achieving things. This lack of forward momentum can sometimes lead to depression. So without even knowing it, Danny and Lexi saved themselves from a big depression.

Danny The Doom Monger

While the couple set their goals around having a baby and riding the rollercoaster, Danny had a real fear. He was convinced that on the pathway they were following before 1 January 2016, they wouldn't have reached the age of 30. That is astonishing, considering how he struggled at the beginning of the challenge.

Lexi echoes this sentiment less directly. She believes she saved her own life and is amazed by how far she had come in such a short period. Milla Clarke of "My 600lbs Life" fame lost 550 pounds when she was on the show; she started at 751 pounds.

Saving Lives And Saving Relationships

The health and physical benefits of their lifestyle change were astounding. The way they consumed their life experiences also changed, proven by their trips to places like Harry Potter World and just their general physical lifestyle. But the one thing that was also saved was their relationship.

Although they were perfectly content with each other when they got married, something they realized as they lost weight was the positive change in their relationship. One thing Lexi noticed was that their communication had become better; something they hadn't noticed was missing before.

But Love Shone Through

There's an old saying that goes, "love conquers all." Throughout their journey, this is the one thing that has been prevalent for Danny and Lexi. So many relationships can fall into tatters dues to lack of support or one partner lagging, frustrating the other partner.

This has been noted on participation events like the Cape Epic, a mountain bike race hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. This race has seen brothers and the strongest relationships tested to the breaking point, thanks to the grueling nature of the race. Thankfully, Danny and Lexi's love proved stronger.

People Have Spoken

One of the things that makes Danny and Lexi's story stand out, and makes it unique from other weightloss stories, is its raw nature and unique angle. According to People Magazine's Head of Editorial Zoe Ruderman, It's the fact there is no gimmick or surgery attached to their achievement that makes their story unique.

Ruderman says that because so much hard work went into their achievement, it is incredible. That's the easiest human factor you could take from a story like this, and that human factor is the one thing every other weight loss story is trying to bring across.

It Doesn't Always Have To Be A Lover

Just because Danny and Lexi achieved their weight loss goal together doesn't mean that you have to grab your significant other and start a 30-day challenge. Although that would be nice, it's important to remember that the story of this couple could be unique to yours.

So instead of fixating on doing with your partner, look for someone with like-minded goals or in a similar situation. They may not be someone you love, but a common goal brings people together, and a common goal is what helped Lexi and Danny stick to their program.

Lexi And Danny's Ultimate Advice

Their achievement was extraordinary, and losing 400 pounds over two years is no small feat. This probably makes them enough of an expert to some sage advice for others. Lexi's big message is to make a choice and do it for yourself and no one else.

Danny is more pragmatic with his advice and centers it around goal setting. He says that it's important to set short-term goals for immediate effect, but also long-term goals that are not quickly achieved. You can still find inspiration and look back at their achievement on Instagram by looking up @FatGirlFedUp.