Waldorf, MD – It’s not easy living large. Waldorf resident John Robinson would be the first to tell you that slimming down is arguably one of the biggest challenges of his life.
The U.S. Army veteran and retired professional football player told The BayNet he was well above 500 pounds when he decided he needed to do something about his size. “It really scared me,” said Robinson, who played football collegiately at Winston-Salem State University. As an offensive lineman, Robinson bulked up to 325 pounds. It was after his two seasons in the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs that Robinson, 46, began adding weight.
While attending a health fair in 2012, Robinson signed up for the ABC series “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.” The following year, when the program became “Extreme Weight Loss,” producers called Robinson to see if he was still interested. “They asked me if I was still fat and I said ‘yes,’ ” he recalled.
Robinson sustained a setback in his plan to lose significant weight. In December 2013 he was diagnosed with a bilateral pulmonary embolism. “I was in pretty bad shape,” he said. “I wasn’t taking care of myself.”
Not being a picture of health seemed to be great contradiction to Robinson, who works as a registered nurse specializing in critical care at the Washington DC Veterans Administration hospital.
Robinson headed to the program’s 90-day “boot camp” at the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora with a heavy heart. His mother passed away shortly after he received word he was going to be featured on the program.
“It was pretty difficult for me because of my injuries,” said Robinson, who explained the many ailments had been acquired during his football career. The injuries included an infected toe. Robinson explained he had to a bit creative while working out with the show’s training staff.
He also had to adhere to strict dietary guidelines. “I had to be more cognizant of what I eat,” Robinson explained. Because of his health issues he was also under the watchful eye of the program’s medical staff.
Robinson affirms he has maintained the discipline acquired during boot camp. He still works out two hours a day, five days a week first thing in the morning.
“It’s a huge, life-changing blessing,” said Robinson, who added he is now helping others, coaching them on ways to get the weight off and keep it off. “It’s not as difficult as people think it is.”
Robinson said his family and friends are “ecstatic.” Prior to embarking on the year-long journey of “Extreme Weight Loss,” family members “had been discussing my demise,” Robinson recalled.
According to an ABC Entertainment press release, John Robinson stated he wanted to lose the weight “before he meets the son he never knew he had.” He has already reconciled with his brother, who had started to drift out of his life as he [John Robinson] began to amass several pounds of added weight.
There is also the transformation his own family has beheld. “My wife and kids never got to see me the way I was,” said Robinson.
John Robinson’s inspiring story will be chronicled Tuesday, Aug. 11 on ABC starting at 9 p.m.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
