A Durham, North Carolina, man changed his life for the better after receiving serious medical news.
Derek Barnett, 55, was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 10 years ago, SWNS reports.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and was a size 38.
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Barnett, a construction worker who is currently unemployed due to health issues, dismissed his diagnosis and told SWNS he “didn't think anything of it.”
“Everyone has their own type,” he said.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and was a size 38. (SWNS)
But the man's condition worsened, progressing to cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as liver cancer.
In January 2024, Barnett received a letter from her doctor with bad news. If the cancer continued to progress, he could have only six months to live.
“When I was given that letter last year, it became reality,” he recalled.
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“The note said, 'If the cancer progresses, you have six months to live.' I saved it and looked at it every day, and it was devastating.”
Barnett's doctors told him the best way to regain his health was to lose weight, and he knew it was time to step up and take action.
“I played college baseball, tennis and football in the '80s, but as I got older I gained weight,” Barnett said. (SWNS)
“I thought, 'Okay, I can do this,'” he told SWNS. “I'm a fruit addict. I was basically following a fruit diet.”
Burnett began limiting her diet to “very small meals” throughout the day, including lots of her favorite fruit.
“It's important to eat right, be active and never give up.”
“I can eat a whole watermelon in a day, but I'll eat apples, oranges, grapes, anything that's in season,” he said.
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“I also drink protein shakes. I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't eat much meat because it fills me up.”
Barnett recently reached her lowest weight ever at 164 pounds. He reported that he had lost weight following this diet and that his “scores look great.”
Barnett reported, “I feel great. I'm just getting started.” (SWNS)
“I haven't weighed myself since I was probably 15,” he said.
Burnett said she still has work to do to tighten her muscles to “catch up with the skin loss” but she is continuing to make progress.
“My clothes are a little too big and baggy and I can't afford to buy clothes when I lose weight so quickly. But I feel great,” he said.
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Barnett also continues to lose weight by staying active despite her physical limitations.
“I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and need a knee replacement,” he revealed. “I can't jog or climb stairs, but I'm doing what I can.”
Barnett lost more than 70 pounds with a diet of fruit and protein shakes and consistent exercise. (SWNS)
He reported that his workouts usually involve sitting in a chair and “using small dumbbells.”
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“I'm non-stop, but I'm doing it without hurting myself,” he added. “Losing weight just means… [about] Stay active and find whatever you can to get off the couch. ”
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Barnett told SWNS she expects to know her prognosis in February and hopes to inspire others with the success of her weight loss journey.
“I never want to get cancer again,” he said. “I don't want a liver transplant. I want to live an active lifestyle.” (SWNS)
“If I can do this, anyone can do it,” he said. “I did everything the doctor told me to do: eat right, stay active, and never give up.”
“I was 55 years old by the time I was 90,” he continued. “Now I'm 55 years old and I'm 20 again.”
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According to SWNS, Barnett hopes to return to work and live a “full and active life.”
“Next time I go to see a doctor, I want to ring the bell and tell them what I did,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
