A Durham, North Carolina, man changed his life 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 wore size 38.
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Barnett, a construction worker who is currently out of work due to health issues, has dismissed his diagnosis, telling SWNS he “didn’t expect anything.”
“There’s something for everyone,” he said.
At his heaviest, Barnett weighed 240 pounds and wore size 38. (Southwestern Nervous System)
But the man’s condition worsened, developing cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as liver cancer.
In January 2024, Barnett received a letter from his doctor with some bad news—if the cancer continued to grow, he might have just six months to live.
“When they gave me that letter last year, it became a reality,” he reflects.
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“That note said, ‘If the cancer gets worse, you have six months to live.’ I kept it and I looked at it every day and it beat me.
Barnett’s doctor told him the best way to regain his health was to lose weight—and he knew it was time to get motivated and take action.
“I played college baseball, tennis and football in the ’80s, but as I got older, I gained weight,” Barnett said. (Southwestern Nervous System)
“I was like, ‘Okay, we can do this,'” he told SWNS. “I’m a fruit fiend. I basically eat fruit.”
Barnett began limiting his diet to “very small meals” throughout the day, which included many of his favorite fruits.
“It’s all about eating right, staying active and never giving up.”
“I can eat a whole watermelon in a day, but I also 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’s too filling for me.”
Barnett recently hit an all-time low weight of 164 pounds. He reported that by following this diet, he had lost weight and his “grades looked great.”
Barnett said he feels “great, I’m just getting started.” (Southwestern Nervous System)
“I haven’t weighed myself since I was probably 15,” he said.
Barnett said he still has to work on building muscle to “make up for the loss of skin,” but he’ll keep going.
“My clothes were a little too big and baggy, and it’s hard to afford clothes when you lose weight so fast, but I felt great,” he said.
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Despite his physical limitations, Barnett maintains his weight by staying active.
“I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and need a knee replacement,” he revealed. “I can’t jog or climb stairs, but I try my best.”
Barnett lost more than 70 pounds through a diet of fruit and protein shakes and consistent exercise. (Southwestern Nervous System)
He reported that his workouts typically involved sitting in a chair and “using small dumbbells.”
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“I keep doing it, but I don’t hurt myself by doing it,” he added. “Losing weight is just [about] Stay active and find anything you can do to get off the couch.
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Barnett told SWNS he will learn his prognosis in February and hopes to inspire others through his successful weight loss journey.
“I definitely don’t want to get cancer again,” he said. “I didn’t want a liver transplant. I wanted an active lifestyle.” (Southwestern Nervous System)
“If I can do this, anyone can,” he said. “I’ve done everything the doctors told me to do. Just eat right, stay active and never give up.”
“I was 55 at the time and now I’m 90,” he continued. “Now I’m 55 and 20 again.”
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According to SWNS, Barnett hopes to return to work and live a “full, active life.”
“I want to be a wake-up call the next time I see the doctor and tell them I’ve done this,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
