I read a story today that literally made my jaw drop open in surprise. I didn’t realize that people were capable of growing to the sizes of the man I’m about to talk about. I may be behind the times on this story, since it appears he’s been well known since 2006, but I felt the need to let out my complete surprise at how something like this could happen to someone. Meet Manuel Uribe, a Mexican computer technician who once held the record as the worlds most heaviest man.
This week, Manuel celebrated his birthday with fruitcake, suckling pigs, and lamb. Not your usual birthday presents, but I don’t live in Mexico so maybe this is just what they do. Manuel is now 43 and weighs a whopping 717 lbs! Here’s the part that will make you gasp: he’s down 518 lbs since March 2006. You read that right! He weighed over 1200 lbs a little over two years ago! How do you let that happen to yourself?! I can understand being a little overweight but holy crap! He lots the weight by having a diet of grapefruits, egg-white omelets, fish, chicken and vegetables.
His birthday was only one out of three times that he has been outside in the past three years. He was “dragged” out onto the pavement to enjoy a little bit of time in the sun. He is still unable to move his gargantuan legs, but he says his dream is to go to the mountains.
Uribe spent the 1990s eating pizzas and burgers in the United States where he worked as a computer repairman. Addicted to junk food, he eventually tipped the scales at 1,235 pounds (560 kg) back in Mexico, bingeing on greasy tacos.
Let this just be a reminder to everyone out there that fast food and greasy crap isn’t good for you. I don’t care how awesome World of Warcraft is, the outside is way more awesome. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m really preaching at myself becuase I haven’t done enough activities lately. I think it’s catching up to me. Anyone want to play some tennis?