After His Wife of 26 Years Died, He Lost 120 Pounds and Became a Triathlete
3 min read · RealCase summary
Bill Bowden, 52 and from Burbank, California, lost his wife of 26 years in August 2019 — the same month he began his fitness journey. "When my wife passed away, I found myself in a different situation," he said. "I didn't really know who I was."
He started at the gym that first month, losing less than 20 pounds initially, before a triathlete co-worker — who brought him healthy lunches, recipes, and encouragement during his grief — helped inspire the shift toward endurance sport. He switched from a stationary bike to a road bike in February 2020, joined a bike club that August, and completed his first 100-mile ride that November.
By January 2021 he had reached 178 pounds and underwent a skin-removal procedure, after which he lost roughly 20 more pounds. He began triathlon training in June 2021 and competed in his first triathlon, the 2XU Malibu event, that September.
Starting around 280 pounds, Bowden ultimately reached about 162 pounds, a loss of roughly 120 pounds. "I realized that I wanted a better life. I wanted something more," he said, crediting his late wife: "[She] saved my life."
Key takeaways
- ›Weighed close to 280 pounds when his wife of 26 years died in August 2019
- ›Started working out and eating healthier after a coworker who competed in triathlons encouraged him to join a gym
- ›Lost about 120 pounds, reaching 162 pounds, and completed his first triathlon, the 2XU Malibu Triathlon, in June 2021
Original source
Read the original (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
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