Growing up in the capital city of Skopje in Macedonia, Ilija Rajkovcevic had grown accustomed to being made fun of. The taunts and jokes followed him from childhood through his teenage years, and he coped with the rejection in the same self-defeating way he always had: by eating.
In July of 2014, Rajkovcevic was just 15 years old and weighed in at a whopping 330 lb. But things changed — dramatically — when he realized he couldn’t even stand looking at himself in the mirror anymore. Instead of filling the void left by loneliness and rejection with food, he said, “I told myself, that’s enough.â€
Facebook
In a dramatic turnaround, he began a strict diet and exercise regimen that resulted in the loss of nearly half his body weight and eventually getting surgery to remove excess skin. But– as anyone who’s gone on a diet can attest– losing the weight is only half the battle. Keeping it off for good is the key.
But from the moment Rajkovcevic decided to change his entire lifestyle, he’s stuck with it. “I have been going to the gym every day, and fitness and practice became my way of life.â€
YouTube
“Finally, I was mentally prepared to cope with my kilograms, and I became mentally stronger as they melted.”
Facebook
“Today I am a completely different man, full of confidence and self belief.”
YouTube
Rajkovcevic, who studies at Goce Delcev Business College, posted a video on his YouTube channel last year that documents his incredible “fat to fit”transformation, which has been viewed more than 3.6 million times.
Facebook
Watch his transformation in the video below, and share to spread inspiration!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.