4 min read Nathan Smith Manley, 49, is a substitute teacher and notary public from Muskegon, Michigan who was worried about his health after reaching an all-time high of 281 pounds. He underwent bariatric surgery to kick off his weight loss but it was cycling that led to his ultimate transformation. In a year, he’s lost more than 80 pounds and currently cycles 50 miles a day. Below, he describes the momentum he paved to create a healthy lifestyle. MY WEIGHT GAIN happened slowly over a long period of time. It was a combination of inactivity and bad eating habits. I was having large portions of my favorite sugary drinks and desserts. My meals had a lot of refined carbs. I ate like this all the time. I also did a lot of late-night snacking. Plus, when I was stressed, I tended to eat more and move less. All of this made my weight climb into the high 200s. In 2024, I weighed my heaviest. I was 48 years old and carrying 281 pounds. My weight made me feel sluggish, tired, and frustrated with myself.…