A 560-pound man has embarked on a quest to travel from the east coast to the west coast on a bicycle. Eric Hites, an artist and writer from Indiana, has decided to bike cross-country for two reasons: to prove his love to his wife and to lose unnecessary pounds, ABC News reports.
The 40-year-old man said he and his wife separated last year because of issues involving his weight.
"Mostly because of my weight, I was depressed and grumpy, and it kind of fell apart," he said, according to ABC News. He thought of ways to prove his love to his wife and win her back.
A song from Proclaimers entitled "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" gave him an idea. However, instead of walking 500 miles, he decided to ride his bike across America to lose weight and prove to his wife he was serious in gaining back control in his life.
"I hadn't ridden a bike in 30 years," Hites confessed, but he bought a $17 bike and set off in his journey on the first week of June, NBC 10 reports.
His pace was slower than he anticipated, not just because of his weight but also because of the 300-pound trailer he was hauling where he kept all his belongings.
At first, Hites "cranked out 100 yards and [took] a break," but now he can go for a mile before stopping for a short break. He has already lost 60 pounds since June.
However, he underestimated the time it would take for him to finish his quest. Initially, he thought the trip would take him four months to complete, but now, at his current speed, he said "it could take the rest of the year."
Hites' determination has won his wife's trust. At first, she thought it was not serious. A few weeks after he started, "she changed her tune ... about a month into it, we rededicated unofficially," he said.
In spite of this development, Hites is determined to finish the trip.
"I'm doing it because I love my wife and it kept me going. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. That drives me."
Hites set up a website, "Fat Guy Across America," where he documents his journey through blogs and video blogs. Many people who follow his blogs have thanked him for inspiring them to better health.
"By completing this ride, I hope to encourage others to get up and get moving no matter their weight," Hites writes in his blog.
