Matthew Komos, a 47-year-old business owner from Englewood, Colorado, has transformed his life and health by making significant changes to his lifestyle, especially in how he approaches food and exercise. After years of struggling with alcoholism, weight gain, and personal challenges, Komos found new motivation during the COVID lockdown. He focused on building muscle and shifted to a plant-based diet, which played a key role in his journey toward better wellbeing.
Komos grew up in an active and sports-loving family, but childhood weight issues often troubled him. Meals were central to family gatherings, making it challenging for him to control his eating habits. As he entered college in 1996, his diet and activity levels worsened, and his struggles with alcohol led to a dramatic increase in his weight. He reached his highest weight between ages 26 and 32, managing between 240 and 250 pounds and feeling unhappy and limited physically.
In 2005, Komos made the decision to quit drinking. He later moved to Colorado, a place he had always wanted to live for its outdoor lifestyle. The move inspired him to become more active, enjoy hiking and skiing, and lose 20 pounds. Recognizing that smoking was further hindering his health and ability to enjoy life, he stopped smoking in 2011 with medical support.
A major turning point came in 2012 when a close friend recommended a plant-based eating style and introduced him to Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book “Eat to Live.” Komos and his then-wife followed Dr. Fuhrman’s six-week plan and cut out sugar and dairy, focusing on nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, beans, mushrooms, berries, and seeds. He embraced creative ways to prepare meals, finding he could eat freely without worrying about calories, due to the healthy nature of the foods.
Adding regular exercise, including hiking, HIIT workouts, and weight training, helped Komos not only lose weight but also boost his energy and endurance. Over six months starting in 2012, he dropped from 220 pounds to about 175. Despite setbacks such as divorce and the challenges of the pandemic, he continued to stay active, intensifying his workouts and reaching a weight of 150 pounds. Now, after recovering from an ACL injury, he maintains an active routine with swimming, running, and walking.
Through his journey, Komos has developed more discipline and a healthy attitude toward food, seeing it as fuel rather than emotional comfort. He advises others aiming to lose weight to focus on finding sustainable habits, and to view the change as a lifestyle shift rather than just a diet. Komos believes that taking things day by day and trusting the process is key to achieving success and maintaining it over time.
