How Losing 225 Pounds (Without Surgery) Transformed Tim Bauer’s Life
Tim Bauer after weight loss. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
In 2010, Tim Bauer weighed 440 pounds. He was only 31 years-old. One of the big problems was Bauer’s sedentary lifestyle. He sat all day, ate whatever he wanted, and came home from work to play video games. The result was that the father of two didn’t have enough energy to play with his two girls. “Even though my family and I live 10 miles from Disneyland, I had a real fear about taking my girls there. I was afraid that my legs wouldn’t hold out all day,” says Bauer. “I hated going to the park because I was embarrassed about my size. I really didn’t have the stamina to play with my kids. Even a short walk winded me and made me tired where I felt that I needed to sit down.”
Tim Bauer lost over 200 pounds in about one year. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
Bauer had success with weight loss programs in his past, but he would always gain the weight back. He lost 75 pounds on Weight Watcher’s with his Dad when he was in high school but quit when his father stopped going. He lost weight for girlfriends, his wedding, and the birth of his children, but he couldn’t keep it off.
Tim Bauer, before and after. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
Bauer had a “come to Jesus moment” when he was asked to teach a college class. The curriculum was about how to handle life’s struggles and trials better. It was suggested that he take tennis balls and write some of the seven deadly sins on each of them. He was to throw them all at once to the kids to symbolize that you can’t catch them all at once (or deal with them all at once), but if you threw them out one at a time, they are easier to deal with (or catch). The sins he was told to address were sexual promiscuity, cheating & dishonesty, violence and murder, unhealthy anger, unhealthy eating (gluttony), and adultry. This led Bauer wonder how unhealthy eating parallel violence, murder and adultery? He never saw food as an evil thing. He just thought he liked Doritos too much. By equating these unhealthy food habits with these other deadly sins he finally realized what he was doing to himself. He knew he needed to work with a psychologist on the sin he was placing on his physical being. “Once I found the right psychologist to help me uncover issues of why I continued to turn to food as comfort, I began to lose weight,” explains Bauer. “She gave me real world tools to help keep the weight off and to overcome my food addiction.” Over time this therapy was instrumental in helping him achieve his successful weight loss. Bauer had a renewed passion to want to be around for all of his girl’s milestones in a fully engaged way and finally heal himself.
Bauer started by leaving behind Doritos, pasta and ice cream. He soon heard about the Paleo way of eating which helped him create three basic rules. No processed sugar (fruit is okay). No deep-fried or overly processed foods. Nothing made with white flour. Throughout his weight-loss journey as well as current lifestyle, the key for Bauer has been not wavering from his rules — ever.
Tim Bauer before weight loss. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
With these new rules of eating in place, Bauer knew he had to incorporate exercise. He tackled this with his friend Bret at his side and together they built a solid exercise plan that he could follow. Bauer does a four-day split with daily cardio.
“I still continue the same exercise regime that I did throughout my weight-loss journey,” says Bauer. “On my calendar, I schedule my workouts as appointments with myself and do not waver from my routine. I have learned that by scheduling my workouts with myself that other events or appointments don’t get in the way.”
Tim Bauer running a triathlon. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
Bauer used a blogging platform to share his journey with others. He used it as a journal of sorts. Through writing his blog, he shared about his triumphs and struggles along the way. His writing helped to keep him accountable to his goals and having an audience of subscribers allowed him to have accountability. Bauer created a team to help him reach his goals. They consisted of his friend Bret, his doctor, psychologist, family and his blogging subscribers. They supported him all the way through his journey. “The support system that I created was probably the biggest secret to my success. Of course I did all of the hard work by eating well and working out, but on the days I didn’t have motivation, or I wanted to have a binge, I found support through my team and online followers.”
Tim Bauer with his daughters at the beach. (Photo: Tinier Tim)
Amazingly, Bauer reached his weight-loss goal of losing 200 pounds in just a little over a year. “I lost 200 pounds in a year without pills, weight loss shakes or surgery,” says Bauer. For Bauer, the shock of seeing himself as a healthy, fit, and handsome guy has taken some getting used to. “Most of the time when I see myself in the mirror, I hardly recognize myself. I saw a picture recently that was taken of me and I didn’t know who the guy was at first, “ says Bauer.
For Bauer, his new look has also transformed his personal life. “The first girl I dated after losing the weight was a blind date. When she walked in the door, my first thought was: “Oh, no, this will never work because she’s way too beautiful.” Two hours later we left the bar hand in hand, made arrangements to see each other again and ended up dating for over a year. She found me incredibly attractive but it was hard for me to believe,” reveals Bauer. “I don’t know that I feel incredibly handsome or sexy now, although I do get attention from females which has taken a lot of getting used to. I think that there will always be a small part of me who feels fat in the head. I’ve transformed myself physically significantly but mentally profoundly. I’m a good man with strong character and a great sense of humor. I was just never noticed until I lost the weight.”
Bauer has kept off over 225 pounds for over five years. He’s thrilled for his health and his new take on life. He now has the energy to play for hours with his girls and does many of the things he feared he didn’t have the stamina for before. “After my weight loss, I was finally able to take my daughters to Disney,” says Bauer. “We are now season pass holders. It is such a blessing for me to see the girls smiling.”
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