Obese man finds inspirational note, tracks author on Facebook

Jonathan admitted he started to cry when he opened the letter, it was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done

Most of us know or have known the struggle of losing weight and there are many who are still looking for motivation to lose the extra kilos. Seems like hard work actually does not go unnoticed!

English man, Jonathan Bellshaw, who weighed about 190 kg found a pleasant surprise on his jogging route Thursday morning, 7th Aug. A kind stranger left a motivational note for him taped to a traffic light he passes on his daily run.

This small act of kindness forced him to track down the stranger on social media.



According to Mail Online, Jonathan was moved to tears when he found the note from an unknown well-wisher, known only as Lucy, who had noticed his efforts and motivated him to keep going.

The message read: 'To the guy with the 'run for Blood Cancer' t-shirt, every morning I drive past you and your lovely little dogs at 6.15 am on my way to work and I just wanted to let you know that I think you are awesome.

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'I wish I had your determination and I hope that you don't mind me saying – the pounds are just melting off you.
'I've got a new job now so won't see you, but you are looking great – keep running.'

PHOTO: MAIL ONLINE

Keen to meet his mystery supporter, full-time union official Jonathan took to Facebook, asking friends and family to help track her down
His post was shared more than 1,500 times within hours and late Thursday night Lucy came forward. The pair are now planning to meet so he can thank her in person.

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Jonathan said, 'When I first saw the note, saying "To the guy with the 'run for Blood Cancer' t-shirt and the dogs please read this letter," I started panicking and wondering if I'd upset someone.

PHOTO: MAIL ONLINE

"I'll admit I started to cry when I opened it. It's one of the nicest things anyone has ever done.

"When I eventually tracked Lucy down, she told me she was trying to lose weight herself after having a baby and that my determination had inspired her.

"Her message really spurred me on to keep doing what I'm doing," he said.

Writing about the motivational letter on his blog, Fatboy Getting Slim, Johnathan said: 'What struck me is how many people said it was great and what Lucy had done restored their faith in humanity."

He confessed that he has battled with his size all his life, ordering takeaways seven days a week at his heaviest. But after finding he was too unfit to go for a run with his son Michael, seven, he vowed to change.

Self-confessed junk food addict Johnathan had tried a handful of diets over the years but found nothing kept the pounds off for longer than a few months.

Then, in November 2013, his annual asthma review sparked concern among doctors and he was referred for an echocardiogram to check his heart. Thankfully he was healthy, but the experience shook him up.

He explained, "The results were all fine apart from some excess fat around the heart. This was no surprise, I was no bean pole.
"I realised then I had a choice. A choice to live and watch [my son] grow up or a choice to be dead within a few years.

"I decided life. This was my moment and I decided to take it with both hands," he said.

Around the same time, his young son Michael suggested the pair go running together – but the father-of-one found he could not keep up.
"I was knackered after about ten yards. That really put everything in perspective," he said.

"Michael is an active little boy, he loves football and running around, and I want to be able to join him," Jonathan added.



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Along with his wife Jess, 36, Johnathan embarked on a couch to 5km fitness challenge and began running around the park every morning.
He also overhauled his diet, swapping snacks and takeaways for freshly-cooked, protein-heavy meals.

Now, after training between four and seven days a week, he has competed in three 10km races - including the Lincoln Santa Run, which he did last Christmas alongside his family.

32-year-old Jonathan , who now weighs 133 kgs, has already lost almost a third of his body weight since he took up jogging and is aiming to shed more.

PHOTO: MAIL ONLINE

And he says his efforts are starting to pay off as his previously 64 inch waist has now shrunk to 42 inches.

"Before, I had to buy clothes at specialist shops, which were expensive. But now, I can fit into high street sizes," he said.