> At a Glance
> – Nick and Jake Beaven-Parshall shed 355 lbs combined after starting GLP-1 drugs in 2022
> – Both once weighed over 400 lbs; now bike 20 miles and hike abroad
> – Medications plus Weight Watchers support ended pre-diabetes and sleep apnea
> > Why it matters: Their story shows how new obesity treatments can open once-impossible life goals
A Michigan kindergarten teacher and his graphic-designer husband turned a scale that read “error” into a 355-lb combined weight loss, reclaiming energy for international adventures-and maybe a family.
The Breaking Point
In 2022, Nick Beaven-Parshall, 34, stepped on a scale and it maxed out. He and Jake, 31, each topped 400 lbs after pandemic regain. Nick couldn’t sit on the classroom carpet with students; tying shoes left him winded. Jake, pre-diabetic with sleep apnea and fatty-liver disease, had “given up.”
The New Plan
Nick started a GLP-1 through Weight Watchers Med+ in 2022; Jake followed soon after their wedding. Insurance covered both. They eased nausea with:
- Slow dose increases
- High-fiber, high-protein meals
- Pepto Ultra on standby
Results on-and off-the Scale
| Health Marker | Jake Before | Jake After |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 400+ lbs | 175 lbs |
| Sleep Apnea | Yes | Gone |
| Pre-Diabetes | Yes | Reversed |
Nick lost 130 lbs; Jake lost 225. A flight of stairs once floored them; this summer they biked Amsterdam and hiked Iceland.
Jake celebrated dropping under 200 lbs by skydiving-something he’d ruled out forever.
Life After Weight Loss
Energy once spent carrying excess weight now fuels bigger dreams.
> “We had talked about wanting a family, but the thought of running after a toddler exhausted me. Now we want to begin that journey.”
Nick finishes workdays ready to play tag with students-something impossible before.
Key Takeaways
- Combined 355-lb loss via GLP-1s plus lifestyle support
- Medical issues like pre-diabetes and sleep apnea resolved
- Couple now planning for children after energy-sapping weight is gone
Their journey underscores how treating obesity as a chronic disease-not a personal failing-can unlock life goals once deemed unreachable.
