ELMWOOD PLACE, Ohio (WKRC) – Inside a small, cold, and dark garage behind his house is where Chris Reiff’s fitness journey began.
“I was very nervous and anxious about going to the gym,” Reiff said. “Sometimes you don’t really know where to start, and so, I decided I had to start here.”
At his heaviest, Reiff weighed 511 pounds.
Inside a small, cold, and dark garage behind his house is where Chris Reiff’s fitness journey began. (WKRC, Provided)
“I couldn’t make a grocery store trip. I needed help putting on my own socks and shoes. I needed help for so many things,” said Reiff.
He got tired of being in his own way and realized he had to change to be around for his family.
“I would watch my kids get tired of helping me, and I couldn’t put the blame on them. They’re just kids. And I didn’t want that for them anymore. I want to be desirable for my wife,” said Reiff. “I want to be around for my kids, my family, and my friends. I want to enjoy my life.”
In six years, Reiff has dropped more than 300 pounds. Bariatric surgery helped turn his life around. The procedure treats severe obesity by restricting how much people can eat.
“There were times where I would feel like the bariatric surgery was like a cheat,” said Reiff. “I needed a tool, and some people need a tool, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
He’s put in the work every day since. His transformation is striking, but he says he has also changed as a person.
“The difference in me then and me now is I don’t make the excuses,” said Reiff.
Reiff never imagined competing for a national fitness title, especially not for a magazine.
He now stands to win $20,000 and a feature in Muscle and Fitness magazine. But it’s not just about winning. He hopes his story inspires others who feel stuck like he once did.
“If you feel like you’re alone, you’re not,” said Reiff. “I’m living proof that it’s possible.”
Inside a small, cold, and dark garage behind his house is where Chris Reiff’s fitness journey began. (Provided)
His family sparked—and continues to fuel—his motivation. He admits it’s not easy, and some days motivation alone isn’t enough.
“Discipline has been the biggest tool in my tool belt,” said Reiff.
His advice is to start small and keep going.
“I started by taking the 10-minute walk a day,” said Reiff.
If he wins, Reiff hopes to build up his home gym so he can start personal training.
“I want to help people that were in the same position that I was in. Not everybody wants to be able to go to the gym. Not everybody wants to be showcased around a lot of people. And I understand that because I was there myself,” said Reiff.
He’d also get his daughter a reliable car.
You can help him move on to the next level in the “Men’s Health and Fit 2026” competition. Voting for the top ten ends on Thursday, February 19, at 10 p.m. EST.