Unsubscribe Podcast | Episode 247

"The Weight Loss Journey From 660 Pounds ft. Ethan Benard"
Aired January 18, 2026
Hosted by: Eli Doubletap, Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator (Cody), The Fat Electrician
Guest: Ethan Benard

Episode Overview

In this candid, humorous, and thoughtful episode, the Unsubscribe gang welcomes Ethan Benard, whose viral online journey of dropping weight from a staggering 660 pounds has inspired hundreds of thousands. Together, they delve into Ethan’s personal story—his setbacks, struggles with food addiction, skin removal surgery plans, the power and pitfalls of social media, and finding meaning and accountability in the pursuit of better health. Alongside the laughs and classic Unsubscribe banter are raw moments of vulnerability and insight into mental resilience, self-perception, and the strange realities of going viral while battling personal demons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ethan’s Origins & Weight Loss Journey

• Early Struggles and Weight Gain

  • Ethan shares that by age 9 he weighed 200 lbs and had struggled with his weight throughout his life (79:23).
  • At his heaviest, he reached 660 lbs, but despite his size, he was never diabetic (74:44).

• Cyclical Weight Loss and Relapse

  • Ethan describes losing and regaining 100 lbs multiple times over several years due to insufficient mental resilience and coping with personal loss (e.g., his dog's death at 03:33).
  • "Every time something happened in my life that was hard for me... I would fall back into my old ways." — Ethan (03:21)

• Addiction to Food and Relapse

  • Both Ethan and the hosts compare food addiction to substance abuse.
  • "It's an addiction. Absolutely." — Ethan (04:33)
  • He recounts emotional relapses: “Without skipping a beat, I went straight back into that old fat man shit…” (03:58)

• A Turning Point

  • In January 2025, after reaching 624 lbs again and reflecting on his future family, Ethan had an epiphany that shifted his mindset:
  • "If I fail this journey, I'm not just failing myself. I'm also putting the lives of my future wife and kids in jeopardy." — Ethan (24:25)

Social Media, Accountability, and Mental Health

• Viral Growth and Pressures

  • After returning to social media, Ethan's story exploded, quickly garnering millions of views and over a million new followers (57:41).
  • He notes the detrimental side effects of relying on social media for accountability: “Using social media for accountability is a horrible idea for me… my mind will find the negative and focus on it…” (05:08).

• Online Negativity

  • Despite daily encouragement, criticism online hits hard, especially when it echoes internal doubts (91:31).
  • Advice he received: "Try to at least respond to as many positive comments as you do negative." — Cody, paraphrasing advice from Admin Results' Aaron (91:37)

The Physical Realities & Goals

• Progress & Milestones

  • Ethan is down to 440 lbs and tracks his progress daily, emphasizing the importance of data over single weigh-ins (27:34).
  • Huge milestones: Four shirt sizes dropped, pants from a 60 to a 54 (27:08-27:11).
  • “You lost me.” — Eli, reacting to Ethan’s weight loss (02:48).

• Skin Removal Surgeries

  • Skin removal will involve 4–5 separate procedures and could take off between 50 and 70 lbs of skin (09:14-11:24).
  • The group jokes about what to do with the excess skin, referencing pop culture ("Moisturize me," Dr. Who, Fight Club soap, etc.; 00:03, 09:29).
  • Financially, each surgery costs $10k–$30k depending on scope, and Ethan’s considering fundraising help (11:11–12:20).
  • “The skin removal saga… it’s going to be the most viral, but also the hardest part of your journey.” — Ethan (12:03)

• Exercise, Mobility, and Gym Life

  • After a nerve injury and hospitalization, Ethan now benches 125 lbs, despite doctors predicting lifelong zero mobility on his right side (84:39–84:54).
  • Discusses intimidation and mental hurdles entering gyms as a large man, tracking progress, and overcoming shame:
  • “I feel really weird going into the gym as the fat guy... and lifting as little as I do. I know it’s all in my head.” — Ethan (85:31)

• Diet & Water Weight

  • Diet, not exercise, is responsible for 90% of weight loss (73:44).
  • Lymphedema causes 10+ lbs of water weight fluctuation in a single day, making scale numbers misleading and emotionally charged (25:45-26:44).

Mental Health and Emotional Realities

• Residual Guilt and Happiness

  • Ethan admits persistent guilt for regaining weight in the past; struggles to celebrate progress without recalling previous “failures” (07:49-08:31).

• Finding Meaning & Motivation

  • Faith, family, and future serve as the core of Ethan’s renewed determination: “I 100% believed it when the Bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart... ever since I was a kid, I've had the desire to start a family.” (24:24)
  • Ethan speaks deliberately about his faith—grateful but never preachy, aiming not to alienate anyone (44:00).

Community, Support, and the Fitness Challenge

• The hosts and listeners are motivated by Ethan's story — several have lost significant weight themselves (72:21).
• The team plans to support Ethan financially and otherwise through his coming skin-removal surgeries (12:20, 14:11).
• They discuss the ongoing Unsubscribe Fitness Challenge and how lasting change, not fast results, is the true measure of success (72:02).

Fun and Classic Unsubscribe Banter

• Memes and running jokes: Making wallets or soap from skin (09:24, 09:32), “Moisturize me” (10:04), “Unsub tips,” police advice after being pulled over, and “aggressive support” for Ethan’s goals (70:46, 129:19).
• Forays into gaming, streaming, Valorant, and turn-based RPGs like “Expedition 33” (101:00–117:17).
• News/political detour: Recapping a (satirical) rapid US military action in Venezuela, mocking the speed, efficiency, and meme-ability (36:19–44:00).
• Hilarious ongoing bits on getting pulled over, interacting with police with guns in the car, and the psychology of compliance (65:04-68:18).
• Supportive ribbing about hangovers, drinking capacity, and Twitch streaming habits (97:00–98:02).
• Notable “aggressive support” from the hosts with threats of bullying if Ethan regains weight (129:05).

Notable Quotes & Moments

(Speaker attribution & timestamps in MM:SS format)

• "Every time something happened in my life that was hard for me, I didn't have the mental resilience to not let it make me go back to what I was doing."
  — Ethan Benard (03:21)

• "It's an addiction."
  — Ethan Benard on food (04:33)

• "I quickly realized, for the sake of my mental health, using social media for accountability is a horrible idea..."
  — Ethan Benard (05:08)

• "If I fail this journey, I'm not just failing myself; I'm also putting the lives of my future wife and kids in jeopardy."
  — Ethan Benard (24:25)

• "My main goal is to just be able to see what a normal life is like. Cause I've never had that."
  — Ethan Benard (79:23)

• "You lost me."
  — Eli Doubletap, reacting to Ethan’s weight loss (02:48)

• "Let's say you've just lost 10 pounds off your right arm. You go to grab something and just, like... it's just way lighter."
  — Cody (22:13)

• "The journey itself and their life and their future matters more than the page..."
  — Ethan Benard, on social media's impact on personal progress (121:46)

• "Not every one needs to share it... for some, the stress from social media can be worse than the weight itself."
  — Ethan Benard (121:46)

• "There’s never a point of no return."
  — Cody (12:57)

• "Spite's a hell of a drug."
  — Cody (07:24)

• "I was a 600 pound dude [on a vent for COVID], and I lived. It was crazy."
  — Ethan Benard (51:06)

• "Views don’t help. The pressure makes it harder."
  — Ethan Benard (120:52)

Important Timestamps

00:00–12:00 - Welcome, Ethan’s story of reaching out to the hosts during the early days of his transformation and recapping his astonishing weight loss journey.
12:00–14:00 - The reality and costs of skin-removal surgeries; support from the Unsubscribe crew.
24:00–26:00 - Ethan’s turning point: motivation drawn from faith and future family.
27:00–31:00 - The nuanced battle with tracking weight, big water fluctuations, and mental strain.
51:00–57:00 - Ethan’s near-death COVID experience, Twitch streaming career, and losing it all.
72:00–74:00 - Hosts and community members share their own weight loss journeys; inspiration and mutual support.
84:30–87:30 - Ethan’s gym struggles, self-consciousness, and overcoming internalized shame.
120:00–128:30 - Final messages: the importance of real change, not just talking about it; celebrating milestones while not becoming complacent.

Tips, Wisdom & Takeaways

• For Beginners:

  • Not everyone needs to share their journey online – weigh the potential mental impacts.
  • True transformation begins with a decision, not just a desire for change.
  • Celebrate milestones, but don’t let intermediate success become complacency.
  • Even at halfway (200 lbs lost), Ethan remains humble and motivated to keep going.

• For Those Struggling with Setbacks:

  • Relapses are part of the process. The key is regaining forward momentum.
  • External motivation (even millions of followers) is not enough; internal meaning and accountability are critical.

• On Social Media & Public Weight Loss:

  • Social media can inspire, but also amplify self-doubt and stress.
  • Focus on personal progress, not the number on the scale or approval in the comments.

• On Accountability:

  • Trusted friends and structured routines (e.g., sharing MyFitnessPal logs) are more sustainable than crowd-sourced accountability.

• On Motivation:

  • If Ethan can drop over 200 lbs with major setbacks, "imagine what you can do."

Final Thoughts

Ethan’s story, equal parts harrowing and triumphant, tears down the myth that health transformations are quick or easy. His journey is ongoing, with skin surgeries and more weight yet to lose, but the most important changes are mental; his story is about finding meaning, being accountable to the right people, and managing both self-talk and online noise. For listeners, Ethan’s journey is a roadmap to resilience—with a reminder that, whether dropping ten pounds or hundreds, every step counts.

For continued inspiration and education, find Ethan on YouTube (The Ethan Benard Show), TikTok, Facebook (@EthanBenardLive), and follow along as he continues to rewrite what’s possible.

End of Episode Summary