Billy Richards, a British YouTuber who goes by “BillyTheTitan,” took on a fitness challenge in January to see how much weight he could lose by running every day. He continually updates his progress in videos, two of which have gone massively viral. After nine months, Billy pumped the breaks on the challenge—but his results were still truly impressive.
He started the challenge at 238 pounds. From there, he documented his journey of running on a treadmill every single day for the next nine months. As the time went by, you could tell he was losing weight. By May 1, he was down to 197 pounds, totaling a 41-pound loss. By June, he was down to 192 pounds. He offered the following weight-loss stats:
July: 195 pounds
August: 190 pounds
September: 188 pounds
October: 185 pounds
November: 183 pounds
Richards notes that while he was able to keep his streak alive and well for nine months—but by that time, his body and mind were telling him it was time for a break.
“I [realized] that I needed to take a break from running every day. I was making myself unwell as I was trying to balance my full time job, several side projects, exercising every day, and some personal issues,” he wrote in the video’s description.
He noted that he wouldn’t completely stop exercising, but that it was time to take a rest.
“I will still keep up with other exercises and will try to maintain my weight, but I really do need a rest,” he wrote. “I think it is important to take a step back and [realize] when you need to take a break from something.”
When he gave an update of where he was by January 1—226 pounds—he also shared his workout program in a separate video, where he emphasizes the importance of a warmup and cooldown.
“I will resume my running every day videos in the new year when I should be fully rested and remotivated!” he wrote.
[Run faster, stronger, and longer with this 360-degree training program.]
In total, he has lost 55 pounds so far.
“Damn I’m more and more impressed by the progress you’ve been able to make as time goes on! Keep it up we are all rooting for you 😊 and also, [your] mental health comes first I’m glad you are treating yourself well,” one commenter wrote.
Ultimately, he went from only being able to run for 15 minutes at a time at the start of the challenge to over an hour and a half. He also upped his speed throughout the nine-month journey.
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.
