Today, Scott Bagwill is logging miles on the Atlanta BeltLine, training for races, and even eyeing an Ironman in 2030. Two years ago, he weighed 596 pounds, the highest documented weight of his life.
That was the moment, he says, everything changed.
“I didn’t want to be the reason someone lost me,” he said. “From that moment on, I knew I needed to finally change my life.”
Now 215 pounds, Scott has lost about 380 pounds in just over two years. He began in the pool, five or six days a week, aiming to drop just five or 10 pounds. Small goals turned into steady habits. Strength training followed. Then running. He has since finished multiple 5Ks and two 10Ks.
Part of his journey appeared on the television show “1,000 Pound Best Friends,” including bariatric surgery in March 2024. But Scott says the biggest shift happened in his mind.
“You have to address the mental side before you are able to be successful,” he said. “Once I was able to do that, the rest is history.”
For years, he says, he looked happy in public while struggling in private. Speaking up changed that.
“Once you learn to speak up and speak out about what you may be struggling with, it will change your life,” he said. “And you can change the lives of many people around you.”
Another turning point came with the Run with Christ group. He showed up alone. He didn’t stay that way.
“I walked in not knowing a single person,” he said. “Now they are some of my closest friends in life. We do life together.”
On Saturday mornings, 80 to 100 runners fill the BeltLine. For Scott, it’s more than miles. It’s community.
“By losing weight, I am now experiencing something in life that I haven’t had before. New people. New friends.”
He calls this his “season of saying yes.” Skydiving. Kayaking. Longer races. But his message stays simple.
“Baby steps,” he said. “Take a walk. Five yards, ten yards, fifteen yards. If that’s all you can do, great job. Just start, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
“It may take time,” he said. “But if you put your heart into it, anything is possible.”
Watch the clip below:
