Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Harden II.
Hi Terry, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Terry Harden II. I’m 36 years old. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio but recently moved my family to Dallas, Texas.
I’m a husband and father, and I’ve recently lost 200lbs over the last 2 years through hard work, dedication, and VSG.
On my social media @JustaDopeDad, my goal is to inspire others to take their health back as well as to be dope parents.
I share my entertaining Dad-life, my viral shimmy dance, family, and weight-loss journey while inspiring an audience through motivational videos and lessons along the way.
In addition to being a keynote speaker in the VSG weightloss community, I also founded @DopeDadFraternity. My main goal and focus were to create a space to show a positive image of black fatherhood while motivating dads to be the best dads we could be through pictures and daily affirmations.
A place to honor and show love to fathers throughout the year and not just on Father’s Day. I ran the page by myself but had the honor and privilege of meeting, interacting, and sharing the images of black fathers all over the world 🌎
As the page grew, so did my bond with so many other dads. Strangers became friends, friends became brothers, and brothers have become family. All of us with a love for our families and wanting to show how dope fatherhood is and could be!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being overweight honestly just became a way of life. I was comfortable in my own skin and still managed to always be the life of the party. I honestly would forget that I was overweight until it would be time to go shopping and buy clothes. At my heaviest, I was wearing size 52 pants and 4x and even some 5XL shirts.
In November of 2019, I scheduled a doctor’s appointment. It was the first one I had in years, and it was a checkup. I got on the scale and saw 430lbs, and it blew my mind. I knew I was big but didn’t know how much. I got off the scale and, in that moment, knew that enough was enough and that it was one to change my life for myself and for my family.
I scheduled an appointment with a weight management program to discuss medical Weightloss and immediately changed my diet and started working out 4-5 days a week. I met with a nutritionist that taught me about food. How to read labels, what are good foods, what are not so good foods, and how to make a lifestyle change that would last forever.
I was determined, so I worked out hard for 45min to an hour a day. My mindset started to change as I knew I needed to do this to save my life from the relationship that I didn’t know I had with food. I lost 80lbs from November until March of 2020, and then I had VSG Weightloss surgery on Friday, March 13th, 2020. Since then, I have lost 105lbs putting me at a total loss of 200lbs down since November of 2019.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve had the opportunity to share my weight loss journey with people all over the world. Being able to speak about something that means so much to me as been rewarding. Daily I’m able to help others by simply sharing my story and encouraging others. God allowed me to go through my journey for a reason, and I’m now a happier, healthier husband and father. I’m truly living my purpose!
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
We all have a purpose. Once you find yours, it will be life-changing. My journey has taught me that if you want something bad enough, you’ll make less excuses, and you’ll just make it happen. It won’t be easy, but nothing is. We get one life. Make sure you Live before you die…
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @JustaDopeDad
- Other: @DopeDadFraternity (on Instagram)
Image Credits
@Heartbreakphotography
