A man who had “accepted his fate” after years of declining health has shed almost 90 pounds with the help of his Gen Z son, transforming not only his weight but his outlook on life.
Niall Deehan, 65, from New Zealand, weighed 288 pounds at his heaviest and was struggling with mobility issues caused by osteoarthritis and excess weight.
“I accepted that I was a major risk of stroke or a heart attack,” Niall told Newsweek. “I was prediabetic and taking medication daily.”
“Over the years, I have given up on exercising,” he said. “I accepted my fate.”
For much of his life, Niall remained active. But in 2012, a mountain biking accident left him requiring three surgeries on his arm, changing the course of his fitness journey.
“After that, I fell out of love with biking and swapped it for the TV remote,” he said.
As exercise became less frequent, unhealthy habits crept in. Niall said he would often snack throughout the day and could eat an entire packet of biscuits (cookies) daily.
In June last year, he underwent a right hip replacement and has also been battling osteoarthritis for years.
His turning point came after a candid conversation with his son, Kian Deehan, 23, an online fitness coach, during a family trip to Sydney in August last year.
For Kian, who was bodybuilding at the time, the conversation was a wake-up call.
‘I Feel 20 Years Younger’
A month after the trip, father and son began training together every Sunday. Kian also helped overhaul his father’s diet, replacing his daily biscuits with healthier alternatives.
What started as a weekly commitment soon became a regular routine.
“We used to talk and train,” Kian told Newsweek, explaining that his father became increasingly motivated as the weight began to come off.
As the months passed, the sessions increased in frequency. Today, resistance training has become a non-negotiable part of Niall’s routine, and he now trains five to six times a week.
The results have been dramatic.
He now weighs 200 pounds and is no longer taking medication, aside from temporary medication following a recent knee replacement.
“I feel 20 years younger,” he said.
Kian said the physical transformation has been impressive, but the emotional changes have stood out even more.
“It is so good to see my dad is happy and feels excited again,” he told Newsweek. “He looks great, but the best part is his happiness.”
‘It’s Not a Diet’
Kian documented his father’s progress throughout the journey and shared the transformation on Instagram (@kiandeehanfitness) when Niall reached his goal weight in May.
“At one point he was lighter than me!” Kian said.
For Niall, the experience has never been about following a short-term fix. Today, he doesn’t track his food, but he focuses on whole foods and has cut junk completely out of it.
“It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change,” he said.
Kian said his father’s mindset shifted dramatically as he gained confidence and began setting new goals.
“I am very proud. It’s incredible. My dad went from him not wanting to speak about health and fitness to becoming completely obsessed.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Gray R. Thomas