How This Nurse Lost 260 Pounds After a Doctor Told Him Time Was Running Out

When Kevin Goode, an Indianapolis pediatric nurse, was prescribed his second blood pressure medication at 465 pounds, he didn’t think much of it.

But when his doctor warned he might not live past 40, everything changed.

Now 28, Goode has lost 260 pounds, reversed multiple health conditions, and is preparing to compete in a bodybuilding transformation competition in October.

A Doctor’s Warning Sparks a Major Life Change

Goode, who works at Riley Hospital for Children, was only 26 when his doctor delivered the wake-up call.

“My doctor told me that I wouldn’t live past 40 with this trend,” Goode told TODAY.com.

At the time, he had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and a rising A1C that could soon require insulin.

He scheduled a consultation with a bariatric surgeon, who told him he needed to lose weight before being approved for surgery. That same day, Goode went to the gym.

“The doctor wanted me to lose 20 pounds to show I was dedicated,” Goode said. “I ended up losing 80.”

Bariatric Surgery and a Renewed Focus on Fitness

Goode underwent bariatric surgery in December 2023. During his six-week recovery, he was eager to return to his new routine.

“I was very much like, ‘How soon can I get back to the gym?’” he said.

Once cleared, he resumed regular strength training and kept shedding weight. His lowest weight was 176 pounds. As of July 2025, he weighs 205—most of it muscle—and has lost a total of 260 pounds since February 2023. His previous health conditions are now gone.

“I take the stairs every day to get up to work here, and I’m not winded by the end of it,” Goode said. “In fact, sometimes if I skip cardio in the morning, I will literally walk the stairs up and down three times just to make sure I get my cardio in.”

But for him, the goal was never just about numbers.

“It was very much about (how) I was told that I wouldn’t live past 40… and I wanted to get rid of all the diagnoses.”

From Nurse to Bodybuilder in Training

Goode’s love for lifting led him to consider becoming a certified personal trainer. A trainer at his gym even encouraged him to join a transformation competition.

He’ll compete in October in Chicago, representing people who’ve dramatically changed their lives through weight loss.

To prepare, Goode shifted his training style—focusing more on strength and less on cardio—which has led to some weight gain. But the gain, he says, is mostly muscle.

His diet has evolved as well. He now tracks his macronutrients closely, still eating a high-protein diet with lower-fat foods, and has added complex carbohydrates to fuel his workouts and maintain energy levels.

What Worked for Goode: His Advice to Others

1. “Nutrition is going to be your biggest thing.”

Goode credits a calorie deficit for his early weight loss. He tracked food carefully and stuck to a high-protein, moderate-fat, low-carb plan.

“The biggest advice as far as actually losing weight is just (being in) a calorie deficit.”

2. Celebrate Non-Scale Wins

Goode says focusing on the number on the scale can be discouraging. Instead, he looks for small, everyday victories.

“I don’t have to pick up my foot to tie my shoe. I can just bend over.”

His favorite? Being more mobile during long shifts at the hospital.

“Being able to move around (the hospital) room a lot easier, being able to play with the kids without getting out of breath,” he says. “I enjoy it so much more now because I’m not getting (to) the end of the 12-hour shifts completely, like, dead.”

3. Find a Support System

Goode built his routine on his own, but leaned on a strong support network throughout his journey. His mother was a constant source of encouragement and his girlfriend stood by him every step of the way.

“She’s just been super supportive,” he said.

His colleagues at Riley were more than just cheerleaders—they were active participants in his transformation.

Shelby Nation, day shift coordinator at the hospital’s heart center, said Goode’s team made it a point to support him in every way they could.

“Whether it’s participating with him or just sending him an encouraging text or just telling him here on the unit, ‘Kevin, you look great. You’re doing so well, just we’re really proud of you.’ Just any kind of motivation that we can give him,” Nation said.

She added that Goode’s story has inspired others on staff to start making healthier choices, too.

Looking Ahead

Goode is on track to earn his certified personal trainer license and plans to graduate as a nurse practitioner in May. While he’s proud of how far he’s come physically, he’s even more motivated by what his story can do for others.

“I’ve already won, obviously, with shedding the weight off and changing my life and my lifestyle and everything I’m able to do now,” Goode said. “But just trying to put it in that next person’s mind that you can literally do whatever you set your mind to.”

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