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For most people, losing a significant amount of weight while flying three or four times a week would sound almost impossible – especially given the food options available in airports. That was the exact challenge faced by busy dad and content creator John Nellis, who regularly travels the world filming football content with stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
YouTuber Browney documented Nellis’ 90 day transformation, during which he lost 20kg while trying to maintain a calorie deficit through airports, hotel buffets and life constantly on the move.
The Challenge
At the start of the challenge, Nellis weighed 119.7kg, couldn’t perform a single unassisted pull-up and admitted consistency had always been his biggest obstacle.
‘When I was younger, I definitely was the fat kid at school and I've went through lots of sort of crash diets, but I've never sustained it for longer than probably 30 days,’ he said.
‘This is the start of what you're going to see is going to be my biggest challenge,’ he explained before boarding one of his flights. ‘I'm going to fly so much this month it'll make you sick. And that's why I have never been able to nail down a routine in the last few years.’
Nellis focused on making better choices wherever possible. During one airport stop, he worked around limited food options by taking apart chicken burgers to prioritise protein while avoiding high-calorie extras.
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‘This is better. Not ideal, but better,’ coach Browney explained.
A flexible approach became key throughout the challenge. Nellis still attended birthday parties, weddings and work events, but tried to stay mindful of his calorie intake rather than avoiding social situations entirely.
‘This is a real transformation. This isn't some crazy thing where I don't have a life for 90 days,’ he said while attending his father’s birthday party. ‘It's my dad's big surprise party. I'm not missing this.’
The weight-loss progress wasn’t linear. Multiple plateaus left him frustrated, while injuries – including gout flare-ups, shoulder pain and lower-back issues – repeatedly interrupted training.
‘A whole week and no weight loss,’ he admitted at one stage. ‘Feel like I've been here before, but I didn't want to be here again.’
The Results
By day 90, despite the setbacks, his consistency had paid off. Nellis weighed in at 99.6kg, officially dropping below 100kg for the first time in years.
His gym performance improved dramatically too. Over the course of the challenge, he progressed from not being able to complete a full pull-up to six unassisted reps, doubled his push-up total from 22 to 44 reps, and improved his 100m sprint time by more than a second.
‘I've always just thought of myself as that fat guy who will eat the food and drink all the pints,’ he said. ‘But now I'm like, no, I want my identity to be that I’m fit and strong and healthy.’
He also noticed his healthier habits influencing his four-year-old son, Eli, who began copying his workouts and making healthier food choices at home.
‘I didn’t realise how important it was for him to see me making good decisions with my eating and with how I train,’ Nellis said.
Nellis said the process completely changed how he views his lifestyle moving forwards, rather than seeing it as a temporary diet.
‘This is just the start though,’ he said. ‘Honestly, this is the start of the rest of my life.’
