At 600 pounds and completely burned out, AJ had completely lost himself. What followed was a collision of psychosis, homelessness, and the painful unlearning of who he thought he had to be to survive. When chronic illness forces him to confront the fragility of time, he makes a radical choice: he quits the “safe” path to chase alignment instead. What follows is not a tidy redemption arc, but an honest reckoning of ambition, identity, and hope. One that leads, unexpectedly, to the dream of building a protein cookie brand rooted in real ingredients, creativity, and care. This is a story about losing hundreds of pounds and shedding even more: shame, denial, and the belief that suffering is the price of success. It’s about learning that healing isn’t linear, dreams can look unconventional, and life is too short to live out of alignment with who you really are. - @resurrectedphnx