Here is a concise summary of the text:
**Title:** From 500 Pounds to Army Fit: A Turbulent Weight Loss Journey
**Summary:**
* The author, 28, weighed 500 pounds and was told by their doctor they'd die within 2 years if they didn't drastically lose weight.
* Desperate, they traveled to a remote island in Papua New Guinea, where they spent a year in self-imposed isolation, losing over 300 pounds through starvation and eventually, fishing and exercise.
* Upon return, they struggled with rejection, fell back into old habits, became homeless, and gained weight back.
* In a second attempt, they chained themselves to a tree without food, losing weight in 3 months, and then successfully joined the Army.
* The Army's strict discipline, including public humiliation for overeating, helped the author maintain weight loss and find a new lease on life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, keeping each fact concise and numbered, without opinions:
**Personal Background**
1. The narrator was 28 years old when their doctor warned them about their weight.
2. The narrator weighed 500 pounds at the time.
3. They had no self-control over eating, consuming up to 10 Big Macs in one meal.
**Island Experience**
4. The narrator traveled to a remote island in Papua New Guinea for a year to lose weight.
5. They booked two seats on a flight (presumably for their return).
6. Preparations included buying vitamin pills, a water filter, and shackles.
7. The narrator paid a local fisherman $500 to take them to a deserted island, promising $2,000 more if he returned in a year.
8. The island had a freshwater spring, located within a small jungle.
9. The narrator tied themselves to a palm tree using the shackles.
**Physical and Emotional Changes on the Island**
10. Initially, the narrator experienced extreme hunger, leading to eating tree bark.
11. By the second week, they felt at peace, attributing past overeating to coping with stress and anxiety.
12. After four months, they had lost enough weight to exercise fully (beyond just sit-ups).
13. The narrator meditated for 6-10 hours a day, experiencing an out-of-body experience once.
**Return and Subsequent Events**
14. After a year, the fisherman returned, and the narrator had lost over 300 pounds.
15. Upon returning to the U.S., they visited their mom, who was unimpressed with their weight loss.
16. The narrator attempted to reconnect with a high school crush, but was rebuffed.
17. They relapsed into old eating habits, gaining back weight (up to 300 pounds) and becoming homeless.
18. They took out a $20,000 loan, which was spent on food over six months, leading to an additional 100-pound weight gain.
**Joining the Army**
19. The narrator attempted to join the army but was initially rejected due to high body fat (needed to be below 24%).
20. To meet the requirement, they camped by a river, chained themselves to a tree, and lost weight over three months.
21. After successfully joining the army, their sergeant's disciplinary measures helped them maintain weight loss through public humiliation and extra training.