This 570 pound man is riding across America for love and health

Eric Hites was not at a good place in his life when he decided to ride a bicycle across America. He weighed 570 pounds, was separated from his wife, and didn’t have a real career.

Realizing that he needed to make a change, Hites decided to bike his way across America to prove to himself, and his wife, that he was preparing for a long and happy life.

The Proclaimers were his inspiration for the more than 3,000-mile journey across the country. Instead of walking the overweight man, who was also a smoker, decided to ride a bike.

He started by purchasing a bike from a friend in Indiana for $17

He started exercising ahead of his trip after realizing that a very short trip left him winded and exhausted.

He started a GoFundMe page to help pay for the trip and his dad drove him from Indiana to Falmouth, MA.

In Rhode Island, his estranged wife, Angie Atterbury, met up with him and their love was reignited. She is now biking across the country with him.

He started the journey in July and has already lost 70 pounds. Doctors told the couple that extreme exercise and quitting smoking at the same time could hurt them. They decided to move forward despite the risk.

This isn’t a race, it’s a marathon, they often stop to see the sights and visit with family and friends.

In New York, Hites was surprised to receive media attention and warm greetings from locals including the Naked Cowboy.

Here’s Hites talking about his journey.