Teenager loses 60 pounds; encourages others to do the same

REXBURG - A teenager is using his own struggle with weight to try and inspire others who are battling the bulge.

Peter Cornell, 15, has lost sixty pounds over the past year and says he's never felt better.

"I was pretty overweight and fat. I was about 240, 250 (pounds) and now I'm 180, 190," Cornell told EastIdahoNews.com. "I really decided to start working out more and it changed my life."

Cornell says it all changed when two friends introduced him to CrossFit.

The intense workouts were brutal and exhausting but Peter loved them.

"I went last Christmas and it was terrible," Cornell said after a recent workout. "I was sore for the next two weeks and I was tired but it was also incredible."

Cornell says he's become addicted to exercising and during his free time you’ll often find him at Teton CrossFit.

"I’ve seen incredible improvements in the last couple months," said Cornell. "My overall endurance, stamina and cardiovascular strength has improved."

The Madison High School student has competed in CrossFit events around the country and says exercise has literally changed, and, in long run, likely saved, his life.

"It’s incredibly difficult at first to make a life change. You have to self evaluate a lot and changing behavior that you've been doing for so long is really hard," Cornell said. "But, if you start doing it, eventually it becomes fun."