At one point in his life, famous LDS YouTuber Shay Butler was almost 300 pounds. Afraid of having a heart attack before the age of forty, Butler signed up for a marathon and posted the registration on the fridge. That gave him the motivation and reminder he needed to change his life as he documented his transformation online.
However, recently, Butler noticed the weight creeping back on. That inspired him to start a fun new endeavour with his son, one they recently turned into a book that chronicles their journey, Butler's battle with his weight, and how their faith has helped them through both.
When Shay Butler and his then-11-year-old son Gavin Butler started a 30-day challenge to eat healthier and lose weight last summer, it was a challenge they planned to do together.
“He was excited,” Shay Butler said of Gavin’s reaction. They listed some activities they wanted to do, including swimming, biking, soccer, running and basketball.
When Butler, a digital entrepreneur and vlogger known for his Shaytards YouTube channel, would travel for work, Gavin came along too.
“No matter where I was, he traveled with me,” Butler said in an interview with the Deseret News. “It’s been a big relationship-building experience for us.”