See the Incredible Before-and-After Pictures of a Man’s 130-Pound Transformation…All So He Could Join the Army

Steven Harper knew he was a big man.

"A lot of people told me, 'You're too big, Steven,'" he told KCPQ-TV.

But few people would go to the same lengths Harper did for their dream job. In the last year, Harper has shed 130 pounds from his originally 350-pound frame so he could serve his country by joining the U.S. Army.

"I've always seen the commercials on TV, and I got, I got excited," Harper told the news station. "Ask anyone growing up, I came from a military family and seeing my family and loved ones in uniform has always excited me."

A before-and-after of Steven Harper, who will attend basic training in the fall. (Image source: KCPQ-TV)

Army Sgt. Jesse Santos described Harper as "a pretty hefty guy" when he first came to the office at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Despite over 20 percent of his body weight being fat, Santos had a message for him.

"Don't give up," he said.

According to KCPQ, Harper was invited to train with those wishing to enlist.

"We're willing to help out anybody we can, they just got to be motivated and dedicated enough to, like, if you want to meet us half way, we'll go the full length with you," Santos told the news station.

After that initial day in the office, Harper said he immediately went home, put on his workout clothes and hit the pavement.

Steven Harper lost 130 pounds within a year so he could enlist in the U.S. Army. (Image source: KCPQ-TV)

It took a year, but Harper lost 130 pounds, officially enlisted in the Army and is preparing for basic training in the fall.

Watch KCPQ's report about the man's accomplishment:

A few years ago, the Army updated its body fat percentage for trainees age 17 to 20 years old to allow 24 percent body fat for male recruits and 30 percent for female. Six months after basic training, male soldiers had to drop their body fat percentage down to at least 20 percent, while females body fat percentage could remain the same.

"While the Army has established 'maximum allowable' body fat standards for soldiers based on age and gender, the DOD’s goals are 18 percent body fat for male soldiers and 26 percent body fat for female soldiers," a 2013 Army weight management document stated of its ideals.

"Although the Army allowable weight ranges are based on a BMI of 27.5 for males and 25 for females, a healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 25 for both males and females," the document stated further. "Therefore, soldiers should strive to achieve a weight within this range."

Military.com posts a list of height and weight allowances for enlisting.

(H/T: Daily Mail)