More Than Meets the Eye: Isaac Thomas on Losing Sight, Gaining Vision, and Shedding 92 Pounds

Forget your everyday struggles for a minute and meet Isaac Thomas. This man went completely blind as a teenager, faced down life’s curveballs, built a career, and then decided, just for kicks, to wage an all-out war on his own body fat, dropping nearly 100 pounds in just 14 weeks. He says you don’t need sight to have vision, and honestly, after hearing his story, you’ll believe it. Isaac, welcome to Game Time. Thanks for taking the time.

Isaac: Thanks for having me, Jahlil. Glad to be here.

Jahlil: Man, your story is wild. Going blind at 15… Most people would fold. But you said it was… a relief? Talk about a plot twist.  

Isaac: (Chuckles) Yeah, it sounds strange, right? But after years of declining sight since I was 10, knowing it was glaucoma and there was no cure, finally losing it all meant no more bad news from eye doctors. It was like, okay, this is the new reality, no more fear, let’s face it.  

Jahlil: Facing it is one thing, but you went full speed ahead. Moved out on your own at 19, college, degree in Business Economics, full-time job at Verizon, no social security. You make it sound easy, but getting those jobs wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, was it? I heard Verizon even turned you down the first time?

Isaac: Definitely not easy! I went through probably 20 or 30 “nos” before Merrill Lynch even gave me an internship chance. And yeah, Verizon rejected me initially. You just gotta keep pushing. I learned young that life isn’t fair, so I decided I wasn’t going to play fair either. Turned all that frustration and anger into fuel.  

Jahlil: That “not playing fair” attitude seems to be a theme! Fast forward to 2022. You’re 275 pounds, can barely tie your shoes. What flipped the switch?  

Isaac: Same principle, different battle. I was mad at myself. I’d already lost everything once with my sight, moved schools, lost friends. I wasn’t about to lose my health because of bad food choices. I knew I could lose weight – did it in college. I wanted my body, my confidence back, like, now.

Jahlil: And “now” meant 92 pounds in 14 weeks? Bro, how?! That’s insane! The documents mentioned… uh… 5-pound boots, ankle weights, wrist weights, max resistance ellipticals, and basically not eating? Sounds less like a workout, more like self-torture.  

Isaac: (Laughs) It was extreme, no doubt. Liquid diet, tons of vitamins to try and be somewhat safe. The exercise was intense. Look, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But for me, it was about results, fast. I needed that scale to say 183.  

Jahlil: You also mentioned using… let’s call it ‘negative motivation’? Picturing people criticizing you? That sounds rough mentally.

Isaac: It was my fuel source. Just like when people doubted I could live independently or get a job after going blind, I used that feeling. Imagined criticism about being overweight, unattractive. It sounds harsh, but that anger kept me going when I was exhausted. It only works if you deep down believe you’re better than the criticism. I didn’t care if it was smart or healthy at that point; I cared about that number on the scale.  

Jahlil: From 275 to 183, and now you’re aiming for men’s physique competitions, all-natural. That’s some turnaround. What’s the big takeaway from all this?  

Isaac: Simple: You don’t need sight to have vision. I haven’t seen in years, but I had a vision of being independent, having a career, being healthy. I envisioned that scale saying 183, and I made it happen. Don’t let circumstances define you. Create your own vision and fight for it. Nothing is impossible.

Jahlil: Powerful stuff, Isaac. Seriously inspiring. Thanks for sharing that vision with us at Game Time. Anything else you want to add? Maybe where people can see these transformation pics you mentioned?  

Isaac: Thanks for listening! Yeah, the journey continues. And sure, people can check out the before/after if they’re curious – the link should be with the story. Keep pushing, everyone!  

Jahlil: You heard the man! Isaac Thomas, everyone. Visionary, in every sense of the word. Check out the full story and that transformation link online. This is Jahlil for Game Time magazine, signing off.