Victor | Los Angeles, CA

i started hiking when i started losing weight. i used to be 300 pounds. i would work out as a punishment. i used to punish myself. it would be like mid-summer, mid-day, i would throw on two pairs of sweatpants. underneath, i would wear a sweating body suit, a hoodie and go out jogging in 90 degree weather. because i told myself, “i deserve this.” “this is what i have to do to lose weight.” after that, i found hiking because i was just running at the park and stuff and hiking was very much a different experience. because this was never a punishment for me. like i actually enjoyed this. and so now, there are like my little therapy sessions.

victor, he/him/his
los angeles, ca.

interviewed & photographed by: louie a. ortiz-fonseca