Every teenager goes through the process of discovering who they are in high school. For senior Jonny Klaeren, it was learning to love his body.

Klaeren started his weight loss journey in middle school when he realized he no longer had the ability to be confident in his body, so he decided it was time to make a change. This was harder than he thought it would be.

“I started trying to go to the gym in seventh grade and different diet stuff. But all these things weren’t really manageable, so I kept losing myself even more. The whole thing just kept repeating like nothing was working,” Klaeren said.

Non-manageable habits are hard to keep, but Klaeren had loved ones by his side the entire time supporting him and keeping him on track. DGS special services teacher Beth Fields has known Klaeren since he was born and helped him through his journey like he was her own son.

“I have worked with him over the years on his mental toughness. Him and I wrote a book together as well about mental toughness with weight loss. I did anything to just keep him believing in himself,” Fields said.

The book acted as a diary that kept Klaeren on track with his goals. Him and Fields would write down what he was eating, doing and how he was feeling.  He still has the book today and still writes everything down.

Slowly, Klaeren started believing in himself more and more. He began to focus on manageable habits, which quickly turned into his daily lifestyle.

“So I started focusing on things that were more manageable, like instead of a full on crazy diet, I would just cut things out of my diet like high calorie sauces or high calorie soda. Just making little quick food swaps and stuff like that, and then trying to eat more whole foods and making sure I was eating like a solid portion, not like a crazy amount,” Klaeren said.

He also had the help from his childhood best friend, senior Joe Grippo. Grippo watched all the ups and downs of Klaerens journey.

“Jonny and I have been friends for I don’t even know how long. It was hard to see him struggle in middle school when he was trying to lose weight but once he got into different habits and was losing the weight, his mood completely changed. I am just so happy for him,” Grippo said.

When they were younger, the pair would keep each other active by playing a variety of outdoor games and sports.

“Joe and Jonny have been friends since kindergarten so they like to do a lot of the same things, which I think has helped. They’re either at a park or doing some fun things together that are probably athletic, which keeps Jonny on track with being active,” Jonny’s mother Kathy Klaeren said.

Due to switching his eating habits and being more active Jonny began to lose the weight he’s been wanting too without realizing it.

“It was just such a good habit and a good work ethic. I was on such a manageable diet that I didn’t even notice it at that point, and I just kept losing weight. By me finally finding that balance, I was able to make all those changes,” Jonny Klaeren said.

Not only was Jonny Klaeren losing the weight he was working for, he started to find himself again and loving his body. His true self began to show and the people around him started to notice it.

“He started to allow himself to be more open minded and involved in so much. Now I don’t think there’s a thing that can embarrass him. I think he’s just comfortable with who he is and makes choices for himself rather than worries about what other people think,” Kathy Klaeren said.

Jonny Klaeren now is viewed as a leader among his classmates. He is a P.E. leader, Mustang Way leader, a varsity football captain and was a representative for the 2024 Homecoming senior court. Jonny Klaeren hopes that sharing his story will help people that are in his situation.

“My biggest piece of advice is just to find something that you can be consistent with. If you’re in that situation where you want to lose weight, I’m someone you can definitely come up to, I’m willing to help anyone even if your struggling,” Jonny Klaeren said.