Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Check the after pic after the jump!

Nate Newton’s fans, friends and family always knew him as “Big Nate.” Now, they may have to start calling him “Bigger Tre.”

As an offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys from 1986 to 1999, Newton helped pave the way for the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith. Newton won three Super Bowls during his fifteen-year career, and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times.

Though he had plenty of skill, Newton stood out on the football field because of his enormous size. During his playing days, Newton weighed about 325 pounds. He played well at that weight and stayed in good shape from a conditioning standpoint, but carrying over 300 pounds of weight is stressful on any body.

After his retirement, Newton gained another 75 pounds. He now flirted with 400 pounds and was qualified as “super obese.” Newton knew he wouldn’t live long at that weight, so he decided to do something about it in February.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Newton visited Dr. David Kim in hopes of getting a vertical gastrectomy. Much like gastric bypass, the surgery alters the size of a person’s stomach. However, instead of using staples, the vertical gastrectomy removes up to 75 percent of the stomach, leaving a sliver that looks like a shirt sleeve.

Newton opted to have the relatively new surgery, and in ten months, he’s lost nearly half of his February weight. At 220 pounds, Newton is barely recognizable to those who remember him as “Big Nate.”

“I don’t get discounts anymore because nobody recognizes me until they see my credit card,” he said. “Then it’s, ‘Aw, Big Nate.’ But, by that time, I haven’t ordered enough to even matter.”

In addition to changing his digestive system, Newton also radically changed his lifestyle. He told WFAA-TV he works out for up to two and a half hours per day, five days per week. Newton said he has even surprised himself with his radical turnaround.

“Just six months ago, my head was like this big,” Newton said holding his hands wide. “Most people say I look like my kid that’s at the University of Texas. So, they just think I’m a bigger Tre.”

Newton’s son Tre, a sophomore running back for the Longhorns, weighs 200 pounds. Big Nate said his ultimate goal is to weigh even less than his son, 196 pounds. With his radical transformation and his new lease on life, it’s a safe bet that Big Nate will accomplish whatever goal he sets for himself.