Juan Dual (36 years old) from Spain often jokes that inside him, there is nothing but emptiness, literally. It sounds hard to believe, but the reality is almost that.
For many years, Juan Dual had to undergo surgeries to remove his stomach, colon, rectum, and gallbladder. Importantly, he learned how to live without them.
Juan’s sad yet inspiring story began when he was just 13 years old. At that time, he was diagnosed with a hereditary condition called familial adenomatous polyposis, which gave him a 99.8% risk of developing digestive system cancer.
Juan Dual before (left) and after (right) the removal of several body parts.
Juan’s grandmother and an uncle died from colon adenocarcinoma, and his father had to undergo bowel surgery as a precaution.
At the age of 19, right after finishing high school, Juan had to undergo a difficult surgery to remove his colon and rectum. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning…
By the age of 28, Juan’s situation worsened. The disease affected his stomach, necessitating its removal.
A post-operative hemorrhage nearly cost the young Spaniard his life, but he miraculously survived. However, the troubles did not end there. After his weight dropped to just 57 kg, Juan Dual struggled to stand up and take a few steps.
Then, a dangerous bacteria infected his gallbladder, prompting Juan Dual to undergo another surgery for its removal.
Once weighing 106 kg, Juan shared with El Comercio: “I lost 50% of my body mass and completely lacked strength.”
Just recovering from a series of major surgeries, during a severe economic crisis in Spain, Juan Dual decided to accept an invitation from some friends of his parents to travel to Japan.
There, everything began to change for the better. Juan Dual didn’t speak a word of Japanese, so he spent most of his time walking dogs. One day, the dog pulled harder, and Juan had to chase after it, realizing that he could still run.
Months later, Juan Dual moved to work in a peaceful small town in England. Surrounded by hills, he spent more time running.
Juan Dual made friends with like-minded individuals and shared his experiences. Everyone was surprised that he not only survived but could also run. From that point on, the idea of focusing on motivating others sparked in Juan Dual’s mind.
Everyone was surprised that he not only survived but could also run.
With the help of nutritionist Pepa, Juan Dual gradually redefined his eating habits to maintain enough energy for physical activities. Eight months after his last surgery, Juan Dual completed a half marathon in Barcelona in two hours. He then began training for mountain running and ultramarathons. Juan Dual asserts that sports have made him healthier and more motivated.
Not having a stomach changed how Juan Dual experiences hunger. He does not feel hunger like normal people do. His brain does not receive signals that nutrients are needed.
With only 3% body fat, his body has nothing to draw upon for nutrients, which could lead to fainting during a race. To avoid fainting, Juan fixed his meal times throughout the day.
It’s unclear how Juan Dual processes food, but according to the Spanish newspaper Marca, he eats everything he can.
“I can digest food, but I don’t conserve much energy, so I have to eat all day. It’s complicated, but I’ve learned to live with it,” Dual said. “Sports help me a lot and have given me everything. The more I run or bike, the more I eat. If I eat, I have more energy and strength. My family feels more at ease because they see me doing better. Additionally, I motivate many people by sharing my story.”
