This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Nine years ago, Shay Butler had never owned a computer. The Pocatello, Idaho, native had never even taken a typing class in high school.

But the granite shop worker was introduced to the world of YouTube when some of his colleagues brought in a laptop and would watch the videos on break.

He decided to buy a $500 Dell laptop, and on the first night, he took it to bed. As his wife slept, he spent the entire night watching short videos from strangers around the world.

"When the sun came up, I decided then and there that I was going to make videos, too," he said.

Butler didn't realize how that one decision to start the Shaytards YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/SHAYTARDS) would change the direction of his life forever.

Fast forward to 2016, and he has been a full-time YouTuber for 8½ years, moved his family to Los Angeles and opened up a studio called Maker Studio that he and other founders sold to Disney for $550 million.

He was succeeding professionally, but after the birth of his fifth child and as his son neared his teens, the 300-pound man began to wonder what health example he was setting for his children.

"I was a big, squishy 5-foot-8½ guy who couldn't breathe very well when I bent over to tie my shoes," Butler said. "I didn't want to die because I was being selfish and shoving all this food in my face."

He set a goal to run the LA Marathon. The first time he jogged, he couldn't make it around the block. But he persisted, changed his eating habits, and eventually lost 100 pounds and ran the race in Los Angeles and several others.

He shared his progress on his Shayloss YouTube channel and would use the phrase "You're not fat, you've just got a little extra Shay on you."

He and his oldest son, Gavin, 11, decided to embark on a 30-day fitness adventure, the Fat Dad, Fat Kid Challenge. Each day poses a new challenge, from exercising to giving up soda. They documented their progress in the book "Fat Dad, Fat Kid: One Father and Son's Journey to Take Power Away From the 'F-Word.' "

Gavin, now 12, said he liked getting fit with his dad but said there were challenges.

"It was sometimes hard, like drinking all that water, but we got through it and lost some weight in the process," Gavin said. "It felt good to move and to use our bodies."

It's the father-son angle that caught the attention of Rob Eckman, marketing manager for The King's English, where the Butlers will be posing for photos on Saturday with anyone who buys the book from the independent Salt Lake City bookstore.

"I love that they're going through this together," Eckman said. "I also like the way that the father is enforcing it with his son, who at 12 is at a prime age to have influences in his food choices and eating behavior."

Butler said he is looking forward to hearing the stories of his readers and YouTube followers.

"Hearing those stories is what takes it to the next level," he said. "It's a fun opportunity to see the faces of the people who have supported us and made this all possible." —

Meet Shay and Gavin Butler

When • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m.

Where • The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City

Photo op • Free for anyone who buys a copy of the Butlers' "Fat Dad, Fat Kid: One Father and Son's Journey to Take Power Away From the 'F-Word' " ($16.99) from The King's English.