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Sure!
So the first picture here was actually taken around 350 lbs, after I'd already lost 50 lbs. I hated cameras so much at 400 lbs, I basically refused to have my picture taken. I hated seeing myself at all and would even avoid mirrors.
I finally started to lose weight when my daughter (second child) was born. My father, who was 75 at the time, was on the ground with me playing with her. My wife called us for dinner, and he got up faster than me.
A 75 year old man with two fake knees got up faster than a 28 year old. That was the moment I knew it wasn't right to do this to my kids, it wasn't fair to make my wife an early widow from me dying young. So I started seriously losing weight.
I started off doing it healthily, reasonable calorie restriction and cardio with occasional lifting. However, i soon became obsessed with making the number on the scale go down faster and faster. To the point where I was restricting myself to 1000-1200 calories per day, while "intermittently fasting" for days at a time on occasion. It became an unhealthy obsession.
I finally realized how bad it was when people started asking if I was okay. Some people literally thought I had some extreme illness causing me to lose weight and were concerned. My wife was worried, and made it known.
So, I decided that was enough. I increased my calorie consumption to something reasonable (1700-2000 calories), started lifting again, and figured 165-180 would be a healthy spot to stick around. I still feel a ton of guilt and stress eating this many calories, but I've just gotta force myself to do it.
It’s very easy to slide into the eating disorder category after being overweight and then successfully losing weight. You get addicted to the progress while being so afraid of going back to how you were, so in your brain, it feels like the farther away from that you can be, the better. So glad you’ve found a middle ground. I have too. It’s not easy. But you look wonderful.
Thank you for your story!
Maybe start seeing psychiatrist to find the help you need because right now I think you're already met the goal, great job, but to see that you feels bad about it then maybe it's the mental health that need some caring 💪
Keep endure the stress and it could lead you to depression and that shit suck.
I’m so happy you are healthier OP. I’m sorry you feel guilty eating those calories. I’m glad you have a therapist and are working to improve yourself. I really hope that your mental health gets better. I know the whole weight loss thing can be a lot mentally beyond the weight. Also make sure you look into addiction transfer it might help explain something. Good luck OP keep up the great work
Good for you, sir - that's amazing!
As someone who sees one himself for his own issues, may I recommend a counselor and continued personal growth to help remove the guilt and stress so that you continue to be good to yourself (and make maintaining the healthy limits a lot easier/less stressful) for the foreseeable future?
Congratulations on your achievement man! Mind if i ask what your workout routine is in terms of lifting? did you lift when you lost the majority of your weight?
My routine is super simple. I weight lift 4 days per week, cardio 2 or 3 days per week (depending on if I feel the need for a rest day).
2 days are chest/arms, 1 day shoulders/back, 1 day legs.
I lifted at the very beginning, but had a shoulder injury fairly early that made me stop lifting for quite some time. Most of my weight loss was cardio and diet, but at an unhealthy restriction of about 1100 calories per day (eating disorder time).
I now eat about 1800-2100 calories per day with about 150g of protein per day. Enough that I'm very slowly losing fat and gaining muscle to replace it - so my weight is pretty stable, but I'm doing recomposition.
yeah but it’s honestly really scary and i don’t know when i’m gonna do that. i’m technically at a normal weight right now but i still don’t feel thin enough
Good work my man! As cliche as it sounds, we really do benefit more from embarking on the journey than we do from “arriving at the destination”.
I read your story and just wanted to share that I have had a similar path but with alcoholism. I used to drink a lot and decided I had to change. I felt sick just being in my own skin. I quit a little over 3 years ago, and started doing all of the stereotypical things people do in recovery. I went to therapy, AA meetings, started practicing yoga, mindfulness, and meditation… it genuinely helped me get through those first 6 months, but slowly it turned into being obsessive and borderline neurotic. I’m sure I was fairly insufferable there for a little while lol.
Anyways, nowadays I can just treat it as general health. I don’t drink because I like feeling good for my other hobbies. I like feeling healthy and happy around my family, and not drinking is a part of that for me. It was a balancing act to be mindful of my sobriety while also not making being sober my whole personality.
You look great. Like you’re really mastering the balancing act. Keep up the good work, and make sure to give yourself some love for how far you have come!
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wow congrats! you look so healthy now. how long did it take? this is a crazy transformation & your skin has obviously been through a lot but you can’t even tell at all! at least not from the pics. (i’m prone to stretch marks, cellulite etc. even when i lose weight) also did you do anything to cause your facial wrinkles to go away? they seem to have completely disappeared from pic 2 to 3.
Thanks a ton! It took about 3 years. 2 years to lose weight down to 140s, 1 year of eating better/right to get back up to 180.
My skin has had a crazy ride, that's for sure :P I've definitely got some stretch marks, but they're very faded now and aren't noticeable unless I point them out. For the face wrinkles, I think it was just adding some weight back on helped out quite a bit.
In the far left picture I was 28, in the middle picture I was 30, in the far right picture I'm 31.
hey do you mind telling me the name of your eating disorder i think i might have something similar.
i used to look like you in the first pic but since covid i no longer get dopermine from food so somedays i do not even eat im scared of becoming the 2nd picture ive lost half my body weight but im still big atm but im dropping fast
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I don't normally comment on these glow ups because they're typically and insufferably some averagely pretty girl who became an averagely pretty woman, big whoop, but my god dude! 🙌
You've absolutely smashed it! Please, for your sake, understand the immense progress you've made and never slip back. You owe it to yourself.
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Hey man, this is really inspiring for me. I felt like ive been trying over and over and not getting anywhere. When i hear stories like yours, especially after like age 24 and all makes me feel like i got so much more opportunity. You're an inspiration to me :)
Thank you - I'm so glad it was encouraging!
For me, I heard 95% of diets fail, that means 1 in 20 succeeded. I'd tried losing weight about 20 times, so statistically I was due for success! I know that's not really how stats works, but I chose to look at those numbers positively instead of negatively :P
You've got this, just keep pushing!
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I'm so happy you were able to find a healthy weight and fight those demons. I fight with disordered eating since childhood, specifically around depression/emotional eating. It's hard,
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Amazing. Would you be willing to share your story?
Sure! So the first picture here was actually taken around 350 lbs, after I'd already lost 50 lbs. I hated cameras so much at 400 lbs, I basically refused to have my picture taken. I hated seeing myself at all and would even avoid mirrors. I finally started to lose weight when my daughter (second child) was born. My father, who was 75 at the time, was on the ground with me playing with her. My wife called us for dinner, and he got up faster than me. A 75 year old man with two fake knees got up faster than a 28 year old. That was the moment I knew it wasn't right to do this to my kids, it wasn't fair to make my wife an early widow from me dying young. So I started seriously losing weight. I started off doing it healthily, reasonable calorie restriction and cardio with occasional lifting. However, i soon became obsessed with making the number on the scale go down faster and faster. To the point where I was restricting myself to 1000-1200 calories per day, while "intermittently fasting" for days at a time on occasion. It became an unhealthy obsession. I finally realized how bad it was when people started asking if I was okay. Some people literally thought I had some extreme illness causing me to lose weight and were concerned. My wife was worried, and made it known. So, I decided that was enough. I increased my calorie consumption to something reasonable (1700-2000 calories), started lifting again, and figured 165-180 would be a healthy spot to stick around. I still feel a ton of guilt and stress eating this many calories, but I've just gotta force myself to do it.
So crazy how you were afraid of mirrors and now you’re comfortable enough to take a mirror selfie. Congrats.
It’s very easy to slide into the eating disorder category after being overweight and then successfully losing weight. You get addicted to the progress while being so afraid of going back to how you were, so in your brain, it feels like the farther away from that you can be, the better. So glad you’ve found a middle ground. I have too. It’s not easy. But you look wonderful.
All absolutely true!
Thank you for your story! Maybe start seeing psychiatrist to find the help you need because right now I think you're already met the goal, great job, but to see that you feels bad about it then maybe it's the mental health that need some caring 💪 Keep endure the stress and it could lead you to depression and that shit suck.
I have a therapist already since I have bipolar disorder, so hopefully they can keep helping with the food problems too!
I’m so happy you are healthier OP. I’m sorry you feel guilty eating those calories. I’m glad you have a therapist and are working to improve yourself. I really hope that your mental health gets better. I know the whole weight loss thing can be a lot mentally beyond the weight. Also make sure you look into addiction transfer it might help explain something. Good luck OP keep up the great work
wow thanks so much for sharing your story. you're amazing. i wish you and your family good health ❤️
Good for you, sir - that's amazing! As someone who sees one himself for his own issues, may I recommend a counselor and continued personal growth to help remove the guilt and stress so that you continue to be good to yourself (and make maintaining the healthy limits a lot easier/less stressful) for the foreseeable future?
Wow, that’s seriously inspiring! Good job, my man!
Bro went full Christian Bale
From "The Machinist" to "The Batman" is my goal <3
Vice(Dick Cheney overweight), Machinist, Batman
You look fantastic. Great job! This Internet stranger is proud of you!
Thanks a million!
Wow I’m happy that you are healthy now!🫶🏾
Thank you, me too!
This is so incredible great job OP for never giving up and getting where you wanted to be🥲🙏🏾
Thanks - it was hard, but worth it :D
Congratulations on your achievement man! Mind if i ask what your workout routine is in terms of lifting? did you lift when you lost the majority of your weight?
My routine is super simple. I weight lift 4 days per week, cardio 2 or 3 days per week (depending on if I feel the need for a rest day). 2 days are chest/arms, 1 day shoulders/back, 1 day legs. I lifted at the very beginning, but had a shoulder injury fairly early that made me stop lifting for quite some time. Most of my weight loss was cardio and diet, but at an unhealthy restriction of about 1100 calories per day (eating disorder time). I now eat about 1800-2100 calories per day with about 150g of protein per day. Enough that I'm very slowly losing fat and gaining muscle to replace it - so my weight is pretty stable, but I'm doing recomposition.
Thanks 😄
Hell yeah brother
the obese to eating disorder pipeline is real. congratulations though you look amazing now
It really is :/ thanks!
you’re welcome
Ye I’m on it rn lol
me too
How u finding it? U think ur gonna try gain muscle after u lose a satisfactory level of weight?
yeah but it’s honestly really scary and i don’t know when i’m gonna do that. i’m technically at a normal weight right now but i still don’t feel thin enough
Ye same lol but I think I do have an end goal in mind, so I’m thankful for that. Why don’t u try set a target maybe? Or nah
well idk what it could be
Nice
Thanks!
You look great now buddy. Good job.
Big swings, glad you found your happy place in the middle. Keep it up brother
Thanks! Hopefully in a few months or year I'll have an updated progress picture with more muscle :D
Hell yes brother
Dude you look like Jonny B! Everybody loves Jonny B! Congratulations! https://preview.redd.it/94j9dys9665d1.jpeg?width=940&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65363efc46e94a23fa6196249789a0b820952f01
Thanks!
Impressive!
Thanks a ton!
Keep smashing it man!
Thanks! Hopefully I'll have more muscle to do an updated post in the future :P
No reason you won't if you keep pushing yourself. Takes time and discipline. You got it!
You look like you’d make a cool old-fashioned chauffeur who would also throw down if need be, congrats!
Very specific. I'll take it! Thanks :D
You look awesome. Glad you are healthy for you, your wife, and kids!
Thanks a ton!
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Lol, glad I could help somehow!
Amazing work. Good job 👏👏👏
Thanks!
Good on you for getting yourself healthy. Be good to yourself.
Much appreciated, will do :)
Wow, what a journey!
Long, but worthwhile!
Good work my man! As cliche as it sounds, we really do benefit more from embarking on the journey than we do from “arriving at the destination”. I read your story and just wanted to share that I have had a similar path but with alcoholism. I used to drink a lot and decided I had to change. I felt sick just being in my own skin. I quit a little over 3 years ago, and started doing all of the stereotypical things people do in recovery. I went to therapy, AA meetings, started practicing yoga, mindfulness, and meditation… it genuinely helped me get through those first 6 months, but slowly it turned into being obsessive and borderline neurotic. I’m sure I was fairly insufferable there for a little while lol. Anyways, nowadays I can just treat it as general health. I don’t drink because I like feeling good for my other hobbies. I like feeling healthy and happy around my family, and not drinking is a part of that for me. It was a balancing act to be mindful of my sobriety while also not making being sober my whole personality. You look great. Like you’re really mastering the balancing act. Keep up the good work, and make sure to give yourself some love for how far you have come!
Thanks a million, I'm glad to see you taking care of yourself as well :)
Amazing job taking care of yourself, learning about yourself, honoring your self!!!! Takes bravery and hard work.
Thanks a million!
Really wanted to try everything out, huh? Congrats.
Ya know, diversity is the spice of life and all that :P
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Proud of you stranger 🖤
Thanks my dude!
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wow congrats! you look so healthy now. how long did it take? this is a crazy transformation & your skin has obviously been through a lot but you can’t even tell at all! at least not from the pics. (i’m prone to stretch marks, cellulite etc. even when i lose weight) also did you do anything to cause your facial wrinkles to go away? they seem to have completely disappeared from pic 2 to 3.
Thanks a ton! It took about 3 years. 2 years to lose weight down to 140s, 1 year of eating better/right to get back up to 180. My skin has had a crazy ride, that's for sure :P I've definitely got some stretch marks, but they're very faded now and aren't noticeable unless I point them out. For the face wrinkles, I think it was just adding some weight back on helped out quite a bit. In the far left picture I was 28, in the middle picture I was 30, in the far right picture I'm 31.
Damn, Good job man. Inspirational.
Thanks a ton!
Absolutely fantastic. Well done, OP. Proud of you.
Thanks for the encouragement!
You had an eating disorder in that first pic too. You were eating *dis order* and *dat order*.
Well done!!! Did you have to eat the same meal over and over again ? Im trying to be like you!
Lol I didn't have to, but I found a very frequent meal that I loved! Smoked pork tenderloin and a veggie :)
hey do you mind telling me the name of your eating disorder i think i might have something similar. i used to look like you in the first pic but since covid i no longer get dopermine from food so somedays i do not even eat im scared of becoming the 2nd picture ive lost half my body weight but im still big atm but im dropping fast
I'd say it was primarily anorexia with occasional bulimia. I'm sorry to hear that! I hope you find something that works for you <3
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I’m really proud of you! You worked so hard. Eating disorders are no joke, I used to work in a treatment center. Be as kind to your body as you can!
From fat to frenchman
You motivate me bro.
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john mayer lookin ass (mean this as a handsome compliment, congrats on your recovery)
Lol well thanks a bunch!
Woah woah woah! Thats amazing. Great job OP. Always be proud of yourself.
Ty ty ty!
I don't normally comment on these glow ups because they're typically and insufferably some averagely pretty girl who became an averagely pretty woman, big whoop, but my god dude! 🙌 You've absolutely smashed it! Please, for your sake, understand the immense progress you've made and never slip back. You owe it to yourself.
Thanks my guy, I seriously appreciate the encouragement!
What a badass. Really inspiring bro 👊
Thanks dude :D
Which is your favorite?
Good for you!!!!!
Ty!
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Hey man, this is really inspiring for me. I felt like ive been trying over and over and not getting anywhere. When i hear stories like yours, especially after like age 24 and all makes me feel like i got so much more opportunity. You're an inspiration to me :)
Thank you - I'm so glad it was encouraging! For me, I heard 95% of diets fail, that means 1 in 20 succeeded. I'd tried losing weight about 20 times, so statistically I was due for success! I know that's not really how stats works, but I chose to look at those numbers positively instead of negatively :P You've got this, just keep pushing!
What meals did you have that made the journey a bit easier? Eating healthy can be a brutal drag and I’ve found good food makes a huge difference.
Christian Bale hold this guy’s beer!
I love seeing people kick their EDs ass because it is so hard mentally and physically. Congratulations. Super encouraging.
That is awesome, my guy! Congrats
What an amazing story! We are all proud of you!
What a story . Good for you man .
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Current you is giving off Zach Wood vibes..but elegant mustache Zach Woods
Congrats bro, takes alot of Discipline to get where you're at now !
Congratulations bro. Now save some poon tang for the rest of us. Please brother.
You're a massive inspiration bro. You deserve every bit of your success.
I'm so happy you were able to find a healthy weight and fight those demons. I fight with disordered eating since childhood, specifically around depression/emotional eating. It's hard,
I’m in my middle pic phase rn lol
I like the skinnier you.
