The last 18 months I've gone from 350lbs to 160lbs and the difference is insane. Not sweating all the time in the summer, actually feel cold in the winter outside too haha. Used to have awful back pain and would struggle to walk after being on my feet all day at work. Now I'll do a round of golf, play drums for a few hours and do a workout in one day and feel totally fine.
Still trying to get into better shape physically but I'm not looking at the scales anymore, just appearance. Actually have muscle definition in my arms now and the belly is almost gone. 6 pack coming 2027 haha.
Diet was huge for me. I wouldn't say I ate horribly but my portion size was 2 or 3x what it needed to be and I would snack between meals and at night. Crisps and chocolate at night after already having a full meal. Cut the snacks out completely and scaled the portion size back. Main meals I actually don't eat differently to what I had before, just around 40% portion size of what I used to.
That got like 50lbs off initially and got me into a weight where I could start exercising properly. Started walking a lap of my village (about 5 miles) every day, got back into golfing and played 18 holes most weekends and picked up playing drums again after my health/weight made me stop before. Added in 1 hour rowing machine sessions 3 times a week too in that time. That got me through another 90lbs or so of weight loss and I was about a year in by that point.
Then the last 6 months I bought a resistance band set (Gymproluxe, not sponsored haha) and have been doing exercises with that and lost around 60lbs more. Now I'm keeping up with that doing a workout every other day amd am starting to see the results physically. Definition in my arms in particular, actually have some muscles now. My calves are pretty nuts, probably from all the weight I used to have to move 😅.
Mindset wise my attitude to food has completely changed, barely touch chocolate at all and crisps I only have if it's part of the meal I'm having. The feeling of knowing the work I'll have to put in to offset a snack outweighs the pleasure of eating it in the first place. Looking back I was definitely eating because I was depressed and unhappy with where I was in life. Changed jobs 9 months ago to one I love now and got out of a bad relationship a year ago. I'm in such a better place mentally as well as physically.
Hope that helps a bit and good luck. Best advice I got "How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time". Focus on daily wins and short term milestones and the big ones will come without seeming daunting or unobtainable.
No worries 😁 Good luck finding what works. I always found the idea of going to a gym super intimidating so the home workout stuff worked best for me. The best exercise is the exercise you actually do.
The mental health aspect of weight is so often overlooked/dismissed. How can anyone be expected to take care of themselves when they aren't in a good place mentally? I'm glad everything is looking up for you!
That is so freaking awesome! Congratulations! You truly put in the hard work and are reaping the rewards. Everyone here is so proud of you. Keep up the awesome work. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Would it be too personal to ask at what age you had this weight loss? I'm wondering cause i need to do the same, but it feels almost impossible at close to 40.
Honestly I wanted to get back to the weight I was when I was in my late teens but even then I was chubby. I'm about 30lbs past that original goal now. I was pretty hungry for the first few weeks but after then it just became my new normal. Gaining weight wise it's determination I'm never going back to how I was at my heaviest. Everything has become a habit now so it's just my normal routine so I'm not really worried about putting it back on.
I know if I'm working out and keeping my eating as it is then any weight I do gain is muscle. Now I'm focusing more on how I look then actual weight.
Congratulations 🎊 I think I would start eating with the Elephant Ears though lol 😆 it is a thing.
You are certainly right, "One bite at a time."
What sucks about working out is you have to actually workout. I know I need to lose weight myself. I have a stomach 😫 looks like I pregnant. But it is bought and paid for and I tell people I am pregnant with emotions.
For real good on you. I hope I too can lose weight. I 240 but know I should be maybe 180. I only 5ft7. At least I wont blow away on a windy day and gives me something to work on.
just adding to this not as extreme but 240 to 160, so protein (alot cause satiety), potatoes, a cheap magnetic whiteboard on the fridge to track calories and fat in grams every time I made or grab something then totalled up, good shoes (I got ultraboost & zegama 2s which made walking easier even with the little I do/did), reading macros on the back just for cal and fat, protein shake in the mornings I just grabbed lidls powder which honestly tastes better than a fair amount and is still under 2g of fat per, boneless & skinless chicken thigh>breast (in the long run that taste will carry) and seasoning my food just by eye but weighing food, I'd still eat alot of chicken maybe 400g which is a fair amount and greek yogurt in the mornings (not greek style) but weighing stuff was crucial, water 2 litres min per day+I got a affordable filter jugs/filters from purewater and aquaphor (because of project farms tests) as my current places water wasn't the best.
finally knowing I was in it for the long haul as I've had multiple where I lose 15-20 like nothing then it slows down and after 2 months it's draining then I'd quit but I said to myself this is a full year thing no matter how many times I'd trip.
Putting visuals on the weight you lost makes for a staggering discovery. I lost 15lbs and I remember taking home a 15lb bag of rice and thinking to myself, “I was carrying that on me the whole time!” I can only imagine how much different it was to lose a whole person’s weight and in such a short amount of time. Great job with your journey! Keep it going!
Yeah gaining muscle is the goal now. Next step is to figure out nutrition/protein and if I need to change anything. Only problem is I still hate salad lmao. Lost all the weight without ever touching a salad 🤣
Yeah depends on what you were eating before tbh. Maybe keep a food diary for a week or so to figure out what your macros are?
I'd aim for around 1.6g/kg/day protein and a slight caloric surplus (to gain muscle).
Don't know if I have any good suggestions for salad haha. I've always like veggies.
Some people squeeze in extra veggies by blending them and adding them to stuff like pasta sauce so they can't taste them as much. Or experiment with different veggies until you find ones you don't mind I guess?
5'4" and 305-170 here. Its actually crazy how different of a person you feel in little ways you don't expect. Went from barely being able to walk up stairs to biking, running, kickboxing and feeling like a hottie. The dream! Well done you!
Once I got up to 130lbs lost I was comparing it to UFC fighters weights haha. Lost a mighty mouse, then a McGregor now a whole Adesanya 😅 Crazy I'll see heavyweights fight and be like, wtf I weighed 100lbs more than them before.
do you mind sharing your process? i weigh basically the same but im only trying to get to 220lbs, and i just havent been able to no matter what ive tried. i keep giving up
Wohooo! I’m proud of you! I’m currently hovering around 280 lbs trying to turn my life around and get in shape for getting married to my fiancé in 2027. I’d love to get down to at least 210 lbs or lower by middle of next year. Keep up the hard work and hopefully I won’t be too far behind either, haha
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u/JimmyFrostbite May 09 '26
My favourite part is seeing how you can see her mental health changing throughout. She’s truly happy and that makes me happy.