o/

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who posts here, from a long time lurker. I had viewed a few posts a long time ago and they were part of the initial motivation for me to get up off my ass and start fixing my life. Just hoping that this may inspire one person, like it did to me, to begin/continue your journey.

Start: 361lb

Current: 229lb

Goal: 195lb

First ever comparison photo: https://i.imgur.com/BaCmmCu.png

12/25/2017 vs 11/27/2019 (I HAVE WRISTS! And ankles xD)

Today, I have officially lost 132lbs and 14" off my waist. I still don't believe how the hell I got here and I sure as hell don't remember being as big as I was...without a doctor, my closest friends, and this subreddit, I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am now.

I owe my life to so many people and cannot stress this point enough. I will be forever grateful.

My journey began when I was getting tested for sleep apnea. My doctor told me bluntly, lose weight or use the machine cause one day you'll go to sleep and you just won't wake up. I immediately called my best friend, a physical trainer, and it begun.

Baby steps...cut out the fast food...ugh I miss the Bell....and Redbull.

We then progressed to cutting potatoes/white everything, and I was stuck with whole grain bread and peanut butter for a few months as a snack. I tried eating vegetarian, keto, Paleo, all the fad diets and none of them could keep me interested so instead I just counted.

Every. Single. Calorie.

I still ate a bunch of garbage at first but as long as I kept under 3,000cal/day, I achieved a goal. After a few months, I began lifting. No cardio cause fuck cardio. Went to planet fatness and got bored quickly with the process, started hating myself...all the machines were facing mirrors and I just couldn't do it. I got fed up and quit there, a few months later I was back off another diet and miserable.

Black Friday 2017, sale for a weight bench, barbells, a reclined indoor bike, the whole nine. I splurged and started to take things seriously. My best friend came over (still does) 3x a week and lifts with me.

I bought a whiteboard and hung that in my room, every day there was a little baby goal and a weekly goal in my face. At first; 20mins lift, 20mins cardio 3x a week, 2lbs lost this week. I can't tell you how many times I skipped cardio...an embarrassing amount.

Week after week, the goals got higher, I missed a few and achieved them later...as long as I tried, I couldn't fail. Every time I didn't complete a goal, I just told myself, we'll try again tomorrow. My diet naturally changed, I kept under cal/day, missed that goal a handful of times but kept at it. I couldn't ignore the whiteboard.

All the proteins.jpg. I ate (mostly) what I wanted at this point but as long as I A) stuffed protein in my face, and B) stayed under 3,000cal/day.

Today: Addicted to lifting heavy things, haaaaate cardio but I do it daily...grudgingly. The whiteboard is still up and is updated almost daily, 2.5k/cal a day limit. 1hour lift session 3x/week, still unable to really do knees/legs but we're getting there!

My current diet = 2,500cal/day with flexibility.

The point here is keep under calorie but also listen to my body, on lifting days I eat protein like a horse, steak or grilled chicken; often going over my 'limit' but as long as it's either protein or healthy, I'll allow it.

Vegetables. Lots of veg...carrots/celery with peanut butter is life.

Low sugar (protein bars), no potato, no dairy, one slice of bread allowed a day (multigrain or low-cal Italian white bread).

More water than I'd ever think I'd be able to consume, usually sitting between 86-144oz/day - lower in winter though. Only other drink I'll consume is black coffee.

The rest is pretty much open to interpretation and my mood, sometimes I'll go with a handful of pretzels or half-bag popcorn but as long as I keep under my special number, I'm happy.

Next year's goal: Abs. 6 of them.

If there's any advice I could give it's:

Get a workout buddy who will kick your ass and cuss you out if you take a day off.

Get a whiteboard in your room and put your daily/weekly goals on it. If you don't reach your goal, try again. You didn't fail, you just didn't achieve your goal yet.

Cut out sugar, fast food, 420.

Count all the things! It sucks but once you make it a habit, you'll be able to pretty much guess where you'll need to stop eating.

Don't beat yourself up, everyone has bad days, just make sure to refocus your energy and attempt your goal again.

Thanks for reading,

DS