350 lbs to 170 lbs
 

Hi, I posted here a year ago, back when I was 193 lbs. I'm at 168 as of this morning, which isn't a huge change over the last year, but it's pretty close to my goal weight. I'm 5'11" and began out at 350 lbs. You can see a picture of that change below.

On the left, you'll see a 350 lb miserable, lethargic, unhealthy 25 year old. On the right a 27 year old with a new lease on life. Naturally, everything is different and I feel a billion times better. I just wanted to post this to help inspire some of you trying to make the same transformation. I really identify with those at 300+ lbs because I lived that life and know exactly what it's like. I was never able to go all out like the biggest loser contestants, I just stayed dedicated and consistent throughout the years. There were binges here and there (I can easily down 5000+ calories in one sitting, even now), but I never allowed them to slip me back into my old habits.

To be honest, it makes me feel a little sad looking at old pictures of myself, that I ever allowed my life to slip away. I just sat at home, at my computer, eating, never socializing, going through the motions of work and hating waking up in the morning. I had back problems, joint pains, sleep apnea, I slept 10+ hours a day, the list goes on. For those that are struggling with their weight loss, keep with it, there is very little I have ever experienced in my life that was worth as much to me as transforming myself. I don't look at myself having reached my goal, in fact, I will have never reached my goal. I plan to gain more muscle then lose the rest of the fat I've got, and always strive to be healthier, stronger and fitter. That way I won't become complacent. I can't allow myself to fall into a destructive oblivion again.

Good luck everyone, always remember that every pang of hunger, every sore muscle, every time you're winded and every doubt is worth it in the end. I just wish I hadn't had to hit rock bottom to snap out of it.

Congratulations , great job ? Why haven't we heard from you before ? How did you lose it ?

Wow, Looking good!! ;D

What an amazing inspirational difference. Which plan did you follow? Just eat less, move more? Congrats!

Great job and congrats! That is really inspirational, thank you for the post.

Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

this is a great post.....thankyou so much. I love Biggest Loser but who out here in the real world has 6 hours a day to exercise!! Yours is a much more "real world" loss.
Onwards and .....um....downwards!

THANKS for sharing your story and your pics with us RJ. You have done well and you look great now; you really do! :D

Hi, I tend to not share very much about my weight loss. It is an important part of my life, but I also like to think I have become a new person that can put those days behind me. Those were dark and depressing times for me, so I try to avoid thinking too much about them and discussing it very often. But I feel like I should try to help inspire others, because there were many that helped inspire me when I began.

Back at 350 lbs, I started to lose weight at around 2800 calories. I would attempt half-hearted workouts, but just moving around more was exercise enough. I started using an elliptical in the lower 300s, and became more vigorous with it in the upper 270s or so. Eventually I was jogging and lifting weights. My calories were slowly going down over this time, until I was eating around 2000 at 200 lbs. I've been losing at about 1700-1800 calories more recently.

I don't deprive myself of foods I enjoy, but I eat them in limited quantities. Once upon a time, fruits had no appeal to me. Why would they when I was used to eating a full meal of fried Chinese food with a bag of chips, coffee milkshake and peanut butter cookies in one sitting? I hate to think of all the other meals I was regularly eating. My brain was desensitized to the taste and pleasure of sugar and fats, I'm sure, and I needed more and more to get my fix. I was like a druggie, but with food. Now a banana tastes like a decadent dessert. I never thought that would be the case, but it happened. I had periods of maintaining my weight, periods I didn't exercise very much, etc, but I always got back on the wagon. I think the worst "bounce back" I had was gaining around 10 lbs after I had got down to 188. But I worked this off, and more, to get to where I am now. All in all it's been a good 2.5-3 years since I began.

I think the most important thing people should remember is that you didn't become 300+ in a day and you won't lose it in a day, or a few months. Patience and consistency is the way to change your life around. Breaks are ok. Just try to never move backwards, because that will lead to a lot of regret. I spent years as a glutton, eating everything in sight and sitting in solitude as I grew ever larger. I'm not even sure I cared about human interaction at that point; I found it unpleasant to interact in person with anyone due to hating how large I had become, including my family. I didn't like people even looking at me. I have drastically changed in this regard.

All it took was time, 30-45 minutes of exercise anywhere from 2 to 6 times a week, and adjusting my calories to lose the weight. 80% of the time I chose healthy food, other times I just felt like eating that whoopie pie or cupcake. Some people are happy with being 300+ lbs, and I wish them well, but I wasn't, and I hope those that feel that way will reach all of their goals and beyond.

Patience. Yes, this is what I'm struggling with most. For like a whole minute I'll be overjoyed to have lost a pound until I realize that 306 pounds is a whole lot for a human and I am still very very large. Blegh... Baby steps I suppose.

Yes, that was one of the most frustrating parts of losing weight for me. It seemed like if I had put in months of hard work, eating healthier and exercising more than everyone around me, I should have more to show for it. So I started to try to frame my perspective differently. As I lost weight and met milestones, I told myself I would NEVER go back to that. "That was the last time I'll ever be over 300 lbs", "I'll never weigh 250 lbs again", etc. And it's been true, and I promised myself I'll never return. So even if you are still big, you're smaller than you were, healthier, in better condition, and closer to your goal. That's work you won't have to do again because it's already done. And when you stall, just remember you're consolidating progress and hard work previously achieved, because standing still is leagues better than going backwards.

Just the inspiration I need as I begin my journey. My story is similar (though I'm a few years older) and I mourn for the years I've "lost". Had I stuck with it 4-5 years ago when I was working on it, I'd be through it now. So this time, gotta stay the course.

Thanks for sharing your story, you look great.

Thanks for the post. I would love to share a post like this in about a year. Thanks you look amazing.

You are incredible! :) You are just what I needed to read. True inspiration to this girl who was approaching 300 lbs at the same age as you. It does get hard and I always think to myself, gosh you have lost over 80lbs and you are still in the 200s. It does get me down but not for long. I know with patience and time, I will get to where I want to be. Thank you for sharing your story and proving that it really is possible!

Congratulations!!! Remarkable progress!! Good luck on maintaining now..Awesome!!