The Healthier Me: My Journey from 600lbs

dejavuohlala

You have got that feeling which tells me you will do this this time round. You have done great and I would like to watch your progress. You must do this for yourself and your child who wants their daddy around for a long time. I wish you all the very best of luck

shawnaleigh210

Congratulations!!! Your story is so inspiring, and you’re off to an amazing start! I look forward to seeing more updates from you! Keep up the awesome work!

girlwithcurls2

So many people here cheering you on. Stay the course. Live with the grace you would give someone else on those hard days when you mess up or backslide. Keep at it. You're doing great and you can take this all the way.

lk2011

Inspiring! I also have this bookmarked. Keep up the good fight and update us on your amazing journey. ❤️

MyEvolvingJourney

Great job! I'm excited to see your update!

stewarm01

Thanks. You got this!!!!

jst1986

The start is the hardest part - you can do this!!

kmfeig87

Thanks for sharing! You can do this, one day at a time! The community is cheering you on and here to support you!

gdionelli

Congrats on loving yourself enough to do this. It sounds like you are going about it in a great way!

melstell

best of luck!!

keodell1966

One day ( and yes one meal) at a time. Great job!!!

neugebauer52

Well done! "New lifestyle" is the magic word - doing my best for 176 days.

hollyk57

Such an inspiring post! Best of luck to you on this journey - I can't wait to hear the updates and progress. Congratulations for taking the first steps to taking your life back

workinonit1956

Just saw this and I’m joining in the cheering section!!! All the best to you on your journey, sounds like you’re off to a great start!

Mishilovescolours

I’m very happy for you and glad you have come to this stage of your life where you feel now is the time. Every day and every step is a step closer. Also look at it as a lifestyle thing rather than a diet. Keep up the great work and you will get there. And keep us posted on how you are doing. Take care and all the best x

EliteCoachKal

Congratulations on hitting that threshold and deciding to take action! The hardest part is over. It's all mindset from here, brother. You've got this.

dfoskey60

Your story is inspirational. Would love to see how you do. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm am 200pounds over what I'm suppose to be. Dr has given me 6months to loose around 100 pounds. I'm just starting this journey and I'm 3days in. Looking for any ideas help that I can get. I am needing back surgery and can not get it done until the weight is off.

quiksylver296

Are you still with us, @justintorres2012?

KPlaunt

It all starts with that first step, and you've taken that. You are off and running now! Best of luck to you:)

ItAintMagic

Can't wait to see your progress!

SisterSueGetsFit

Keep up the good work and great attitude. You can do this.

peaches183

I understand just how you feel. I went through something that made me shut down and not want to do anything. Then the weight came. Now I am trying to get myself where I need to be. No motivation in my life so I try as hard as I can and listen to music to help me. Keep posting your progress. You got this!!!!!!!💪💪💪

thejaylenbrown

Would you mind sharing your crust-less pot pie recipe? I'm diabetic and LOVE anything lower carb! Good luck at your weigh in tomorrow!

megnfrey

Truly inspiring. Keep posting updates. Everyone is rooting for you!

try2again

Any update on that appointment or in general?

RedStickdad

Keep up the good work, I can't wait to see your progress.

CCgal2018

After many unsuccessful tries, I also had an aha moment recently! Here are some things that I’m learning through this process that have helped me a lot.
1- It’s a process! There will be ups and downs. Dont let set backs get to you mentally, they are a natural part of the process. But don’t let them trick you into thinking you’ve failed. Just learn from them.
2- Look at the week as a whole. It’s not so much about the daily numbers but the overall picture. If, in general, you are eating healthier than before- it is a win! Run with that. Encourage yourself with that. (All or nothing thinking is dangerous)
3- Be cautious about over restriction. Your body will fight you for every extra calorie it can. Try to choose nutritionally dense choices for any extra calories. Use “extra” calories to experiment with new healthy foods. Introducing new low calorie flavors & spices will keep this sustainable if your taste palate needs variety.
4- Some substitutes that seem silly can actually be quite satisfying when a craving hits you! I used to think zucchini noodles were ridiculous. Like, laughable. But I tried them on a whim and they are now one of my favorite meals! Fruit is nothing like processed treats before you eat it, but after you eat it, you body will feel satisfied from the natural sugars. And your mind will feel a victory that keeps you encouraged.
5- Read, read, read! Seek advice and support when you need it. Any obstacle you encounter has been experienced and worked through by someone here. Sometimes it really does take a village. We are all in this together and everyone here has your back, through both setbacks and victories.
5- Dedication trumps motivation. You will not always feel motivated. Don’t listen to your feelings. Do the process anyway! You have a great plan- lean on that.

YOU GOT THIS!!

justintorres2012

My Journey continued: Day 32

I laid awake on the night of day 30. My doctor's appointment was in the morning. I am naturally a night owl so it was already hard enough to sleep. I kept running through the past week in my head. I still couldn't believe how fun and easy this has been. Not "easy" as in I'm not putting in the work, but how just changing the type of food I was eating so not to have that "need more" feeling.

I am an emotional eater, always have been. I enjoy food! I enjoy how it feels in my mouth, how it tastes to my tongue and the feeling of it going down. I love the mental... for lack of a better word "Orgasm", that food gives me. Food was always there for me when I felt nothing else was. It gave me that comfort. That feeling of wholeness... even after binging on several double cheeseburgers and semi regretting the stomachache. Food made everything better.

Now somehow its still doing all that, but in a different way. My relationship with food has changed. I'm having fun coming up with new recipes that are low calories and high protein. It's like a challenge. This has allowed me to eat bigger portions and not get extra calories. It is also helping to fill me up.

When I woke up that morning of Day 1 and knew I was ready! Everything had clicked, every day after was like waking up on some kind of happy drug. I was full of energy, my stomach didn't feel like crap. My head was clear and my energy increased more and more each day.

I was nervous about the appointment. I knew I had been telling myself its not about the number this time around, which I fully believe, because how happy I feel. I was just worried about seeing the number and it changing everything, like it use too. I actually logged on to my health to cancel my appointed because that's how scared I was to see the number. I didn't cancel...

After tossing and turning for a few hours I woke up on Day 31. Got ready and walked out of my house for the first time in over a month. It was easier then it had been a month and a half ago. First good sign! I have been trapped in my house for the past ten months, except for going to the hospital or clinic. This time I didn't have a panic attack from being outside. I got in the car and my daughter shut the door. I fit better in the car than before, second good sign. "Are you ready?" she asked. "here we go!," I said. Off to the clinic, we went.

"Justin?" My doctor's nurse asked as she came to get me out in the waiting area. Her and my Daughter walked and I still waddled to the first room where all my nightmares started, The Weight Room! "Please step on the scale", she nicely asked. "No, you step on the scale!" I thought to myself as I step onto the "Livestock" scale I like to call it. I looked down to read the number.

Let's take a second to reflect... I weighed 613lbs. The Fitness Pal app said that if I kept eating like this, I would weigh 582lbs. So I was planning on losing at least 20lbs, no more than 30lbs. I kept telling myself that It's not about the number, it's about how I feel, and I feel amazing! So no matter what, it's just a number!!!!!

The scale read 527! I was in shock so was my daughter. Of course, the nurse didn't know what was going on and why I looked like I saw a ghost and was speechless. We walked/waddled to the appointment room. She took my vitals and said my doctor will be right with me. She left and I turned to my daughter... "Um, how much did it say?" I was in disbelief. I mean in 2007 when I was younger and had lost 100lbs in a month and a week, I had been working out every day and basically starving. So believing that I lost 86lbs was unbelievable with just eating food.

My doctor walked in not really looking at me and started talking about she had found something that might help me since it was getting harder for me to get into the clinic because of my size. She turned and looked at me and I had the biggest smile on my face. "You didn't see the cart yet did you?" I said. She looked down at the chart, then at me, then did a double take! That moment alone was worth counting calories for the month.

It was hard not making Day 31 about the numbers. It was worth it for the day tho. I am motivated more than ever. I am excited to see where my journey takes me this month. This month I plan on adding walking to my daily goals and coming up with more low-calorie meals! My next appointment is October 29th. I will not be weighing myself until then.

Thank you to everyone that has been following me. It has given me motivation and an overwhelming feeling of belonging. Remember we all can do this and to keep it about the way you feel. Its ok to slip and fall, just get right back up and keep walking.

More to come throughout the month! I'm not sure how the best way to update. hope this is it. you can follow my personal blog as well. I will be updating more there. https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/justintorres2012

ShayCarver89

You can do it!!

justintorres2012

Hope that was the right way to update you all! I could not find an edit button or add button! lol