Attacking Food Addiction Helped Me Reach My Goal in 6 Months! Almost 80 lbs LOST!

ClassicL337

Feel free to add me as a friend on MFP: stemen.tony@yahoo.com OR username ClassicL337

I recently celebrated my 39th Birthday (November 19th), but it was unlike any birthday I have ever had. 190 days ago (6+ months), I began a journey with 3 goals in mind: #1: Break Food Addiction; #2: Translate my Mental Health into Physical Health; #3: Lose Weight. On my birthday I HIT MY GOAL and lost 76.6 lbs. For most people, that would be enough, but I am working on the bigger picture, so in reality, I feel like I am only halfway there.

The “before” picture below showcases my predominate lifestyle of food addiction before this journey. I was fluctuating between 300-325 lbs, would get out of breath from walking upstairs, and my bloodwork levels were slowly climbing.



The “after” picture shows me in the present day. I have lost 76.6 lbs, I am eating 90% plant-based, I have reduced my waist by 5 sizes, and my cardiovascular health and bloodwork have improved immensely. I also included a picture of my bloodwork numbers, and how they have lowered and improved.



The most common questions I get are around “what are you doing?” or “what program are you on?” Quick Loss Programs and Fad Diets (like Keto) were not what I was pursuing. Quick fixes are not maintainable, and they often lead to heavy gains once you stop. I recognized in myself that I was mentally healthy enough for the first time, to begin working on the real problem: Food Addiction. I had been trained in life that food is the answer to all emotional baggage, and I had become addicted. So how did I do it? Calories Counting + Walking + Consistency + Accountability + Good Food. Here I am, 6 months later.



I am thankful for the tools that helped me to get here. MyFitnessPal is a fantastic app, and my current streak is 200+ days of counting calories. Orgain Protein and Greens smoothie mix was a staple, as it often replaced my lunch. Forks Over Knives inspired us to make some amazing dishes that are all plant-based. The We Do Meat Free Mondays Facebook group (Ohio) has also been an inspiring community that I am grateful to be a part of.

I am thankful for the many people that came around me on this journey. In the beginning, I asked several people to keep me accountable, and I still text them daily to share struggles, calories, and successes. Amy, Kelly, Maria, Tanya, Justine, Aaron, Jeremy, Jacob, and the other "Middle-Aged Noobs" (Gaming Group), I could not have done this without them.

So why I am only halfway through my journey? Because I spent a lifetime building bad food habits. I know need to spend more time building new ones. I will continue to count calories, continue to have accountability, and continue to work on mental health.

I am proud of this journey and happy to share it with you. I hope it’s an encouragement to you if you need to begin your own health journey.

Feel free to add me as a friend on MFP: stemen.tony@yahoo.com OR username ClassicL337

NovusDies

You may not have set out for a quick fix but that was extremely fast. I hope it all works out well for you. Good luck.

springlering62

Good job, Tony. Congratulations on your hard work and results.

I lost quickly as well. And then (by comparison) flatlined. Ten pounds a month the first six months, an average of 2-3 / month the next seven months.

I think that for some of us who are truly focused, and have the luxury of getting out and walking, running, or working out any time we please, it can appear to come “easier” than for others, but we’ve still committed to the changes in eating and moving. For me, this is a lifetime pursuit, for a better quality of life.

I think it’s unfair to categorize someone’s efforts as a “quick fix” unless you know them very well.

Tony clearly spells out that he’s invested in this as a long term plan, and not a fad or prepackaged diet plan, and should be wholeheartedly congratulated for his efforts.

GoJohnGo71

Good work