3 years and 185lbs lost Total

JuanSLOjourney

Hi Guys, just wanted to post a story on here since I never have. I started my weightloss journey at 408lbs 3 years ago. I was able to get to 398 over a few months of stumbling my way through the process of trying to learn WHAT fit meant to me. I had never seen myself as not fit, but it was until my doctor kind of pissed me off that I decided to do something about it. In one of my last visits I was explaining to him about some aches and pains and he told me it had to do with my size. Then he said he was not going to attempt to move my stomach because "he didnt want to hurt his hands" I felt embarrassed...and pissed. That week I started my research on what eating changes could I make long term. Not just a diet that I could not maintain. I settled on Keto(more of a low carb diet). I decided not to work out for a few months as not to get overwhelmed with learning how to eat and workout. After 3 months I started to fumble my way around the gym.
After 3 months I had lost about 60 pounds and was excited. I had kept up the progress and got down to 222lbs until.....COVID. It flipped my world upside down. With food shortages, and work schedules being flipped I gained 58lbs back in 5 months. I was finally able to see my problem, make necessary changes, and get most of that back off. I am 8lbs from my prior low, but decided I want to 15lbs more on top of that. I guess with some committment and a plan that has hard deadlines anything is possible. Figured I would share and hopefully this can help other folks.

Alex

Well this is amazing! Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.

StephanieStC

Great job!!! You did something really wonderful for yourself!!!

142jmh

Wow! You are amazing! Thank you for sharing, and congrats on all of your hard work and dedication!

backinthesaddleagain57

This is wonderful!!

backinthesaddleagain57

Oh, and I hope you changed Dr.'s

mananpatel549

Awesome job, brother! Heres to a New Year of bigger gainz

ilyasozbal19

Hell yea bro. Keep up the good work

etfan

Very inspiring!

slimgirljo15

Wow.. what a story. Congratulations on your hard work and persistence paying off. Very inspiring 👏

decadude

Good job dude! amazing transformation!

losemicaroline

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. You are an inspiration!

JuanSLOjourney

Thanks guys. It has been one heck of a journey. Hoping this year i can keep working on my problem areas....and to be honest, just not have another setback like last year!

bionicrooster

your a rockstar man! great job!

TriShamelessly

Congrats and best wishes for continued success!

claudianieves76

Awesome!!! Such an inspiration thank you for sharing your story keep up the great work!

FABRICWOMAN

Outstanding, and you did it by yourself. You are to be congratulated. You look like a different person. Feel good on how far you have come. Continue the journey with pride!!! Thank you for sharing.

mrspotatohands

Absolutely amazing and inspiring! Way to go!

Changeling34

Really inspiring story, it highlights how easy it is to fall off the wagon again when you’ve already come so far. Well done though, I think you look much younger now your fitter as well.

MzMujera

Awesome story~ thanks for sharing

brenn24179

wow what a difference, what did you start doing different, what made you gain, what made you lose, tell us how you did it.

Oppaloopa

Yes wonderful job. Please tell us how you did this.

JuanSLOjourney

To be honest, my focus was always on dialing in my food. I was doing a low carb(under 20 net carbs) as well as under 2k calories. After a few months of learning different low carb alternatives and becoming confident in my food menu.(Took about 3 months) I started walking. Goal was just 10k steps a day. Then winter hit so I signed up for the gym. I fiddled around with the machines 3 days a week until I finally sat down and learned the purpose of each exercise. Then I needed to figure out what I wanted to work on. Then put something together for that. So for about 2 years I did 45 minutes of cardio(rotate every month between treadmill, elliptical, and bike) and 45 minutes of weights. I had pretty good success for over a year. I also began coaching youth football and ladies basketball, so that kept me moving more as well.
Then COVID hit, sports cancelled, gyms closed, work was moved to my house. So I gained back 58 pounds due to my lack of a plan.
After 5 months I realized that I needed to find a new routing. A new normal. So I bought a NordicTrac that had Ifit built in and begin doing a pure cardio program. That took the weight back off pretty quick. December came around and my treadmill broke. I bought adjustable dumbells and have been doing weights every day(until my treadmill repair man comes next week).
I think my main thing has always been my food. I was always taught "you can not out train a bad diet" But even more critical for me was not using the word "cheat" as a meal. My new way of thinking was I get a "reward meal" for meeting my goals. And I save those for special occasions.(wife and kids birthdays, anniversary, thanksgiving, christmas)
The hardest part of everything for me was no rice and beans, or pizza! But with the discovery of Chaffles! I have found that I am not missing out on anything while maintaing a low carb diet and exercising 6-7 days a week. I dont ever really take a "day off" I take an "Active Recovery Day" I go ride bikes with the kids, play football outside, play basketball, go to the beach. I never really just plop down on the couch!

Not sure if I wrote to much, but that feels like everything!

kevchenk01

Love your story, you have exceptional determination and mental strength & you look great. Super inspirational 💥💪

963Nitro

JuanSLOjourney wrote: »

I dont ever really take a "day off" I take an "Active Recovery Day" I go ride bikes with the kids, play football outside, play basketball, go to the beach. I never really just plop down on the couch!

Not sure if I wrote to much, but that feels like everything!

I love this. Making life your exercise. It's what my plan is for long term success as well. Amazing job!

Coupongrl79

Handsome before and after but you look so much happier now! You’ve done an amazing job!

springlering62

Thank you so much for sharing, and glad to see you coming out of “lurker status” on the boards.

And thanks for mentioning chaffles. I never heard of them, and they sound intriguing!

wowser5

Congratulations. That is amazing

Charmarie64

Wow, great job! Congratulations on breaking bad habits. That has to be the most difficult part. I am sure your family appreciates you taking care of yourself so you can be around for them.

TaminaShock

Thank you and congrats!

sbeane96

You look great! And you're going to live a longer, happier, more energetic life as well! You're doing great - that's the key to constancy, to keep coming back to the original plan when you stray.