Guys-if I can, you can! 1 year, almost 70lbs w/photos

Hiker_Rob

Hey guys (and girls) I just want to say if I can do this so can you. I'm one of the last people I thought would be able to not only loose a bunch of weight but also get fit at the same time (and quit smoking). I'm 47 and getting to be in the best shape of my life, i feel better now than I have in decades. I quit smoking on Feb 18 2 years ago and decided that no matter what I was going to stay quit - I was going to give myself 1 year to make it work - this resulted in a lot of eating and I was over weight to begin with. On my first anniversary of quitting it was the day to make the change, 1 year ago today I started on my journey to get healthy.

What I've done is not complicated, it's all small steps, one day, one week, one month at a time. I make weekly changes that I incorporate into my life and build on them. I started small, I was almost 300lbs and horribly out of shape, I started by just going for walks and slowly cutting back on 'bad foods'. As I progressed I would walk more often, then began working out. I eliminated fast food completely and began to eat more and more healthy. I did not cut out anything other then fast food but I changed my mentality, what I live by today - every day is this: "Moderation, not Deprivation - Everything is fine in moderation." I personally believe that depriving one's self only causes us to want something all the more and when the opportunity comes knocking we take it and sometimes abandon the great road we were on. The key to my success is eating in moderation, enjoying life (and food), being physically active and working out frequently.
I started my journey exactly 1 year ago at 298lbs and today am 229.6lbs. I have also lost countless inches including about 8" on my waist and 11" around my stomach. I still have a little ways to go yet until I meet my original goal weight but I am almost there.

The first picture is from December 2012


January 2013


November 2013


Feb 18, 2014

Relle3

You look awesome! Good Job!

peabean26

You look great! So much younger and happier looking!

change30

I really enjoyed your post! You look Awesome! Congratulations on all your hard work! You Rock! Thanks for sharing!

olores

WOW!

apf2013

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story. You look great.

palmerdanielle

Amazing work! Congratulations!

cbsavga

I like your approach. It is SPOT ON!! Great job.

tiggsnanny

Amazing transformation :happy: well done

kristyrae24

Way to go! And, you look like Dennis Quaid.

TracyJo93

You look at least ten years younger! Congrats on your success for far

huntergreene71

Super job, your plan is very much identical to mine except I started about 100 lbs higher and I'm currently where you started. It's nice that you have "before" photos, I avoided cameras like the plague. Your post gave me an extra little kick today, thanks.

moonyxvx

Way to go! And, you look like Dennis Quaid.

I thought the same thing.
Way to go! :-)

bugaha1

Just awesome, Hi5!

billyswife0516

Great job!!

lporter229

Wow. Looks like more than 70. Great job!

dawndovell

Awesome job! That is the look of success!

RamonaQuimbhouse

You're doing amazing, hiker! You should feel great about your progress.

My husband and I took an approach much like you described. Eliminating 'junk' bit by bit, adding new foods (almond milk being a very new exciting find for me, who loves cereal), turning walks into jogs, tacking "just 5 more minutes" on to the run, etc. Instead of feeling like it is a drag that progress happens so slowly, it has actually turned around in my mind now, because I'm learning to really enjoy the small victories. Last night, that was realizing that 24 minutes had passed before I looked at my stopwatch for the first time on the treadmill, whereas last week, I was typically peeking at it at the 15 minute point.

Small victories, my friend. Keep it up!

marciebrian

Fantastic success and I am honored to call you one of my friends. Congratulations you're amazing :flowerforyou:

texasfarmer

Quit smoking and weight loss, what an accomplishment! Great job.

SandraD1424

You look great and have a huge accomplishment! Thanks for sharing

Hiker_Rob

Super job, your plan is very much identical to mine except I started about 100 lbs higher and I'm currently where you started. It's nice that you have "before" photos, I avoided cameras like the plague. Your post gave me an extra little kick today, thanks.

Congrats on 107lbs!! Great work man! It certainly works, i think it takes a little longer than some other methods but that also makes it more of a long term lifestyle change.

Keep up the great work!

Hiker_Rob

Fantastic success and I am honored to call you one of my friends. Congratulations you're amazing :flowerforyou:

Thanks Marci. Your consistent killer workouts also help to keep me going as well, you are a great inspiration!

DonnaJones7

Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing! It really gives me hope that I CAN be successful!

flatlndr

Congrats! Great work!

chmtastic

You look AWESOME!!!!! Congrats!!!!

JohnMatrix

Nice job. I know first hand how hard it is to drop the weight. You've got the right approach in not depriving yourself. Unless your competing, being that stringent is almost mentally impossible. Eat right, workout and treat yourself when you've earned it. It's FAR easier to keep making "sacrifices" and sticking with the plan when you look back on what you've accomplished. Keep those pictures handy and keep using them as motivation for yourself. You should be very happy right now!

fast_stacie

Fantastic job! You look so much younger.

Ginoo

Wow!!!! You look fantastic. It certainly looks like more than 70. Great job!

mel5580

You look FANTASTIC!!!!!! Great job!!!! Inspiration for sure

craignev

Nicely done....congrats!