9 months in... Progress is awesome!

Fat2FitMyDrive

Well my name is Luke if the username didn't give it away and I'm 9 months into this journey having changed not only my body, but my thinking about food and life in general. Stress and frustration had really been a huge burden for me and I've since decided to focus on the things I can control and not allow myself to get frustrated with those I can't. I started this particular journey at 332lbs, but I have been as heavy as 350+ so as of two days ago I am officially down 77lbs and even more astonishing to me 21% BF... which I know BMI is not always the best measure of our bodies because of all the factors such as water retention, muscle mass... etc, but even if that number is in the ball park which I'm sure it is... I'm thrilled. I've lost a total of 23" off my stomach at this point and am wearing an XL shirt again for the first time since 2005! I was as big as a 3XL and probably should have been a 4XL, but I was stretching my 3XL Shirts to get them to fit. I guess I can't post pics, but the most recent is my profile pic and that's a huge motivational factor for me. Fee free to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook UN Fat2FitMyDrive and www.facebook.com/fat2fitmydrive

jfauci

Congratulations! You look awesome!

Fat2FitMyDrive

Thank you! I've posted this on a couple of other Fitness and/or weight loss related forums and this is the first one that somebody has actually replied to and within just a few minutes of me posting! Thank you for that! :happy:

rsclause

Congrats! I think the coolest part of the journey is when that bell goes off in your head and you think "hey, I got this". Great work!

orionuer

Great job, keep going. Fell off several times myself, restarting again tonight. MFP is a real community, I always get someone to cheer me up when am down or give me those encouraging words I need to go on. I attribute my commitment to the journey to the MFP community, people here are simply awesome.

riffraff2112

Pretty awesome work there! More than halfway to your goal and you look more 'fit' than 'fat'. Keep it up and keep us updated.

StacyRenee77

Very nice, wow

Fat2FitMyDrive

Wow... Thank you for all the kind and encouraging words! I'm sure you guys know how much it can help! One of the regulars at my gym stopped me a few weeks back having never shared more than a head nod until this point and congratulated me on my progress and hard work. I appreciated that more than I could honestly say because those little things are what help to keep us pushing! Since I started my Life Change in August of last year I have since ran multiple 5ks improving every time. Ran my first sub 8 min mile in my life and competed in my first Spartan Super Race along with the Hurricane Heat and I'm looking forward to doing a 12 hour hurricane heat this coming October in South Carolina. This has definitely become a lifestyle for me and I'm currently trying to break into the industry itself so I can share my passion and dedication with others. There is nothing more inspiring to me then to motivate and inspire others, so I know in my heart that is where I need to be with my life!

TheSatinPumpkin

Amazing. Congrats on your progress.

Fuzzipeg

It takes courage to take life by the neck. Make sure you wring as much out of it as you possibly can. best foot forward

quellybelly

Way to go ! Progress is such amazing motivation to keep us going you look great - keep it up!

Krikit34

Fantastic change! Not just in body, but mind and spirit, too!!! Congrats!!!!

Stress and frustration had really been a huge burden for me and I've since decided to focus on the things I can control and not allow myself to get frustrated with those I can't.
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Thank you for posting this! I need to do more of this!

Fat2FitMyDrive

Thank you again everyone! Kritkit34 you can expect much more of that from me! I'm so motivated in this journey to keep pushing forward that nothing I can control will get in my way and I enjoy motivating and inspiring others probably more than anything else other than my family!

logg1e

Can you tell us a bit more about how you've achieved this? You look great, the transformation is incredible.

wolfie640

Kudos from across the pond , keep it going!

Mrs_Bones

Awesome! You must be stoked! Keep up the good work

perseverance14

Good job, you look great!

mississippi_runner_girl

Keep it up!! You look fantastic

daniellas04

Well done on your progress so far! You're doing brilliantly

ReneeIsReady

That is awesome, you look great. Congrats!

kjurassic

Awesome job, Luke. I know the first time one of my clients commented on my weight loss (50 lbs) after he left my office I cried....(tears of joy and accomplishment!) These success stories really do keep me motivated. Congratulations!

rosehips60

Great work, you are inspirational!

Fat2FitMyDrive

Can you tell us a bit more about how you've achieved this? You look great, the transformation is incredible.

Well that is easy and hard to answer. I have struggled with my weight my entire life. With that I have done every crash diet, severe calorie cutting, extreme workout regimen, etc etc you can possibly imagine! Every single time I gained every pound back and in some cases even more. It's was never a question to me of can it be done... I lost 109lbs in 3 months back in 2004 granted I was 24 years old then and literally cut my caloric intake down to 1300-1500 a day all while doing extreme workouts 7 days a week! This of course worked, but I gained it all back and then some. So... How I changed my perspective and in turn my life was simple. I changed my focus from deprivation to moderation. I have always been a work horse in the gym with a never say die attitude so even on an off day I still spend at least an hour and a half in the gym busting my butt... That has never been an issue. Food was and always has been my biggest combatant. I still enjoy the things I love even the ones that aren't necessarily good for me, but I do it in moderation. Instead of sitting down and eating an entire container of pringles 4 times a week I may have 1 or 2 servings of pringles a week with a lunch meal and by servings I mean literally a serving as it is outlined on the package so 11-13 chips. I have an enourmous sweet tooth, so I found alternative methods to satisfying that sweet tooth as well as still endulging in my classic favorites such as M&Ms or Twix, but I buy either the small bite size packages and have one or two when the craving strikes or an alternative such as a Quest Almond Joy which is a recipe I found via thefitbaldman.com where you take a chocolate chip cookie dough quest bar, cut it into 6 pieces, put a small layer of shaved coconut on top of it, and coat it in melted stevia chocolate chips, and toss it in the freezer for an hour... wahlah bit sized protein packed almond joys! So, for me it's been a combination of educating myself on how I can still enjoy food even the things I "shouldn't" be eating in moderation while creating healthy alternatives, and simply busting my butt in the gym. I think the one part of all this I am the most proud of is even though I have only lost 77lbs of my ultimate goal in 9 months I have cut my body fat literally in half and that is where the bulk of my body change has come from. I change up my gym routines weekly going from complex routines such as the Gironda Method 6x6 to extreme hard core routines like CT Fletcher's Iron Marathon. I am always challenging myself and working towards progess daily be it a few more reps than I did last time, or running a mile 10 sec faster today then yesterday, or even adding a few pounds to a set. We only change when we present new things, challenging ourselves to continue to improve, and most importantly and a huge key at least for me is STAYING MOTIVATED! Don't let life get in the way... Make time to improve yourself. Sometimes that means training late at night or super early in the morning, but DO IT! Your self confidence, your self worth, and your body in general will thank you for it! YOU DESERVE TO BE A BETTER YOU!

happyindian

wow...wht an amazing transformation. I am inspired by your story, specially where u say u have chosen moderation over deprivation. I feel it is the change in attitude towards weight loss that is the most important factor in this journey. Thank u for posting your story.

Fat2FitMyDrive

Thank you and it's truth. No gimmicks, no diet pills, no crash dieting. Just hard work and I used MFP to keep track of my caloric intake until I really felt like I had a grasp of it on my own. I still feel it is very important to track your intake, but now that I'm pretty well versed in what the things I regularly eat "cost" so to speak I record everything in a pocket notebook instead of the app simply because I find it easier to flip back in my book and look at past meals, days, etc etc if I'm looking for something in particular and I feel I personally keep better track when I write it down myself. Why I don't know it's probably all in my head, but it works for me.

ScottH_200

***WEIGH*** to go! You look great and are on the right track. Keep it up!

slimbettie

Amazing results. You can be very proud of your accomplishment.

Fat2FitMyDrive

Thank you! Hustle brings the muscle! I appreciate all the awesome feedback and positive comments! I'm looking at all the ads on this page laughing because yes... I am A SPARTAN!!!! AROO!

logg1e

Thank you for taking the time to explain, really appreciate it!

lonnieh2

Just poking my head in to say...really inspiring. Love the way you have changed your attitude about food. I am in the same boat. never had a problem working hard in the gym...but I just love to eat. I am planning on doing a spartan race too when I get the rest of this weight off...maybe the one you mentioned in South Carolina. I'm down 65 and will be at my ultimate goal in a month. Rock on Luke.

Fat2FitMyDrive

Hey Thank you and great job yourself Lonnie! This life is a wild ride and making the best out of every minute is what it's all about. Keep pushing to your goal sir! Keep me posted as I'd love to celebrate with you when you reach it!