42 lbs lost since March 24, 2013

Losing weight and getting healthy has been the greatest struggle in my life. I was always the fat kid. Since at least, 8-9 years old I was overweight. Here is a picture from when I was around 9-10 years old (maybe younger).



Needless to say, I was picked on a lot in school. It was very frustrating and, to this day, it still affects on me.

Late in High School I tried the South Beach Diet. It worked for a while and I went from 215 lbs. to 200 lbs. for graduation and 192 lbs at the end of the summer before starting college.

Unfortunately in the 4 years of college I really let myself go. It was all about drinking alcohol and eating junk food. I would work out a few times, and maybe lose a few pounds, but would gain them quickly later.

I could point out to many reasons for my weight gain like: being by myself for the first time, the cold weather, the alcohol, getting depressed at times...ect. But, in the end, I simply didn't care. It was frustrating how I continuously got bigger and it became almost impossible to find any decent clothing. I went all the way to XXXL shirt size and over 52 inches in pants.

By the time I graduated from college I weighted 283 lbs. A whopping 91 lbs increase in four years.

The following picture is from the airport the day I arrived home after graduating from college. I weighted 283 lbs.



After I graduated from college I decided to get more serious about losing weight. I went to a gym and lost 20 lbs by myself.

Later, I hired a personal trainer. But that never seemed to work out. I never got disciplined with the food and I just didn't feel motivated to workout harder. Eventually, he started losing interest, which motivated me even less.

So, for 3 years, I got stuck in the 240s-230s range even with the trainer.

Last year I tried the HCG diet, where I went from 243 lbs. to 213 lbs. However, in just one summer I went back to the 240s lbs.

Then I studied for the Bar Exam earlier this year. I controlled myself better during this period, but I still went up to 251 lbs.

After I finished the Bar Exam, I decided I had to make a lifestyle choice. It couldn't be just a fad diet. I needed something that I could do for the rest of my life. I read about calorie counter apps and how it helped a lot of people. So, I did some research and found Myfitnesspal.

I taught me to be conscious about what I ate. I had no idea how much calories some food had. So, I began logging daily and working out in my elliptical machine. I quickly lost 6-7 lbs.

One day, I was reading the success stories on the site and came upon a topic of a girl that got in shape with the P90X. I did some research on it and decided to buy it. It wasn't easy, but I pushed through. I lost 14 lbs. with P90X and drinking Shakeology.

When I was rounding up P90X, I saw the ad for Shaun T's Focus T-25. I was amazed how it barely used tools and it only took me 30 minutes a day. So I bought it and continued with the Shakeology. I lost 16 lbs. with the Alpha and Beta DVDs. I am in Gamma phase now and I have lost an additional 5 lbs, bringing me down to 209 lbs.

Not since High School have I weighted less that 210 lbs. It is amazing! I feel that I have finally changed my life. I am eating healthier and doing better workouts that get me results.

Here as some before and after pictures, Front, Right and Back. They are from when I weighted 244 lbs. (before I started P90X), when I weighted 230 lbs. (After finishing P90X and right before starting T-25) and when I weighted 214 lbs. (after finishing the Beta Cycle in T-25).





My goal so far is to reach 175 lbs. Then I'll be in my normal weight for the first time since I was a very little kid!

It is still a long way! But I'll get there!