53 weeks - 216 lbs lost 2 weeks from 1st surgery of 3

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Hi there, my name is James, I'm 24 years old and over the past 53 weeks I've lost 216 lbs.

I achieved this through an extreme low carb diet for 8 months - where I lost 196 lbs (And a lot of muscle).
Followed by a 6 week spell of eating a healthy balanced diet, with the majority of the remaining time spent on a diet geared to rebuilding all the lost muscle.

Though I didn't slip or cheat once during the low carb diet, I found it more difficult "behaving" with carbohydrates back in my diet and as I've been waiting for surgery since about august, I've found myself highly unmotivated to maintain a healthy diet on a permanent basis (I might have a couple of days every few weeks having a take out for dinner etc).

Regardless of these slip ups, I've still managed to regain that muscle and lose more fat, which is great and I definitely feel a lot better eating a clean diet (Whole wheat pasta, cooked chicken, whey protein with milk etc)

So here's the stat's

Height - 6 foot (184cm)
Weight -
Nov 4th 2012: 31 st 8, (442 lbs, around 200.4kg)
Nov 13th 2013: 16 st 2 (226lbs, around 102kg)

10 months between photo
ba_zps680b2d0c.jpg

50 weeks from the start of my diet
ab2d24db-43a5-4d47-8243-63e598ca2872_zpsa1bf03b0.jpg

That's my past now.
Right now, I'm less than 2 weeks out from my first surgery, which is an Arm and Breast Lift.
After several consultations, I've been told I have between 40-50 lbs of excess skin which would mean I weigh about 180-185 lbs... which is ideal for someone my build.

I'm having the surgery done abroad in Brno, Czech Republic and I chose there mainly for the cost, though the surgeon and medical facilities come highly recommended.
Over here, in the UK, all 3 surgeries (1st - Arm and chest lift, 2nd - Extended tummy tuck, 3rd - Back and leg lift) would have cost me £22,500+
Over in Brno, including flights, it's costing around £10500.

To give you an idea of the skin on my arms
f60a866c-5158-4224-b8a9-188b2f2de7cd_zpsc264158a.jpg

I'm posting here because I know a lot of people who were severely over weight, like I was, will have a lot of questions about surgery and so whilst I'm over there, I will post regularly about How it's going, answer any questions people have and post before and after pictures of the area's that are being operated on.

And if you're reading this for motivation about trying to lose weight and wonder what kept me going over the past year or so?
it's easy - I stopped making excuses up for what I was eating / drinking.
Every single person has a reason not to succeed at anything, but no one can make a legitimate excuse.
No one has any excuses not to be awesome, so I stopped making them.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them =]

Best of luck everyone =D
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Replies

  • sasouna
    sasouna Posts: 35 Member
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    You've done a marvelous job!
    Congratulations.. I hope I stay determined to shed those 50 kg off.. You're definitely an inspiration. :flowerforyou:

    Good luck with your surgeries.
  • kdsp2911
    kdsp2911 Posts: 170 Member
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    Awesome work! I can't wait to see how your surgery goes!
  • judoknowme
    judoknowme Posts: 7 Member
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    Great job!! You look amazing!
  • BorntoROAR
    BorntoROAR Posts: 91 Member
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    Good luck with your surgeries. I would love to continue to follow you and see how you do with that. Can I add you as a friend. You have done amazingly well, and your dedication and discipline to your program is absolutely amazing.

    Thank you for sharing!!!

    Wendy
  • mbcaldwell123
    mbcaldwell123 Posts: 79 Member
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    You have done a remarkable thing in losing all that weight. Great job. I am extremely proud for you. I am also very grateful to you for posting about your surgeries. I too have lost an extreme amount of weight. I still have a bit to go though. It is so difficult to find answers to my questions about excess skin removal. Thank you soooo much for speaking honestly about it.
  • gabbygirl78
    gabbygirl78 Posts: 936 Member
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    You look amazing :flowerforyou:
  • punkinkat
    punkinkat Posts: 85 Member
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    Awww, you're so cute!!! Great post, excellent results, and I wish you all the best as you endeavour to finally rid yourself of a lifestyle that's now gone forever :)
  • petrocoetsee
    petrocoetsee Posts: 829 Member
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    Great!
  • staceyw37
    staceyw37 Posts: 2,094 Member
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    congratulations on all your achievements! great attitude! and good luck with all the surgeries!
  • cuinboston2014
    cuinboston2014 Posts: 848 Member
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    Congratulations!
  • JoelleAnn78
    JoelleAnn78 Posts: 1,492 Member
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    Thanks for posting -- I have lost 216 pounds and have a lot of excess skin as well. Arms, belly and thighs mostly. I am at my goal weight, but potentially looking to have a second child, so I am not doing much looking into the surgeries until after I make a decision. No point doing the surgery if I am planning to get pregnant again!

    Awesome job -- amazing progress -- fantastic attitude!
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
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    Wow! Good luck with the surgeries! Hope everything goes as smoothly as possible.
  • thickerella
    thickerella Posts: 154 Member
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    I actually DO have a question.

    So..I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but you're, like, totally hot now. Like, I would check you out on the street hot.

    Of course, I would assume that you'd never look at me twice because I'm fat.

    (don't worry, I'm in an LTR, I'm not hitting on you)

    How has your weight loss changed your interactions with people? Do you find that strangers are nicer to you? Do women respond to you differently? Do you feel more confident?

    Has your perceptions of OTHER PEOPLE changed? Do you find your feelings to other people who are over-weight have changed? Would you date someone who was over-weight but trying to change their life?
  • ilovrpony
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    I actually DO have a question.

    So..I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but you're, like, totally hot now. Like, I would check you out on the street hot.

    Haha... This isn't exactly how I perceive myself at all! I'm actually more concious I'm overweight now, albeit from excess skin, than when I was at my heaviest.
    But thanks for the compliment all the same =D

    How has your weight loss changed your interactions with people? Do you find that strangers are nicer to you? Do women respond to you differently? Do you feel more confident?

    I would say Everyone is different towards me now... including my friends. It's like a veil has been lifted on almost every relationship I have - because being massively overweight is like a sort of ironic elephant in the room... It's not talked about and usually unchallenged.
    Women do respond differently, admittedly, though I never had any confident issues, but do feel more accepting of my own skin these days.
    Has your perceptions of OTHER PEOPLE changed? Do you find your feelings to other people who are over-weight have changed? Would you date someone who was over-weight but trying to change their life?

    I don't think my perception of other people has changed much.
    My attitude towards people who are over weight has definitely changed though. I feel I understand them more, as I now understand myself a whole lot better.
    As for dating someone over-weight but was trying to change their life I think I can answer with my general rule for dating someone else.
    I'd not be with someone who hadn't worked themselves out already. People who are significantly over-weight, are so for a reason. It's not a physical thing, but I wouldn't have dated me from over a year ago if I was a girl.
    If they were trying to change their life and I genuinely felt they were making an effort and would succeed, then yes, I would date them if was attracted to them on all the usual levels.
  • NinjaJinja
    NinjaJinja Posts: 147 Member
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    ****, I'll hit on you, lol!

    Great job and good luck with the surgeries!
  • josavage
    josavage Posts: 472 Member
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    You look amazing! Good luck with your surgeries. I'd love to see your updates.
  • meg_bal
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    I actually DO have a question.

    So..I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but you're, like, totally hot now. Like, I would check you out on the street hot.

    Of course, I would assume that you'd never look at me twice because I'm fat.


    ^ lol this

    OW OW!

    good luck on your surgery though and amazing job on the weight loss!
  • smacmillan86
    smacmillan86 Posts: 153 Member
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    This is awesome! I have about the same amount to lose and have been wondering about the cosmetic side of the end results. Would love to see the before and afters and how it goes. :-) Awesome work on the weight loss!
  • bellaamor30
    bellaamor30 Posts: 172 Member
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    Congrats! And for the record I agree with the others you look hot! Would love to follow your journey, after two kids and a lifetime of gains and dieting loose skin is a big concern for me.
  • SheridanLT
    SheridanLT Posts: 47 Member
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    Congratulations! You look amazing! Thanks in advance for your willingness to keep us posted. Loose skin is a concern of mine as well so I will be looking for your posts.

    Good luck!!!
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