Hit my weight loss goal! (pics)

After a life time of being overweight, I've finally made it to a healthy weight. I've always struggled with weight due to physical limitation caused by scoliosis and a sedentary lifestyle and chronic depression. The first time I moved out of my parent's place I went from 250 to 180 just by eating only when I was hungry and eating smaller portions and walking more. But then all of a sudden my appetite increased (possibly due to antidepressants and thyroid issues) at the same time my dad was dying of cancer and then I moved back in with my parents to help take care of him and with the increased appetite I ended up eating when I got home from work and then again when my mom ate because I was still hungry. As a result I gained back what I had lost plus another 35 pounds in a year or 2. After repeatedly asking my doctor for help and feeling ignored by her (once she felt my thyroid numbers were right she couldn't find anything else wrong), on January 1, 2013 I decided I might as well eat less if I'm starving all the time anyway and I drastically reduced my calories to what I know now was probably an unhealthy level and started going to the gym since restrictions had just been lifted at my workplace fitness center. I didn't know any better and my doctor's only advice was get plenty of protein without any tips of how much protein or even how much food I should be eating. So for 5 or 6 months I lost 10lbs a month and then fell off the wagon for a couple months following a medical procedure and recurrent depression but I didn't get too out of control and only gained 5 or so pounds because I mostly kept to the same practices but with occasional indulgences and less activity. I then went back on my plan of undereating until I found MFP. I quickly became addicted to the forums and realized what I had been doing was unhealthy and learned to log my food correctly. This was in Nov 2013. I also started strength training and really learned to love it. I quickly found I could actually eat more and still lose and I started eating healthier food and doing more cooking.

As of this morning I am now down to 146 from a starting weight of 285-290 and I don't think I could have done it without MFP. I still struggle with hunger, I think due to ongoing thyroid issues, but I can manage it by spacing out my food and sticking to my calories. I feel I'll have to keep logging and counting for the rest of my life but it's far better than the alternative. And I'm hoping to continue to improve my body through recomposition.

Starting weight (I don't have any body pics since I hated my body)


After 3 months, ~250-255


Nov 2013


Jan 2014


Feb 2014


May 2014


Today at 146


I'll try to post some better pics later and update after some body recomp. Anyone is welcome to add me, I love helping and inspiring others.