I reached my goal and lost 130 pounds!!

lsala187
lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
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Hey everyone!

After suffering from morbid obesity for most of my life, I lost 130 pounds so I could look good on stage. I am a 23 year old music artist who finally gained the confidence to play local gigs!

So here's the story:
At 330 pounds and just 22 years old, I started getting lower back pain. The pain was so severe that I skipped school a couple of times to lay in bed. This was my initial wake-up call.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was able to take classes virtually. That meant more time to focus on weight loss AND music. For the next few months, I walked outside every day with my dad and ate only when hungry. This is how I lost the first 20 pounds or so.

But then I gained back a couple pounds and knew I couldn’t keep up my method without some assistance. So, I decided to use MyFitnessPal Premium to track calories, and I even connected a FitBit to track my steps. Now I was able to create a calorie deficit and make sure I was getting enough exercise.

After losing 20 more pounds, I was certain I could complete the entire weight loss journey. I brushed up on my live music playing skills, gaining more and more confidence as the weight loss continued.

Summer 2021 came, and I was 10 pounds to my goal weight. That’s when I started to focus on strength training and incline walking on a treadmill.

I played my first open mic after my 23rd birthday and achieved my goal weight shortly thereafter. The music gig went so well that I decided to play every week at different locations around town.

Over the next year, my plan is to keep gaining muscle and losing fat in an effort to look my best after skin removal surgery. In the meantime, I’ll look great performing at local venues and promoting my rock album!

So excited that I got this far and added a few years to my life!
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Replies

  • SmithMLD
    SmithMLD Posts: 3 Member
    Congratulations! What an incredible story!
  • sweetdixie92
    sweetdixie92 Posts: 655 Member
    That's awesome, and some serious determination!

    Interested to hear how your album comes along! I love some good rock music :#
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    SmithMLD wrote: »
    Congratulations! What an incredible story!
    Thank you so much! I really hope my story inspires some people :)
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    That's awesome, and some serious determination!

    Interested to hear how your album comes along! I love some good rock music :#

    Thank you! This album is in the works now, and for sure I can show you when it’s released:) I have another album out already, but linking it here might break MFP’s spam policy lol
  • ChoosingToChange
    ChoosingToChange Posts: 159 Member
    wow what an inspirational story, I'm at the beginning and hope to see the success you have. thank you for sharing your story, it helps me see I can do it to!
  • graschlauren
    graschlauren Posts: 1 Member
    You look amazing! What an inspiring story!
  • i_SWEAT_n_SWEAR
    i_SWEAT_n_SWEAR Posts: 3,315 Member
    WOW--totally remarkable. Congrats on a major transformation!
    (You didn't look like you were 330, you must be tall.)
  • spider_mark51959
    spider_mark51959 Posts: 2,870 Member
    So inspirational
  • dubonnet480
    dubonnet480 Posts: 14 Member
    thats awesome, well done you
  • LostViking404
    LostViking404 Posts: 9 Member
    Thanks for sharing your story - this kind of dedication and success is the necessary fuel for my own journey.
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    WOW--totally remarkable. Congrats on a major transformation!
    (You didn't look like you were 330, you must be tall.)

    Thank you!! Haha yes, I’m 6’2”
  • lcatalan93
    lcatalan93 Posts: 45 Member
    wow amazing job! Glad you are feeling better and able to do what you love!
  • rmorgan37
    rmorgan37 Posts: 14 Member
    Wow, such a great story. Focusing on you and what makes you happy is the way to go!
  • StephanieStC
    StephanieStC Posts: 59 Member
    So happy for you! You look so handsome! This is inspiring and a good reminder to keep working on building muscle and track your foods.
  • JudyKenova2022
    JudyKenova2022 Posts: 15 Member
    Amazing work and such attention to detail 👏
  • sandysaia
    sandysaia Posts: 26 Member
    This is an awesome success story. Please tell me what you eat on a typical day?for example for breakfast lunch and dinner?I weigh 330 right now and I’m 5 11 tall.how many calories did you eat when you started?
  • DiscusTank5
    DiscusTank5 Posts: 503 Member
    Thanks for sharing your success. Great work!
  • Lorepp
    Lorepp Posts: 6 Member
    Great job!!
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    sandysaia wrote: »
    This is an awesome success story. Please tell me what you eat on a typical day?for example for breakfast lunch and dinner?I weigh 330 right now and I’m 5 11 tall.how many calories did you eat when you started?

    Hi, thank you! I started eating somewhere around 1400 or 1500 calories I think, plus a lot of walking. It depends on the individual though, so do what works for you! Even though I exercised, I put the setting to “little to no activity” to see results faster. But this probably isn’t recommended lol. I typically eat a big breakfast and like to keep track of my macros (carbs, fats, and protein). I’m building muscle now, so macros are important to me. But I didn’t used to focus on macros, just calories in calories out. Plenty of beans, lentils, fish, turkey, oats, vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc. And even when losing weight, I’d eat sweets, ice cream, etc. I’m no expert, but I would say eat what you want as long as you’re in a calorie deficit

  • Poobah1972
    Poobah1972 Posts: 943 Member
    Amazing Job! And nice looking flex, you look great! :)
  • HabitRabbit
    HabitRabbit Posts: 25 Member
    Thank you for sharing your story with us. Incredible determination. I'm very happy for you. Best of luck with your musical career. Is Isala your name by chance? I tried googling (and did find Isala's) but no one that looked like you. You might be right about providing a link, but I don't think it would break the rules if you gave us something googleable.
  • urban287
    urban287 Posts: 50 Member
    Great job! I'm also, at 230 pounds.l..I got down to 220, so I'm in the process of loosing ten more, and another twenty after that...I'm also,, fairly tall at five eight and a half Great job! Keep up the good work!
  • brenn24179
    brenn24179 Posts: 2,144 Member
    wow most people gained during covid, good for you, that is really a success story, you should be proud!
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    Fantastic. You have transformed yourself :smile: Thanks for sharing.
  • Sand_TIger
    Sand_TIger Posts: 1,099 Member
    Fantastic job! I agree with what you say about being able to eat pretty much whatever as long as deficit is maintained. The best diet is the one you can stick with!
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    urban287 wrote: »
    Great job! I'm also, at 230 pounds.l..I got down to 220, so I'm in the process of loosing ten more, and another twenty after that...I'm also,, fairly tall at five eight and a half Great job! Keep up the good work!

    Thank you, and that's awesome! You keep up the good work too:)
  • lsala187
    lsala187 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank you for sharing your story with us. Incredible determination. I'm very happy for you. Best of luck with your musical career. Is Isala your name by chance? I tried googling (and did find Isala's) but no one that looked like you. You might be right about providing a link, but I don't think it would break the rules if you gave us something googleable.

    Hey, thank you! I go by "Lui Salazar". You should be able to find me by googling that; I'm also on Spotify, YouTube, etc. by that name. My latest concept album is Truth Is Like a Seed which you can find in most streaming sites. I also released a single called "Lovely" that will be remastered as part of an upcoming concept album early next year!
  • iggysprint
    iggysprint Posts: 1 Member
    Amazing job! Super inspiring
  • sandysaia
    sandysaia Posts: 26 Member
    Thank you 🙏 very much for your help and advice.I appreciate it.
  • BexB42
    BexB42 Posts: 32 Member
    Awesome job! Back pain sadly is a good motivator. Looking like a rock star!
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