21 and a half stone to 13 and a half. 110 Lbs later.

Hi, All.

I was on another forum and was told by some members on it to share my story with others because people find that success stories seem to be a great motivation technique for people looking to lose weight. I know I found shows like 'The Biggest Loser' as motivation and wanting the feeling that those contestants have after all their weight loss.

My story basically begins when I turned 19. My main motivation was a mix of the fact that I had started University and when I saw a picture of myself on holidays in October 2010. The fact I was in Uni and all my friends were always starting to go out a lot, chatting to girls, getting girlfriends, joining all new societies and clubs etc... and I found myself not doing any of this because I was too embarrassed, perhaps deep down ashamed of what I was as a person. Overweight, unhealthy and no confidence. I wouldn't dream of chatting to a girl on a night out and I'd feel out of place in a nightclub. Let alone join a sports team and have people laugh/mock me about trying to keep up with other 'normal' people. So it was all in the back of my mind that I needed to change my lifestyle, but it wasn't until I saw a picture of myself on holidays on the beach which I didn't know was taken until I saw it. I looked absolutely huge. And this was a real turning point.

When I got back I decided to start my diet, and long story short after 16 months I lost the weight. Basically I just started working out with free weights, walking instead of driving and of course changed my diet. Literally cut out all junk food. Got to know my GDA's and allowed myself only 1600 calories a day. Some may argue with my method but I didn't go to a dietician, a personal trainer or a doctor I just took it under my own wings to lose my weight as I felt it'd build my will power up better for the future. I feel like I'm blabbering on so if there's any questions I'll answer, just hope I can inspire some others to lose weight too.

BEFORE




AFTER

CONGRATS!!! You were handsome before and even more so after! How did you do it?

shenat said:

CONGRATS!!! You were handsome before and even more so after! How did you do it?

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Thanks for the compliment!

Well there's a lot I did (and didn't) do haha.
The best thing for me was I didn't change a whole lot about the foods I was eating in terms of breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was the portion size and excess eating between meals or after them. I was a snacker as I presume that's what most peoples problems were. I first of all got to know my daily allowance and kept track of the amount of calories/fat I was taking into my body all the time. I didn't really have a set amount of calories/fat per day but tried to keep it as low as possible while eating all the necessary food to keep me full. I eat to live now, not live to eat. Late night munchies I believe were my biggest downfall.

So that was all out the window, and in came breakfast - bowl of cereal with low fat milk. Usually coco pops. Lunch - ham and cheese toastie, but added more to it. Onions, tomatoes, chicken, sweetcorn and lettuce just to fill me even more and maybe a low fat yoghurt. Then dinner would be whatever my mum would have cooked when I got home from Uni. To fill that night craving I would eat (depending what I felt like) either low fat soup or fruit. It's all easier said than done because a lot of the time this wouldn't fulfil me but I luckily had the motivation to lose all my weight, which at the end of the day is the most important thing to have on a diet. Having a diet plan is easy, the trouble is sticking to it. I began taking walks at night. Headphones in, music on and just walked randomly for 40 mins and then I'd come home and do weights in my room. Bicep curls, triceps, chest, forearms and shoulders. I'd then do sit ups targeting my obliques, lower and upper abdomen etc... just to try and tighten that loose skin. I did this every day. I took breaks sometimes from the free weights but made sure I walked every night at least.

Hope any of that helped or gave you an idea haha

Well done you truly are an inspirational young man I love all them shows biggest looser an that obese a year to save my life is amazing! Did you ever get disheartened because it is a long hard slog and what did you do to keep focused?

Well done, you look great!

dietqueen82 said:

Well done you truly are an inspirational young man I love all them shows biggest looser an that obese a year to save my life is amazing! Did you ever get disheartened because it is a long hard slog and what did you do to keep focused?

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Thank you. I hope to inspire others really, it's why I posted.

Erm, well at times I would get disheartened and feel fed up with being on a diet all the time but I never lost the motivation to lose the weight. If I wanted to snack and break out I would, but not go overboard like I used to. My mum told me something her friend said before about a diet and that was ''If you're going to break out on junk food, make sure it's worth it'' i.e. don't go binging on anything you see. Buy your favourite snack and eat just that. I only turned to this 2 or 3 times in a whole 16 months though. I can't really explain how I had the will power to do it with such consistency. My family always still say to me ''How did you not just snap and give up?" haha.

Lately now, the only times I feel disheartened is dealing with the loose skin I'm left with. I work out harder than I ever have. I do well over 200 sit ups/crunches a night and do more heavy weights etc... and just can't seem to shake off that loose skin. Granted it could be worse, but it's just the fact that after losing everything, there always seems to be more you can do with your body But the fact I can buy any clothes I want in any shop and go out and not feel like people are judging me keeps me going

well done on your fantastic weight loss!!

Well done on your loss - you look great. And think of the excess skin as the scars of a battle that you won - a fabulous victory

Thank you for posting, Fordie. Inspirational.

Re loose skin: some say that it gets better much longer term - specially at yr age. So in a year, you may be pleased. I also recommend skin brushing to stimulate the skin, and using lotion.

Enjoy your new form, and keeping it off.

Ali

Fabulous!

Wow well done such a motivational thread! x

Cracking post, well done mate, you ,look great in those photo's

very inspirational!

You look great!

Well done mate! Inspiring stuff!!

wow! well done you look great!

amazing well done!!

wow well done x

Congratulations! You were pretty much the same weight as i am now, i'd love to get to 13 stone!! xx

Well done mate