After Neglecting My Body For 10 Years, I Started Making Small Changes And Went From 300lbs To 150lbs
In early November, 2017, I built my wife a small shelving rack for the kitchen. With the extra pieces of scrap wood, I spent the better part of an afternoon making a stool so that I could sit down and tie my shoes. And the next morning, when I sat down and did so, I broke down crying.
We often don’t give thought to the small choices we make each day, or how closely our health affects every aspect of our life, and I was no different. I faced one stunning and painful realization after another over the next few days. I didn’t have a “big frame”, I wasn’t a “burly guy”, my thick beard and open buttoned flannels weren’t an attempt at style but to try and hide myself. It wasn’t “always hot” in everyone else’s car and house, I was just fat and overdressed. I was now 5’7″ and 300lbs and it was severely effecting my health and lifestyle.
But I didn’t give up. I resolved to change this and fix it, once and for good, for the benefit of myself and everyone I know and love. Not after the holidays, not next Monday, NOW. I knew that ten years of complete negligence could not be undone in a week.
I knew that no miracle berry, supplement, tea, superfood or “detox” could lighten anything but my wallet. I knew no extreme diet like keto or paleo could provide anything but temporary results. And most of all, I knew that I couldn’t realistically change all of my bad habits overnight.
I started with a small change every new week. First, I stopped eating fast food. Then, I committed to do some form of exercise three days a week. Next, I decided to try smaller portions of only home cooked food and avoid any product with added sugar. Shortly after New Year’s, I was astonished when I weighed myself again and saw I had lost 24 lbs already.
So I kept pushing, I started counting calories, taking my exercise more seriously, tracking my progress weekly, cutting out diet soda, and most of all, staying dedicated and consistent no matter what life threw at me. Nothing would halt my journey. If a week went by without progress, I tried something different or made a change.
At the start, it was only about losing weight, the number on the scale, and something physical. But as the months went by, I began to learn more about myself than I ever imagined. I learned that my weight gain was merely a symptom of a larger problem of self neglect. I learned not to take excuses, not from myself or anyone else. I learned that the path to a better life lay in my attitude and choices, not my body.
Through the journey of losing 150 pounds, I gained countless new things. My clothing went from size 3XL to S. My waist from 44 to 28. My glasses, shoes, and wedding band no longer fit.
But it wasn’t the physical benefits that I was most happy to gain. It was when I suddenly had the energy to go through my normal day, the confidence to speak with conviction and sincerity at my brother’s wedding, when I no longer needed to hide from photos, and the newfound clarity to forgive the shortcomings of others and focus on inspiration and improvement, rather than jealousy and malice. My son and wife can now behold a man, rather than a mess. And I can tie my shoes wherever I want!
It is at this point I no longer refer to it as weight loss, but as life gain. It isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle change. There is no end to this journey, because it will be a lifelong endeavor. I am instilled with a new spirit, confidence, and happiness which is beyond words, and I am humbled by the experience.
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Share on FacebookI topped the scales at 236 a week ago, I completely changed the way I ate and in just one week I'm down 6 pounds. I know I have a long way to go, but it's amazing how just cutting back on junk affected my body that much in such a short time. I plan to make a post up here when I finally reach my goal.
I love the concepts of 1. 'a small change each week', 2. knowing he can't end all bad habits right away, 3. knowing he couldn't fix it all in weeks or days, 4. knowing that there were no 'miracle berries' or other supplement BS, 5. knowing the latest fad diet isn't necessarily the answer. 6. knowing how big a culprit all the added sugar in processed food can be (such a hidden source of empty calories!) 7. seeing fast food meals for the massive packets of lard and sugar that they really are. Rarely has someone seen it all so clearly. Well played, and we must toast this man's good health as we continue our own fitness paths of maintaining our good habits, mending our bad ones and progressively improving.
I'm proud of you! You look amazing (though that doesn't matter) and I'm sure you feel great! I need to get my husband and I motivated!
Epic! It can take a lot of willpower to change one’s entire lifestyle, especially when it comes to things that get you in a tight spot in the first place. This is both an inspiration, and a warming account, and I wish you plenty of luck and happiness! Well done!!
Well done Nicolas! What a positive story! I'm also on the same road of gaining back my life and now I know how to call it. Love the way how you turned your stool into a workout bench :-)
This guy is freaking awesome and very inspiring. However, there is a part of me that wishes that stories like these don't include the pictures of the meals. I feel inspired, then see a bowl of chopped onion and chickpeas and my motivation depletes somewhat. I get that he didn't do it through pizza and ice-cream but kinda looking for a picture of a more enjoyable meal!
Why are you harassing fit women on the internet? It was mostly on Instagram, but now that you have been called out, screenshotted and posted about, you account seems to have disappeared.
You're an inspiration and look incredible! From March this year I have been on a similar journey. After some horrible family things happening in 2017 and after a good look at myself in the New Year, I realised that I needed to change my lifestyle. Though mainly diet, I've gone from around 15st (210lb) to 12¼st (170lb) since March. I like to walk and climb hills/mountains but I'm not big into exercise. I'd love some advice from you or anyone about how to improve physique and tone. Or just encouragement really!
Incredible self-discipline implementing a very difficult change. Good on ya!!
I love how he went into this whole journey with realistic expectations.
I think people go too far. He doesn't look himself. Good health is key. I'm sure he saved his life. But hey, If he is happy. Kudos!
Wow you said so many wrong things in such a few short sentences. You want to reject people being happy and accepting of their bodies? It's not about accepting obesity, but rather about saying whether or not someone is overweight, they are still a person worthy of love and respect, and worthy of loving themselves.
Load More Replies...I topped the scales at 236 a week ago, I completely changed the way I ate and in just one week I'm down 6 pounds. I know I have a long way to go, but it's amazing how just cutting back on junk affected my body that much in such a short time. I plan to make a post up here when I finally reach my goal.
I love the concepts of 1. 'a small change each week', 2. knowing he can't end all bad habits right away, 3. knowing he couldn't fix it all in weeks or days, 4. knowing that there were no 'miracle berries' or other supplement BS, 5. knowing the latest fad diet isn't necessarily the answer. 6. knowing how big a culprit all the added sugar in processed food can be (such a hidden source of empty calories!) 7. seeing fast food meals for the massive packets of lard and sugar that they really are. Rarely has someone seen it all so clearly. Well played, and we must toast this man's good health as we continue our own fitness paths of maintaining our good habits, mending our bad ones and progressively improving.
I'm proud of you! You look amazing (though that doesn't matter) and I'm sure you feel great! I need to get my husband and I motivated!
Epic! It can take a lot of willpower to change one’s entire lifestyle, especially when it comes to things that get you in a tight spot in the first place. This is both an inspiration, and a warming account, and I wish you plenty of luck and happiness! Well done!!
Well done Nicolas! What a positive story! I'm also on the same road of gaining back my life and now I know how to call it. Love the way how you turned your stool into a workout bench :-)
This guy is freaking awesome and very inspiring. However, there is a part of me that wishes that stories like these don't include the pictures of the meals. I feel inspired, then see a bowl of chopped onion and chickpeas and my motivation depletes somewhat. I get that he didn't do it through pizza and ice-cream but kinda looking for a picture of a more enjoyable meal!
Why are you harassing fit women on the internet? It was mostly on Instagram, but now that you have been called out, screenshotted and posted about, you account seems to have disappeared.
You're an inspiration and look incredible! From March this year I have been on a similar journey. After some horrible family things happening in 2017 and after a good look at myself in the New Year, I realised that I needed to change my lifestyle. Though mainly diet, I've gone from around 15st (210lb) to 12¼st (170lb) since March. I like to walk and climb hills/mountains but I'm not big into exercise. I'd love some advice from you or anyone about how to improve physique and tone. Or just encouragement really!
Incredible self-discipline implementing a very difficult change. Good on ya!!
I love how he went into this whole journey with realistic expectations.
I think people go too far. He doesn't look himself. Good health is key. I'm sure he saved his life. But hey, If he is happy. Kudos!
Wow you said so many wrong things in such a few short sentences. You want to reject people being happy and accepting of their bodies? It's not about accepting obesity, but rather about saying whether or not someone is overweight, they are still a person worthy of love and respect, and worthy of loving themselves.
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