“There Is Hope”: 57 Glow-Ups So Extreme, People Barely Look Like The Same Person

This is 14 months apart. Weight Watchers + daily walks for my weight loss! Spironolactone + Accutane for my acne.

Bad hair and excess weight can make a huge difference in a person. I dropped 200 pounds and learned about hair straighteners. Even I was shocked, to be honest.

The journey here wasn’t easy, and with the physical changes, had to come with a lot of mental changes as well. I will always be an advocate for therapy for everyone, as it can be so helpful to have an impartial sounding board if nothing else. Along with the weight loss came finding new coping skills, hobbies, and re-evaluating my own self perception. The moment I chose to make a change for my health showed me that I had the power to create what I wanted for my life, within reason. Started taking better care of myself overall, and it has paid out tremendous dividends. You are so worth it!

I was on substances for many, many years. I tried many times in my own to quit, but couldn't. At one point, I weighed 119 lbs soaking wet and was shooting half a gram or more into my veins. I gave my life to Christ, and everything changed. People might say that I give too much credit to God for changing me, but He was the only thing that worked. I tried everything else. I post this to encourage anyone who is going through anything (substances, emotions, situations, whatever).
God is the one who will make you glow and shine.

5 years ago, I finally got sick of the way I was living. Mentally/emotionally and physically, I was at my worst.
I had split up with my kids’ dad, became a single parent, and was dealing with some other unfortunate circumstances at the time, which was the catalyst for my change. I used intermittent fasting and keto to lose weight, and made some major mental shifts. Just a reminder of how far I’ve come!

I’m in a rare group of people who have broken their face. I was 14 on a jet ski in the ocean.
I had teeth I could put in and pop out in the first pic, but I loved taking them out for wacky pics. One time, I almost got kicked out of yearbook pics for continuing to pop them out while they tried to take my picture.

This is my progress from a post-breakup glow-up. Hair loss and weight loss are a bit over a year of progress, and I started lifting one year ago as of Sunday!

Hope no one I know sees this, but my great uncle, aunt, and friend all passed away during March-April of 2024. Soooo many things were happening, but I’m just happy I'm showing up for myself now.
April 2024 - Sep. 2025.

After battling depression and alcoholism, I'm proud of how far I’ve come and to see the difference.

There is a year and a half difference between the brunette version of me and the blonde version of me in these photos.

I lost 13 stone in 11 months back in 2018/19 using keto and walking, then running constantly, and after that, going to the gym consistently. A hair transplant was a couple of months ago, so we will see how that goes!

For many years, I struggled with my health. I finally decided to do something about it and take charge of my life in the fall of 2022. Since then, I've lost 106 lbs, I've built better eating habits, I move a lot more, and I feel so much better now.

I used to scroll through progress photos from all over the internet just hoping I would one day have my own worth sharing.
Now I am down to 182 from 303 and still working on myself every day. If you are someone who quietly looks at these posts for motivation like I used to, you are not doing this alone.

I started getting severe acne in high school. It brought down my confidence immensely and made me always want to hide my face. I used to skip school just so people wouldn’t see the insane breakouts on my face. Today, I love my skin, and I’m so grateful every day I don’t feel the need to hide my face anymore. I still get breakouts here and there, but nowhere nearly as bad as it used to be. I use spot treatments now and the breakouts never last longer than a day or two.

Had no idea what was wrong with me; I spent 2 years in a relationship with a much older narcissistic/cluster B person. My skin cleared up as soon as they threatened me with psychosis, and I made the decision to leave. Best decision I've ever made, worst few years of my life. The physical healing was much quicker than the mental healing, but a year out, and I'm feeling more and more okay every day.

This was a six-year glow-up that commenced after I left my ex, who I believe held me back. I also think I just didn't love myself enough prior. I have made sure to always choose myself from then on.

I lost weight with a gastric sleeve in 2019 and kept it off. In 2021, I had my body plastics, and a month ago, I had my cosmetic surgery as my face was sagging after weight loss, and I felt like I never got to enjoy my youth. So this was a 150lb loss, along with two rounds of plastic surgery that included a belt lipectomy, torso liposuction, breast lift, implants, lip lift, rhinoplasty, canthoplasty, midface lift, brow lift, and fat graft to the cheeks.

Both pics are prior to being sleeved. I was 23 when I started this, and I am 29 now. I hope this helps someone!

In the thick of new mommy mode in 2017 (28) to glowing in 2026 (37). I’ve lost almost 100 pounds slowly, and no work has been done. My eyebrows are microbladed, though! I’m so proud of how far I’ve come. My man has loved me through all my phases and tells me all the time how beautiful I was then and now.

Down 140 lbs. Same girl, new mindset. Built discipline, healed inside, changed my life. The best glow up is the one you earn daily.

I'm only 12 pounds away from my goal, and I honestly don't care how long it takes me to lose. I know I will get there eventually, and I'm happy where I'm at.

When I first started losing weight, I tracked everything meticulously, but I no longer do that. Intuitive eating has been the only thing sustainable for me. I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. If I want something, I don't deprive myself, but I know I have to consistently make healthy choices. "Dieting" always led to failure for me because I would always bone binge eat and then fall off.

I do have some loose skin on my belly and thighs, which doesn't bother me at all, but I also have some on my neck that does bother me. I have a consultation at a plastic surgeon tomorrow to talk about my options, so that will be the next step in my glow-up.

I decided a couple years ago to get into fitness, eating healthy, and not neglecting my mental health. Depression is no joke, people. Plus, not having access to shift beers helped.

I cut calories and hit the gym. I also started working on my style. I lost over 40 pounds over the last year. Tips to do better are welcome.

This is my 1-year body transformation! Definitely a glow-up! I’m so proud and happy about it!! I was struggling very badly in the first pic, and I know how hard it is to get out of there.

Been fat my whole life. I lost some weight in my late 20s and got my first girlfriend at 27. She ended up breaking up with me a week before my 33rd birthday. Went through a slow glow-up after that for two years.

Over the years, I learned to cut and groom my hair, took my styling more seriously, and ultimately refined my look to reflect my growth and confidence.

Been dealing with flat and dry fine hair for years, and finally took the plunge. Not sure if it’s genius or mistake - but here’s my most daring cut yet. Would love to hear thoughts from fellow fine-haired folks!

I chopped off all my hair last year, and it’s been a struggle to get out of the feeling that I look like I did when I was a weird little kid, so hopefully there’s a future glow-up too.

The first picture was during the Covid-19 pandemic, when I was unhealthy and did not have the best of habits. The second pic is 3 years later, with a much cleaner look. I’m always reminded by before and after pics that with a lot of small improvements over time, one can get significant results over a longer time period.

From secretly bingeing daily at 20 to loudly exuding confidence from within at 25.

Complete lifestyle change, including but not limited to, weight-training 5x a week, getting 10k steps daily, eating whole foods, practicing gratitude, and finally loving myself!