This is how I know you can do it!

So, i was reading people's post about weight loss and i realized that i signed up for calorie count at the beggining of my journey and forgot all about being a member...probably faux pas of me but anyways...

I really liked how i had my weight journal from the beggining on here which was good because it helped me see where i started and how i got to where I am now. My name is Sham and I realized I wanted to lose weight when I turned 21 at 420.8 lbs. It has been almost two years and I am at 175 lbs. as of this morning. I know it seems crazy to have lost all of the weight and the most common question i get is: How did you do it?

I tell my friends it was meth as a joke sometimes to see their reaction. try it.

Honestly though, it has taken hard work and dedication. My motivation came from a previous life expirience: braces. after having braces for four years my orthodontist told me the only way I'd get them off before I graduated high school is if I persistently wore the rubber bands (something I always neglected out of laziness) and I told my self "just get it over with." I wore the rubber bands for 60 days solid without waivering and I got the braces off the day before my graduation :)

So, when I turned 21, I weighed 420 lbs. Right. I mentioned that. It boggles my mind nowadays really. Like, how did that happen. Sometimes I blame my parents for not teaching me good eating habbits but that's besides the point. I was told by someone I cared for that I would be the perfect man for any woman except that I was too overweight. Wow. Jerk. But, i decided she had a point... So, I started by eating 6-8 small meals (by small, i mean no larger than my palm) and making sure that it was no more than 200 calories. I also read a book (Secret Diary of a Former Fat Girl). It is a short read and very inspiring. So, I did what she did. Starting walking. Damn. I remember getting so winded in the begining getting up, and I expected to get out of the door?!

So, i walked. and walked. and walked. When I got bored with it i started to jog a little....which, now that I think about it, it was more like a bounce-walk... but i did it. Then i started sprinting and walking. "couch to 5k" is a very good routine for the unfit to get fit... so that's what i did. I'm a Biology major at University of Texas and I remember hearing in a Chemistry class that the basic way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume. My professor was witty and mention that is the secret that all the weight loss marketers are hiding. It's not a secret if you think about it...kinda common sense. However, I did realize that the only way I would lose weight was not by becoming more active, but actually changing my relationship with food AND activity levels.

So, where am I today? Well, as of this morning I weigh 175 lbs. Sure i've been up and down during the last two years... (i actually slipped up feb of 2010 when someone close to me passed away and it cost me 20 lbs.) BUT like I said earlier: JUST GET IT OVER WITH! If you want to be thinner, you have to live like you want to be thinner. Sure, you don't really notice the results immediately but overtime you'd be astounded. I wear a size 32 pants and you'd laugh if you seen me put on my size 60 pants. I make Jared look weak.

Idk... I know you can do it because I did. I'm not above normal. I'm not some extraordinary person. If you really want something bad enough, you'll do it.

and by the way, when I said try it, i meant try telling your friends and watching their reaction if you are losing a bunch of weight. Substance abuse is not something to try.

LOL I love your Meth joke.. I could only imagine peoples faces.. Congrats on your weight loss, you are excatly where I want to be, and where I hope to be in the next 2 years. I currently weigh 359 ( started at 375 ) ealier this month, and this time around everything just feels "right" if that makes since.. I guess when you really put your mind to it, anything is possible. Your proof of that. So again Congrats!!

Hi Sham!   Thanks for sharing your story with us.  That's fantastic!  Congratulations!!

Although I have significantly less to lose, your story is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing, and a freaking huge congratulations on your determination and making it to your goal! No matter how many people post saying they have made it to their goal, it never gets less exciting, or awe-inspiring!

Original Post by amandaaweb:

No matter how many people post saying they have made it to their goal, it never gets less exciting, or awe-inspiring!

 true!

Thanks for posting your inspirational journey and congratulations on your achievement!

Holy cow Sham!  Congrats and thank you for the update.  Reading your story has been a great incentive for me to stop whining about how hard it is and just do it!  Also, great job not letting your set back snowball.  Amazing.  Thanks again!

Congratulations! You're story is amazing to me. Unfortunately, my brother is in your prior situation of being 400 lbs. I wish he could develop this mind set. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

What a tremendous story!!  Thanks for sharing that.  I shall keep popping back to read this for motivation.  Cheers mate!

..............off to google Secret Diary of a Former Fat Girl  ;-)

Thank you so much for sharing that. It really helps to motivate those of us like me who are looking at how much weight they have to lose (for me 100lbs) and helps us be able to say "DAMN!!! If he can do that I totally can do this!!"

good luck to everyone. losing weight isnt a goal but a way of life... as far as the person with the brother... i understand how you feel since i have a younger sister who is overweight and  isnt ready to lose it..all you can do is be there for that person when they are ready and not push them away. theyll always be family 

Thanks so much for posting your story.  I especially loved how you incorporated moving your body!  That is so important.

Congrats to your new life!

wow!thats fantastic,and a real inspiration.im off to look up couch to 5k,i hate exercising but love walking my dogs,so thank you for that.

love the meths joke to,lol!

This is exactly what I needed to see atm. Thank you. =]

♥ this story and your positive attitude! Very infectious, and reminds me of me...

Sham, you are damn awesome. :D

Sham - congratulations on your amazing journey and thank you for sharing your story, inspiring to say the least.