I'm Not The "Fat Guy" Anymore!
At 320 pounds, Bigbrett22 was tired of being the "fat guy". Here's how he lost 135 pounds, took control of his life and regained his self confidence.
1. What made you decide to lose weight this time? Did you have an "Ah Ha!" moment?
I was just getting sick of being the "fat guy" in life. At work, with my friends, my family, I was the "fat guy" and I didn't want to be that anymore. It's funny that people always mention the "ah ha" moment, but I didn't really have one. I just decided one Sunday that I had about 10 months until my 25th birthday, so I was going to start the next day. And sure enough, it stuck.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
I had lost 80 pounds about 5 years ago, but then gained it all back. I really was unhealthy and starved myself to lose those 80. That's why I couldn't keep it off.
3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?
I stopped eating fast food and all soda and juice. I also made sure to input EVERYTHING I ate into the food log to make sure I wasn't eating too much. As for working out, I started going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week and did what I could. The biggest change for me was the mentality. I realized that eating didn't need to be about pleasure anymore. It was simply something I had to do to keep myself nourished and energized. The old eat to live instead of live to eat.
4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?
I found Calorie Count about a week into my new eating habits. I had been writing down all my calories on paper everyday until I found Calorie Count. The tools on this website are incredible and I honestly owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to everyone that makes this site possible. It has changed my life.
5. What was most challenging about losing weight?
Telling my friends and family that I didn't want anything to eat. Every time I used to go out to eat or head to someone's house for dinner, I would always eat way too much. When you are 320 pounds, people expect you to eat a lot. So as I started to change my habits, people would try to push food on me all the time because they weren't used to me not eating. And that was very difficult to turn down food.
6. How long did it take you to see results?
Within the first week I had lost 11 pounds and I knew it was going to stick this time. Clothes started being too loose within a month and I was able to do a lot more in the gym as time passed as well.
7. When did you realize that you were a success?
Whenever I would see someone I hadn't seen since the weight loss. I remember going to my cousin's high school graduation and I had seen my aunt and uncle in almost a year. When they showed up, they walked right past me to say hello to the rest of the family. It felt good.
8. How do you prevent relapse?
I don't let a bad meal, day, or week get me down. And I weigh myself every day to make sure things don't get out of hand. I know that if I gain a few pounds, I can take them off within a few days. I just try to get used to this new lifestyle.
9. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
I am a completely different person. I have more confidence, self worth, and energy. I can play sports with my friends and actually keep up. I am not ashamed of the way I look and don't feel out of place when I am with a group of thin people. It feels amazing to not be the 'fat guy' anymore.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it.
- Time is going to pass whether or not you change, so you might as well change. Why wait? Start now!
- A bad meal, bad day, bad week can be overturned very quickly with a bit of will power. Don't let those get you down.
- Make a set of short term and long term goals. When you reach them, feel good about it. And treat yourself to something nice. It helps.
- Log into Calorie Count multiple times a day and read other people's stories, successes, and failures. You'll be amazed how many people are going through the same exact thing you are.
If you would like us to feature your success story, you can submit it here. The most insightful stories will be featured on this blog and in the weekly "Success Stories" newsletter.
Comments
Very good job.
"I realized that eating didn't need to be about pleasure anymore." This statement really drew my attention. I am going to use it for my weight loss journey. It should really help motivate me.
Well Done Brett, thanks for sharing I am so proud of you. I am so glad you joined CC and inparticular the 300+ club. You definately look a whole new person, I am not syrprised you family did not know you. You are so right in all you say, great job. Thanks for giving us all the tips, we all need help and you prove it can be done.
Nice job! "Time is going to pass whether or not you change, so you might as well change. Why wait? Start now!"...stay with it. Thanks for sharing your story.
I really like your five tips! That's so true about bad days/weeks - we do let it get us down and shouldn't. Thank you for sharing your story.
What a brilliant effort!! Congratulations, and what an inspiration. I'm hoping to lose about the same amount of weight..am down about 28 in 4 months so far. The total amount to lose seems so overwhelming, but stories like yours provide hope.
"I realized that eating didn't need to be about pleasure anymore."
Another wonderful and inspiring story again. I am working on my way now. Thanks a lot for the encouragement! :)
Good story. I have even lost the desire for crappy food. I had some healthy mexican(chicken burrito" the other night at the restaurant and tried a few of the cheese nachos and quite honestly they tasted horrible and gave me a stomach ache. 2 months ago I would have eaten the leftovers.
Great job (Little)Brett22! You have truly motivated me. Thanks for the tips. They will help me. Just started CC through another CC member. Got a long way to go, but I know I can do it. Thanks Brett and Myella if you out there reading this. Brett, I'm hoping to get big numbers too my first week. Any lost will be great. I'm looking forward to my before and after picture. Thanks again Brett for this great story.
great job....you r inspiration for me becoz i am trying to loose 80 pounds
thanks for sharing your story
Wow! You look great! This is an amazing story! Thanks for sharing this with us! :)
i joined this site as i read your story, you are a real inspiration, so thank you for sharing your story.....
i like your top 5 tips when i see those small changes i see thats its a lot simpler than i think, i can do this!!! i can make those changes and i so want to, i hate my body and how i see myself, im crying as i type this........ but you have made me see that its all there for me to do and i can have a normal healthy body and i dont have to be ashamed anymore,
thank you so very much x
Your success story is just what I needed to see this morning.
Congratulations to you. You are an inspiration to me and, I'm
sure, many others.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your strengths and weaknesses. It gives me hope and encouragement that I can do the same. Especially "dont let anyone tell you you cant do it", like myself! My new motto is "If you can't be with the one you love (your ideal body), then love the one you with (my present body)". I realize before I can change, I need to love and accept myself as I am. Love is a great motivator.
Thanks to everyone for their comments!
Congrats on your weight loss journey! Way to go! I've lost a total of 80 lbs. myself and have 15 more lbs. to go. It sure does take alot of hard work, determination, discipline, and a heart of motivation to get where you've got. Your story is an inspiration to me and many others as well. Keep it up! :)
Kudos to you. I agree with you, calorie count rules. Nice being able to move without the grunting!
Awesome story, thanks for sharing big (er. little) guy:)
I to didn't have a ah ha moment, I just started as part of the usual New Years resolution schtick "next year". I can relate to a lot of what you say. I to owe a whole bunch of gratitude to this site and it's amazing calorie count tools.
Congrads and good luck in your maintenance mode.
You're an inspiration!! Congratulations and you look great - what's even more important is that you have taken the time to share your story to inspire others. I'll let you know how I'm doing in 10 months...thanks and congrats again!
dude all i can say is you make me want to lose more and more thank you for this you are the man
What a great inspiration. Your current weight is my goal. Since October I went from 280 to 225 and I want to get to 185 by the end of the year. Your tips about not drinking soda or juice, weighing yourself every day and not letting bad days get to you are spot on. In the past I've let bad eating days send me into multiple bad days and then falling off the wagon so to speak. Now I just weigh myself the next day and go on with my good eating routine. Way to go dude.
Good for you, you look tall, fit, and handsome. That very old and sage advice to "eat to live" is really true, isn't it? I am working to reset my attitute about food because I want to go into my late middle age in a trim, healthy state.
Calorie Count is a great help to me, too!
Way to go Brett! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Loved your story and found your 5 tips very encouraging. Good for you and Thanks for sharing.
You look... Wow. Just wow.
Great job, and thanks for the extra spark of inspiration this morning. :D
Way to go Brett! You truly are an inspiration. What a great attitude. Your 5 tips are not only motivational but also practical and sensible. Congratulations on your new way of living and your new life.
Ok guys i need your help, 3 years ago i too lost 80 lbs but now at 25 i gained back 60 im SCARED , just recently lost 18 before easter but gained back another 10, this story is what i needed to hear this morning i8t is so inspiring, i dont know why i kep sabatoshing my own diets, ill keep yall posted!!
Yes to leave for life and not for food make huge difference sometime we find too much comfort in food because it is so available. Replace food habits with fun going to do stuff habits is biggest accomplishment .Thank you for sharing.
He is so right about what he says. I lost 60lb with those same ideas. When I set out to lose weight, I ony worked on the first 5lb. Small goals makes big differences that add up. I didnt let myself get down when I screwed up, I just went on and kept working at it. Putting myself down is what got me at 230lbs to begin with.
I enjoy going to the gym. The Gym is my "ME TIME". nobody bothers me. When I leave the gym, I have so much energy and I dont want to slow down.
I am so glad he was able to accomplish what he had done. It has given him his future and his life back. Good for you BIGBRETT!!!!
Jillian
You have no idea how much i needed to read exactly this at this exact moment lol. your story is so inspirational! thanks
Great Job!
It is so encouraging to know that you not only have lost weight, but have a sure fire way to keep the weight off! I never really thought about not identifying food as
pleasure but rather as a need to nourish my body.... I know it sounds dumb, but I just needed to hear it from someone else! Keep up the good work!
Robert
Thanks for the inspiration. I love this website and the tools, especially the food log. I, too, was doing it manually in a small notebook. It's so easy here, and I love the way it gives you a nutritional grade for the day. And you can see averages, and trends.
You're advice about getting back on track after a bad meal, day, or week is the best.
Awesome!! You look amazing!!
Congrats on your wonderful success!!! I like your 5 tips!
I find I have to remind myself everyday about the tip about not letting a bad meal, bad day or bad week get you down.
Keep up the fantatic work! 
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You are my hero. I have only 50 pounds to loose and can't seem to get over the first 5 pounds.