Yes I can...wear a medium shirt. (1 guy's success story)

Hey Folks,

I just wanted to share a quick success story with you lovely folks. I've been on here for a few months (I have periods of posting more than now but I do normally read just to see whats being thrown out there) and I've had lovely discussions on all sorts of issues here (as a quick click on my user posts link will attest to.)

I started  out on Feb 3rd 2009 at 252.8 pounds somewhere around 31% body fat. I wanted to lose weight, NOT to wear a medium shirt as the title states, but to solve a few health problems.  My mom is diabetic and has had triple bypass surgery. I always accepted I'd have the same problem because my grandmother died at 41, my mom had her heart attacks at 41 but lived due to advances in medical technology, and I figured being a dude I'd DEFINITELY have mine some where around there, maybe a little before.

Upon  her last hospital visit (somewhere around Feb 1st) I was alerted that the type of surgery she had is one that has to be redone at some point between 8 to 12 years after the last one.  I DID NOT KNOW THAT. This all of a sudden became an unacceptable prospect. I needed to solve my weight problems now because I was ALSO diabetic and I was literally headed in a crash course with this sort of life!

So on Feb 3rd I kicked it up.  I've done EVERYTHING almost in this past 4 months. I've done low calorie, low fat. I've done Low Carb, I've incorporated exercise (hate it) and weight training (sorta like it). I've played with Intermittent fasting and PSMF. I've gone through the entire gambit of ideas, trials and tribulations.  Some worked better than others. But weight was in fact loss.

I stand here at 206.4 pounds as of this morning with a 24.9 body fat percentage. 4 months and 46 pounds later I have a command of diet lingo that you wouldn't believe (at this point I could write a dissertation) and I proudly can wear a medium shirt.

I'll tell you something. I'm not used to this yet. I still sorta stare in the mirror. I fee like there was some sort of mistake. That any morning I'm going to wake up Fat and realize it was all wrong. I didn't really lose any weight. It's all a lie. 

But so far it hasn't happened.

What HAS happened is that I'm a man with out a wardrobe. Jesus H. Christs, no one reminded me that dropping almost 50 pounds also means I can't wear 90 percent of the things I own comfortably. I was a bit of a clothes horse (Figure if i was fat might as well be stylish ;) ) but now I have about 6 pieces of clothing that I can wear sorta comfortably. Even pants I just recently bought that were a 38 waist (I was ECSTATIC at the time) are too big! I need I've dropped down to a 36 - 34 depending on the cut and how much do I want to make the ladies blush when I walk down the street ;) )

I've actually started wearing tank tops.  Yesterday here in NYC it was beautiful and i walked around in a black medium tank top and my g/f just kept saying "Jesus you've gotten skinny."  I'm still working on getting down to 200, perhaps 190 (which at this point seems odd because I'm wearing mediums, already I don't know if I really NEED to drop anymore weight.) I have muscles all of a sudden which really freaks me out. A friend of mine says it looks like I was Photoshopped, but in real life.

So I share this with you folks who are just coming in or still working on it. I am living proof that research and determination will change your entire life. My friends look to me for exercise and food advice. ME!!! I've never been that guy. 4 months ago i mentioned what I thought someone should eat and they LAUGHED at me. Now I get requests for diet lists. "Whats in this?" they ask because every one I know trusts me.

Its a good feeling. And if I did it, holy crap, ANYONE can do it.

congratulations! It's a marvelous feeling when people ask for advice. Not to mention dropping clothing sizes! Keep it up and post some before/after photos!

That's great! Keep up the good work.

Strange question, but how tall are you? Because I'm 6'1 197 and I can't fit in a medium shirt lol

I'm 5'11 and it really is confusing currently. I have a friend who's 176 and we know can switch clothing and we just kinda just shrug our shoulders. I'm more compact  (and obviously have more muscle than my lovely 176 pound friend)

I'm grabbing a before and after pic and going to post it in a bit. I still don't believe it myself.

I like the photoshoped in real life part. That was great, we'd love to see before and after pictures too. Now I know I can lose my last 10 pounds.

wow, okay i just tried to post a picbut it took it out when i posted. I'll just put a link.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/358625892 4_981e096c53_o.jpg

As I typed in the original post a friend thinks i can play my own dad in the movie. ha.

Your post really made me smile!!  Good for you!  Maybe you can get some of your clothes altered. Keep up the great work.

Thank you. A couple suits might be salvageable but most of my t shirts and jeans look like im wearing big boy clothing even though i still have a little growing up to do. I'm basically slowly trying to grab new pieces here and there.  But of all the problems one could have, being just too thin for one's clothing has to be very low on the list ;)

Congratulations! The results are definitely noticeable in your before and after pictures!

Is it hard for you not to go right into the "plus sized" departments, when you're looking for clothes? I still do that. I walk right over there and go, "Oh, wait, none of this fits me. XD"

Great job, you look amazing.

xo ari

Wow- looking great, Jay!

Thanks Airee and Editorpredator.

I do NOT go straight to the plus size department at all. As of late I've been going to clothing stores JUST to see where I am size wise.  Like today I bought my first 36 waist pants (i knew they fit but i was scared to commit ;) ) and i tried on nothing but medium and small shirts. I feel like im playing dress up with a ken doll or something cause i keep thinking this can't be MY body.

Congratulations!!  but did you have to take my  Lord's name in vain? 

Jay...First of all congratulations!! That is awesome. I am a type 2 diabetic, I have been mostly overweight my entire life. I began using calorie count at the beginning of March of this year. When I started I weighed in at 242.5 lbs. I currently weigh in at 204.5.

None of my clothes fit me, my closet is full of things that used to fit or even were a little tight on me. Now they hang off of me and I am poking new holes in old belts trying to cinch them tighter so they do not fall off! I still have some weight that I want to lose so it is hard for me (since I am a tightwad) to buy clothes that fit right now. I did do a little shopping, and was amazed that size 32 pants were a little loose on me....down from a 36. Also this weekend I went out to buy a bathing suit (last year this time it would have been XL) I tried on a large, and a medium and they both fell off my frame. I had to buy a SMALL! I have not wore a small anything since kindergarten (probably not even then either). I was shocked, my mind could not wrap itself around the idea that I was buying a bathing suit that said small on the tag...

Anyway I enjoyed reading your post and enjoyed sharing in some of the same thoughts that I have not had the time to jot down. Keep up the good work!!

Jay, I'm very excited for you! Congratulations! Now that you are needing new clothing, you won't wear the pants down around your knees with your boxers showing, will you? Of course not! That is so offensive to people, right? And you won't want to offend. So with that in mind, could you also not use the name of Jesus as though it were some sort of curse? That definitely offends, not only me, but Christ as well.

Jay,

You should be feeling so proud right now, your achievement is inspiring to all of us that we can be want we deep down inside are all hoping for.  A big WTG to you and a big hug is well deserved.  To making each day count!

Lookin good!

Muscle obviously makes a huge difference. If I were you, I'd just keep eating healthily, and working those weights, and see your body fat drop, but your weight maybe staying the same, as you look pretty good to me!

Good luck, and thanks for the inspiring post!

Wow!  You look not only healthier but tons younger, too.  Great job.

Aww, that's a really great story and very encouraging!  I know this has had to of done a lot for your self image, inside and out.  I'm really excited for you.  Your enthusiasm makes me enthusiastic about losing weight.  Thanks, I needed that.  :)

I'm just going to assume that since you are a clothes horse then you like to shop too.  You might as well treat yourself to whatever you can afford because you definitely deserve it.  I can image it will be surprising to you how things you never thought you'd wear or never thought they'd look right on you will now look amazing on you.

Congratulations...really...you've done something pretty great for yourself!

How you Look Good Jay!

Oh, hey, I just looked at the pictures you posted...VERY IMPRESSIVE!  Not that there was anything wrong with the Before pic but there is definitely a difference in the After pic.  Jenningermany hit the nail on the head too...tons younger!  Maybe I'll find that fountain of youth as well.  :)

PS:  I doubt Jesus was all that offended that you used his name in a fit of excitement.  Had you used mine instead, I wouldn't be mad atcha...

Congratulations, but as you're still planning on losing more I should remind you that once you descend to around 20% bf and beyond, it will get significantly harder, so you'll have to remember that motivation.

I know I personally was surprised the first time I put on a small t-shirt. I was used to an adult Large or XL even just in my early teenage years. And not to mention the pants. Can't believe my waist used to be almost 10" bigger. It's really amazing how much you can change even your very own body.