Goal weight achieved!

[jjhatch]

Back in January 2012 I decided to start losing weight and living healthier by exercising and eating better. I weighed 273 lbs.

 

I had my ups and downs throughout the journey. I discovered running in the fall and realized I freaking love it, and completed my first 5k in November. Then in January I got really sick and had to have open heart surgery (at 24) to repair a valve damaged by a bacterial infection. Right before I got sick I was so close to my goal weight at 201 lbs, but after my stay in the hospital I ballooned up to 240 lbs.

 

Well, I lost all of that weight I put on, and then some, and on Monday I weight 197.6 lbs, and my goal weight was 198. I'm really happy about this, especially with everything that's gone on in the past few months. I'm still getting used to being thinner (one of my doctors even called me skinny which was weird haha). I had actually reached my goal weight a few weeks after getting out of the hospital but bounced up a little bit.

 

I still have a lot to do, as I'm still in cardiac rehab recovering from my surgery, but I'm hoping to start running again in the next two months. The rehab is really helping, despite the fact that I'm limited to weight machines (only doing free weights for bicep curls).

 

It's also crazy because about 5-6 years ago I was at my highest weight of 295 lbs, so to think I've lost 100 lbs is mind-boggling.

 

I'll try and get some before/after pictures uploaded soon.

[Irish Oisin]

Way to go man, that's an amazing transformation and a serious heart problem mixed in with it, serious kudos for you brother!!

[empeg9000]

Way to go!!! I lost a similar about of weight over the last 15 months although I was never up in the 290s. Low 280 is the highest I ever was. Congrats on getting healthier over all and getting a new lease on life! Now go out and live it!!

[jjhatch]

Alright, I don't have a full-body comparison yet, but here's a before/after of my face.

 

The one on the left was taken 5 years ago when I was at my heaviest at 296 lbs. The one on the right, taken today.

 

 

Other than the 100-pound difference, my hair seems to have migrated south, haha.

[empeg9000]

Wow! Amazing.

[Huntress]

Wow, that is amazing! I really admire that you have been able to make so much progress despite medical issues. I have a family member who had open heart surgery and the recovery is definitely a pretty big undertaking. Congrats on your achievement!