M/24/5’10 [229lbs > 169lbs = 60lbs] Roughly 1.5 years – just diet and cardio

For my entire life, I have struggled with my weight. I have never been a skinny dude and have a joint instability which has made my relationship with the gym tumultuous at best. Over the last couple of years, I’d let myself go. After a trip to Italy in 2022, I weighed my heaviest that I had ever been in entire life and decided to change.

I knew whatever I did had to work for me. I found out my TDEE, ate 500 calories below my maintenance every day, and that was honestly it. Somebody once said to me, “losing weight is very simple, but it is not easy.” And it is very true. Snacking was always my issue, and I would have multiple days/weeks where I fell off course. I learnt to accept that as part of the process, and got back on the wagon when I could.

I ate pretty much whatever I wanted, as long as I was within my daily calorie goal. Slowly weight began to fall off, and the rest is history.

I have only just picked up running in the last couple of months, and hope to join a gym soon. My biggest takeaway from the whole experience is to not be so hard on yourself and to allow yourself patience if you have a bad day or week. We are all human, and it is a marathon, not a sprint. I am proud of what I have accomplished so far!