From 279 to 180: a Remarkable Weight Loss Story

How it all began

After his knee injury, jpsmi14 stopped letting his knee heal properly to avoid getting med-separated from the navy. This led to him steadily gaining weight and ultimately retiring from service in 2010. In the same year, he had a knee replacement surgery which resulted in serious complications and painkillers addiction for the next 7 years.

The turning point

In 2013, jpsmi14 decided to take control of his life after watching Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. He started working out with a trainer, but it wasn't until three years later that he realized that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. He started eating healthier with help from a friend, and began to see better results.

Persevering through challenges

Despite suffering from three staph infections that made his knee pain worse, jpsmi14 kept pushing himself forward. He even went through the worst two months of his life quitting his 27 pills/day cold turkey, but he never gave up hope on living a healthier lifestyle.

The golden advice

The key to jpsmi14's successful weight loss journey was taking a before picture as a reference point. This helped him keep motivated even on days when he wanted to give up. Another crucial piece of advice he learned was that it's a bad practice to limit calorie intake to a point where it messes up with the body's metabolism. Smart choices are the key to real results.

The end result

After years of hard work and dedication, jpsmi14 was down to 180 lbs from his peak weight of 279 lbs. The joy and satisfaction he felt when he finally took off his shirt in public after 11 years were indescribable. To anyone thinking of starting a weight loss journey, jpsmi14's story serves as proof that it is possible to overcome any obstacles in the way with the right mindset and help.