A Reddit User’s Journey From 180 to 140Lbs: Overcoming Life’s Curveballs

The Struggle with Being Overweight and Finding Motivation

At 32 years old, Reddit user Jferg711 found herself feeling restless and depressed from being overweight as a stay-at-home mom. She eventually decided to get a gym membership in 2013 and began working out 2 hours per day. She lost around 15lbs but plateaued around 155-160lbs due to starting a new job. She then engaged in a weight loss challenge and got down to 145lbs.

The Yo-Yo Effect and Life’s Unexpected Challenges

During this journey, Jferg711 got diagnosed with Lupus, went through a partial hysterectomy, and experienced other life challenges that made her weight yo-yo. She couldn't keep her weight below 147lbs despite hitting the gym and eating right on and off. Sweat, followed by less-than-ideal eating habits, tortured her for a while, leaving her weight oscillating between 160 and sometimes below the 147 mark.

The Turning Point and a New Approach to Eating

After reaching 160lbs again recently, Jferg711 decided to stop sabotaging herself and focus on her health. She sought out healthier food alternatives, treating food more like fuel instead of comfort, and exploring new ways to eat healthily. The result was a healthy attitude towards food and increased motivation to continue working out and stay active. This paradigm shift helped Jferg711 experience success both physically and mentally.

The Triumph against Life’s Curveballs

There’s no doubt that the journey wasn’t smooth: weight fluctuated for years, and illnesses and life events managing to get in the way. But with this twist in Jferg711's approach to eating, she finally found success, even during times when she didn’t feel like it. The journey was personal, and Jferg711 took control of it, eventually resulting in her physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

The Takeaway: Try to Focus on Being Healthy, Not Skinny

Jferg711’s weight-loss journey took a lot of hard work, commitment, and determination, and it wasn’t just about looking or feeling good physically. Jferg711 wanted to feel better mentally and emotionally, as well. Her story should remind us that focusing on being healthy instead of skinny can result in long-term sustainable change.