F/23's Weight Journey: From 216 to 150 Pounds a Year of Cico and Exercise Pays Off

Introduction

A Reddit user, F/23, reports having reached a healthy weight, according to BMI standards, for the first time in their adult life. The post garnered over 1,900 upvotes, with more than 30 comments and replies, mostly praising and congratulating F/23 on their incredible transformation.

A Little Under a Year of CICO and Exercise

F/23 reveals that it took a little under a year to lose 66 pounds, from 216 to 150 pounds. They started using CICO (calories in, calories out) and the LoseIt app, which tracks calories consumed versus burned, and then added an hour of walking nearly every day from March onwards. In June, they began running through the couch to 5k program, which culminated in participating in a 5k race two weeks ago.

Lessons Learned from F/23's Weight Journey

F/23 learned that a calorie deficit is essential to healthy weight loss, but they also found that trying to eat below 1,200 calories per day proved unsustainable in the long term, especially once they were no longer overweight or obese. As such, they increased their daily intake to 1,300-1,400 calories, resulting in slower weight loss but a more sustainable lifestyle. They also realized how beneficial exercise, particularly walking and running, can be, not only for weight loss but also for their overall wellbeing, especially since they had a sedentary lifestyle before embarking on their weight loss journey.

Dealing with Loose Skin

F/23's transformation invited some questions about loose skin, and they admitted that they do have some around their lower stomach, underarms, and inner thighs, although it is not severe enough to warrant surgery. F/23 says they have made peace with it and hope that it will eventually spring back, but the loose skin is a small price to pay for achieving a healthy weight.

Conclusion

F/23's inspiring journey is a testament to the effectiveness of CICO and exercise. F/23's message is that anyone can achieve their weight loss goals, but it requires persistence, patience, and consistency. Of course, everyone's weight loss journey is different, and what works for one might not work for another. Still, F/23's weight loss story might inspire others to try and find what works best for their own bodies and lifestyles while staying healthy and safe.