u/accordingtoame

*FIVE* years ago today, I took that pic on the left, hours before I was wheeled into what would be the first of three surgeries in 5 months. And then there’s a current one on the left. I've lost 135 fxcking pounds. One hundred thirty five. That's more than half of where I started. That's more than what I actually weighed in high school. That's more than the fake weight I had on my drivers license for 30 years.  I get up and do at least an hour of cardio at 4am, I lift after work 2x a week for an hour and then another 2 hours on Sunday mornings. No excuses, no going backwards.

Here’s my advice being this far out. It might not all work for you, but it worked for me, and it’s why I’ve lost 135lbs and I’m keeping it off easily.

Be consistent. 

Be militant about protein and portion control. 

Time everything: every meal, every bite, every sip. 

Always buffer food and drink-no exceptions. 

Don’t be spontaneous about food, plan everything out and meal prep. 

Eat on a schedule and around the same times every day so you don’t snack or graze. IF I snack, ever, it’s sugar free jello. But sticking to my every 4 hours meal schedule, and being almost all protein...I don't really feel the need.

Stick to super high protein 98% of the time. Eat the same stuff everyday and keep a rotation of meals you like that you know meet your guidelines. 

Meet and or exceed your protein goals daily (I vary between 175-250 grams per day!) 

Find high protein subs for junky stuff-don’t keep slider foods or snacky treats in your house or office that will tempt you. If you’re married/partnered/have family around that wants those things, ask them to keep it out of the house and out of sight. Don't give yourself the temptation or opportunity to go backwards and don’t give them the opportunity to sabotage you.

Research your favorite restaurants for nutritional data so you always order high protein. 

Drink water constantly (outside of buffers). Use timers, I use a running 3 min timer all day. Use sf flavored packets if you need to. 

You don't have to like the shakes, but suck it up, get the fxck over it, and drink them anyway. 

Keep high protein food standbys on you to navigate a potential issue (I keep a meat stick and a protein bar in my purse in case there’s a weird change of plans.) 

Walk / work out every single day, no excuses. Do something to move your body.

If you’re bored/any emotion at all/head hungry, take a walk or drink more water right then and there, that way you can remind yourself if you still want a snickysnack that you have to wait 30 minutes to have it, and that feeling usually passes. 

Don’t weigh everyday, especially not for the first couple months. Once a week, tops. You will make yourself nuts.

Take your Bariatric vitamins. They will literally save your life. Don’t waste money on hair supplements or anything that promises to prevent loose skin. Neither will work, your hair is gonna shed, your skin is gonna get loose. Let it run its course and know it’ll grow back and wear compression garments along the way to keep it as tight to your body as you can. 

Take measurements and pictures even though you hate yourself in pictures, sometimes that’s the only way to see progress. Take the damn pictures. 

There will be so many stalls in this process it'll make you crazy.  Stay consistent anyway.  

Take it a minute, hour, day at a time, trust the process,  stick to the plan. You didn't gain all that weight in a week, you sure as shit won't lose it in your first few weeks.

Be prepared to lose friends/family/others you thought cared about you. Many of them really don't and when they see your successes, it threatens their feeling of superiority over you and they will do what they can to tear you down and sabotage your efforts. You did this for you and your health, if they are anything less than full on cheering and supportive, they don't deserve a place in your life.

You can do this, it won't be easy, it won't be fast, it will most absolutely suck, but you can do this. This is a new start, a new you.     

Hi!

I’ve never bought any Gymshark before and I’m eying a few bras. I usually wear a 30B/32B depending on brand and can and do often wear training bras hey they’re cheap!

I am debating between XS and Small. I want support but not necessarily compression. I’ll have to step in and pull them up bec I have a new shoulder.

Thoughts on sizing? Thank you!