My before/after pictures

[MBchrono]

I met my original goal at 190, but decided to go down to 180 because I am joining the Air Force. Figured I would do a side by side comparison. I am 5' 9" 189 pounds. In the before pictures I was about 273. Hopefully these pictures aren't too big.

I bought this 3x shirt when my other shirts were starting to get too short!


This was taken yesterday.


Upclose picture taken at my heaviest.


Upclose taken yesterday


Another picture taken yesterday. Large shirt instead of 3x! WOO!


ADBB ROCKS!

[imagood1]

you look great -- congrats on joining the Air Force!!

[sarbirus]

WOW!! Dude! Thats one massive change over the last year!! You MUST be soooo proud!

I am about 280 lbs so just a little more than you were about a year ago. So your progress has really given me a boost.

I have a few questions for you.

1. What did you miss eating in the early stages?
2. Is there anything you still miss eating now?
3. Have you noticed any difference in how other people treat you? (men, women, older people, younger people)
4. Have you noticed any additional attention or interest from the ladies?

Questions 1 and 2 are because I am starting induction on Saturday/Sunday, and am trying to get an impression of what to expect during the plan.

Questions 3 and 4 are just out of curiosity because I am always interested in peoples psychology and how they treat people or react to people based on appearance.

Anyway... a big WELL DONE!!

[Mick2360]

MB, Great job, you are a real inspiration! Good luck in the Air Force, that is an impressive commitment. Best wishes.

Mick

[chellybobs]

WOW!!!! What an inspiration!!! Welldone you x

[MBchrono]

Appreciate all the feedback!

Originally Posted by sarbirus

WOW!! Dude! Thats one massive change over the last year!! You MUST be soooo proud!

I am about 280 lbs so just a little more than you were about a year ago. So your progress has really given me a boost.

I have a few questions for you.

1. What did you miss eating in the early stages?
2. Is there anything you still miss eating now?
3. Have you noticed any difference in how other people treat you? (men, women, older people, younger people)
4. Have you noticed any additional attention or interest from the ladies?

Questions 1 and 2 are because I am starting induction on Saturday/Sunday, and am trying to get an impression of what to expect during the plan.

Questions 3 and 4 are just out of curiosity because I am always interested in peoples psychology and how they treat people or react to people based on appearance.

Anyway... a big WELL DONE!!

1. I think the main thing I missed was sour candy! I still miss it so much. I was really craving arbys early on as well. Beer is also a great loss. You can eventually get it back though.
2. I have had a very strong craving for nacho bell grande lately! That and SOUR CANDY!
3. Not hearing fat jokes is the main difference. My buddies and I are always joking around about each other and even though it was in fun, fat jokes ALWAYS hurt at some level.
4. I have noticed actually! I have seen ladies looking at me again. Especially my wife, she looks at me much different now.

Honestly the main things for me is I feel GREAT, and I am not embarrassed to leave my house anymore. I did not want to go out in public, take family pictures or do anything where there would be anybody else around because I felt so awkward. There are very few pictures of me at 270 because of that. Every aspect of my life has improved. Self confidence goes such a long way.

[Sarina D]

WOW, well done!!!!!

You've done such an incredible job...pat yourself on the back!!!

Thanks so much for posting your pics, you're a real inspiration....keep it up and all the best to you on your continued journey to great health!

Sarina
-----------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 183 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[sallyseachange]

WOO HOO! Well done!

[sarbirus]

Thanks for answering the questions MBChrono..

I think my big thing I will miss will be sliced white bread and french fries... But for a while I have kinda seen that those slices of bread and every french fry is what makes up a large part of my body fat... So even though I love them, a part of me has started the process of hating them also.

I think I understand what you say about joking with friends and that it hurt.. I often find myself making a joke of my size.. As they say, the best defense is a good offense.

Especially interesting for me is your noticing an improved interest from women, who its worth noting, will often list "looks" at the bottom of their list of attraction triggers, yet actually react in the opposite way.. I guess men are the same.. But its still interesting when you think about it.

I guess at the end of the day, we all like to think we are a species which has everything in control, that our brains make the choices, when in reality maybe we are just a species of bald monkeys running off instincts and deeply programmed responses rather than the mental choices we think we are making.

In the same way, those cravings I fear I will have, and that you have overcome, are deeply programmed so us monkeys can seek out the most fruitful fuels for our bodies which are naturally scarce or seasonal but in todays society are too easy to choose.

I think you got it 100% right though... apart from the small craving, the benefits your seeing now go far beyond any drawback.. I find myself spurred on at the moment to succeed by seeing peoples before and after pictures and knowing I want to get to the same stage which would be benefit enough.. But its all the extra benefits your seeing now which go far beyond that which possibly can not be predicted or really experienced until that person has achieved that goal.

Sorry.. I am prone to going off on a tangent.. But interesting none the less..

Oh... and... WELL DONE!! GO MBCHRONO!! Your certainly my hero right now, you have every right to be sooo proud and your family should be also so proud of you!

[cafe_et_creme]

Oh WoW!!
You look like a totally different person! You have done so well, congrats on your weightloss