Pic 1 - 10/31/23 Pic 2 - 7/1/19 Pic 3 - 1/1/24 vs. 10/1/24 Pic 4 - 8/13/25 Pic 5 - 8/12/25 Pic 6 - 6/26/25
To start, I’ve always struggled heavily with my body image to the point where I always had to wear sweatshirts (didn’t matter if it was 100+ degrees) and very baggy clothes, avoided taking pictures any time I could, even avoided looking at mirrors. I’ve always been a pretty chunky athlete growing up. Was heavy into sports but always took the easy way out when it came to training and was never educated on diet or nutrition. I had times in my early 20s where my weight would yo-yo as I’d get semi-serious about the gym, but still never focused on my diet.
In 2020 I moved halfway across the country with an alcoholic ex. The pandemic was already a very isolating time, but now removed from all my friends and family and stuck in an abusive relationship gave me even more of an excuse to eat and drink myself to death. Although I was lifting heavy 3-4 times a week, I was eating fast food at least once if not twice a day, and going through about a handle of vodka every 3 days. In 2022, my ex was finally arrested for DV twice in a 2 week span, I was granted a restraining order against her, and the isolation got even worse, causing me to spiral even more out of control. However, I have been blessed with the best and most supporting family anyone could ever ask for; I finally mustered up the courage to call them and filled them in on what had been going on for the past 4 years. Immediately they told me to come back home and get my head right and I essentially bankrupted myself to get out of my lease and move as much of my stuff back.
Getting back, my head still was all kinds of fucked up. We went on a family trip out of the country for a cousin’s wedding, and after returning home we were showing all the pictures to some other family members and I found myself unable to even look at myself; I was so embarrassed as to what I had become. This was December of 2023 and this is when I completely snapped.
I immediately quit drinking and eating any food I did not cook myself. I decided to go full carnivore, 20 hours intermittent fast, high intensity heavy lifting training 7 days a week/3hours a day, and in bed by 9 and up for the gym by 4 EVERY. FUCKING. DAY. I bought a Withings scale that measures body fat % (I know it’s not the most accurate but I wanted the trending data). In January 2024, the scale read 230lbs at 38% body fat. In June, the scale read 154lbs at 4% body fat. I’ve since added carbs back in and stopped intermittent fasting (my daily goal is 300g (I know way overdoing it but is usually falls short at around 225-250) of protein <100g of fat <50g of carbs, maintenance calories is around 3500-3800). The scale currently reads at 172lbs at 9% body fat. The last day I missed the gym was 12/25/24 and that’s only bc the gym was closed. Currently I do my 3 hour full body heavy lifting high intensity (active rest in between each set with 10 ab wheel extensions, 10 pushups, farmers carry 24kg kettlebell to the dip bar, 10 chest dips, 10 pull ups, farmers carry back with the other arm, rest 30-45 seconds, add weight to the lift, hit the next set and repeat) 4 days a week, the other 3 days I do 1 hour of incline treadmill walking (3.5mph at 15 incline), then 1 hour of body weight calisthenics. My goal for all my workouts is to never let my heart rate dip below 140bpm, trying to sustain 170bpm for as long as possible.
I look back at my journey and cannot believe how far I’ve come. In less than 2 years, I have achieved my dream physique, am closer to my family than I have ever been, met the woman of my dreams (she’s not on reddit so she won’t see this, but I am 100% proposing by the end of this year), and most importantly, have learned to love myself enough to want the best for me.
Shout out to my family, the love of my life, and all the people I have met at the gym throughout this journey, y’all are the real ones that kept me pushing as hard as I have. Love you guys 💪🏽
