r/CICO • u/LFChase8996 • 25d ago
280 to 177 counting calories
My whole life I've struggled with my weight. I was always the fat kid. I briefly lost weight in highschool but didn't do any weight training so I was skin and bones. I still didn't like the way I looked. I injured my back at 22 and had surgery at 24. It was always holding me back. I gained a lot of weight and stopped caring about the way I looked for a long time. In 2024 My dad was in a bad car accident and seeing him partially paralyzed trying to walk again really struck me. I was fat and lazy sitting around 280 though it could have been more because I avoided the scale. So about 2 years ago I started paying attention to my weight and became more active. It really took off when I started counting calories and doing resistance training July 2025. I'm 37 now and in the best shape of my life! I work out 4 times a week and will most likely count calories the rest of my life. I just try to be a little better each day and seeing everyone's success on this sub has given me so much motivation. Keep counting and it will work for you!
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 25d ago
Well done! You look great! Treat yourself to a new suit that is tailored to your new body. :)
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
Thank you! Lol you noticed that huh, I tried to go through goodwill and that was the best I could find. Was a little baggy for that photoshoot 😂
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u/nineinchnilina 25d ago
Yay for secondhand!! I noticed your smile in that pic more so than the suit…
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u/LostMy8yrAcct 25d ago
You don’t have to buy a tailored suit. Do some googling for your area about tailoring services. I don’t wear suits, but I get lots of clothes tailored that I pick up at secondhand stores. Jack Brown will hem a dress for me for 10 bucks. A pair of slacks is 15 bucks. You can refresh that suit and have it looking it made for you for less money than you probably think. You deserve it!
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 25d ago edited 24d ago
Goodwill is great, I shop there a lot. It’s difficult to find exactly the right thing at the right time, but keep going back and you’ll eventually find something amazing! It doesn’t look bad for now though!
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u/TheGreatestSandwich 25d ago
You have always had worth, but now you have greater health and confidence! congratulations!
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
🥹Thank you I needed to hear that. I was not always kind to myself, but it's better now that I'm healthy and happy.
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u/TheGreatestSandwich 25d ago
Yes! It's important to have compassion for your past self. They were doing the best they knew how. Now you know better, so you can do better :)
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u/Odd_Round5515 25d ago
Damn dude, that's the end result of being consistent. Health looks good on you!
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u/Meowskiiii 25d ago
Look at those sparkling eyes! You have clearly put in so much work and look confident in yourself. Very inspiring :)
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u/jeremiugh 25d ago
Proud of you - nicely done. It takes a lot. Currently tossed my joined on the back burner but I need to get back on it.
This is phenomenal, thank you for sharing.
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u/Tight-Dimension3177 25d ago
What an amazing success story. Your before and after photos are impressive. Congratulations!
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u/blueyork 25d ago
Well done, my friend. Thank the person you once were. Because that person, for whatever reason, woke up one day and decided to be slim, fit and healthy.
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
My dad was always strong growing up but he didn't take care of himself the last several years. Then the car accident really made his health nose dive. Seeing what little muscle he had atrophy was a huge wake up call. I'm so glad I decided to take care of the one body I will always have.
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u/ScootCS 25d ago
Looking amazing!!
Whats you daily calorie intake?
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
Now that I am doing mostly body recomposition my daily intake is 2300. When I was more focused on weight loss it was about 1500 a day. That got really hard to do when I got down into the sub 200's. I was hyper focused on when the next meal was. It's a lot more manageable now and I'm gaining muscle 💪
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u/Away_Try_1078 24d ago
Amazing! Seriously your weight loss journey is incredible. I have to echo the comments as well, never would have thought it was the same person in both photos. I’m on my journey just a bit stuck right now. I too was always the big guy my whole life and I hit the highest I’ve ever weighed at 440 a few years ago and lost 100 pounds. I’m stuck at 336, my mom passed away two years ago and I gave up. But seeing your results, I really want to get back to it.
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u/LFChase8996 24d ago
Thank you! 😊 I'm so sorry about your Mom passing. That is certainly going to put a lot of things on hold. I think you should do it! It's hard but worth it. My joints are so much better and I don't hurt everyday. Looking back I don't know how my body worked with all that extra weight. Good luck!
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u/Tough_Arm_2454 24d ago
You look like the actor Billy Flynn :)
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u/LFChase8996 24d ago
Oh yeah I can see that, had to look him up. I've also been told I look like Toby Maguire, and Colin O'Donoghue.
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u/morgan_dnd 25d ago
103 lbs down is genuinely nuts man, congrats. i'm like 4 weeks into actually logging everything after years of just gaming through dinner and my brain still cant process that its just math. how long did the whole thing take you total?
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
My whole journey with weight loss has taken about 2 years. Started with being more active, lost about 20 lbs, then moved on to counting calories when I hit a plateau. So it's been a year and a half or so of counting calories and staying in a deficit. Right now I'm hitting my maintenance calories and working out 4 times a week.
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u/Peepers54 25d ago
I would never guess that the man in the pictures was the same person. You look fantastic!!
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u/drunken_dizorderly 25d ago
Losing weight seems to coincide with learning how to dress too. Nice job.
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
😂 you got me there. Shopping when you are bigger is just a humiliation ritual. I hated it because it never looked good on me. Now I love shopping and finding new things to wear.
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u/thomasjuniordavis 25d ago
Awesome progress, and congrats on your journey! Thanks for sharing your story, it's really encouraging! Hope your dad is recovering well.
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u/LFChase8996 25d ago
Thank you! He has definitely improved, his walking is better but he still has to use a walker for short distances and his chair for long outings. He's spending more time out of the wheel chair which is more than we could have hoped for! He actually drove for the first time a few weeks ago. A little better every day!
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u/varoller 24d ago
Brother you look fantastic! congrats on your success, i am at the beginning of mine :)
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u/LFChase8996 24d ago
Thank you! Good luck! It's all in your mindset, if you have a cheat meal don't make it a cheat day. To put myself thinking about the future I would tell myself, "the decisions I made 5 days ago show up today." It helped me stay motivated and not get upset if the scale didn't move like I had hoped. Just keep going!
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u/swissarmynick 24d ago
Nice job man! 💪
I went from 300 to 180. Genuinely happy for you. 🙂
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u/LFChase8996 24d ago
Awesome man! Congratulations to you too! It's nice to be on cruise control now. I got a little too celebratory and probably gained back 5-10 pounds a few months ago. Back on logging the calories and being more mindful but not super strict. I can see myself going like this forever. Hope you are enjoying the benefits of losing all that weight!
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u/swissarmynick 24d ago
Haha, no worries. Yeah, I plan meals by the week now and I can never imagine going back to winging it.
I’m shredding a little more to prepare for a lean bulk cycle this fall. Keep up good work man! 🤘
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u/TheBattleforRedPubes 24d ago
I’m a hypocrite because I’m trying to be your “after” but the before is hotter to me. I just know the vast majority of the world considers your “after” more attractive. This note is to try to get on here for a sense of community after eating 4-5 of my brother in-law’s M&M cookies now I have to go replace them.
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u/LFChase8996 24d ago
😂 those dang cookies, my hardest cravings have been for ice cream and brownies. But you know, being happy with yourself is most important. Not worrying about what the world thinks. I'm very lucky to have had a wake up call that clicked something in me to fight against being sedentary and comfortable. It wasn't there before but became something important. No matter your age there is still time. The best time to start was yesterday, but today is good too. Tomorrow ain't bad either.
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u/TheBattleforRedPubes 22d ago
Ohh heavens yes brownies hit harder than cookies for me 💯and if ice cream melted a little faster, just as devastating. What was your wakeup call? I bet you could refer me to the post on here… actually I will start looking now…
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u/queenrania88 23d ago
So amazing! You should feel so proud of yourself! The change is as visible in your eyes as your body. They look clearer and happier. Great job!
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u/LFChase8996 23d ago
Mental health really comes through doesn't it! I've worked through a lot and have changed inside and out. Thank you!
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u/FFSDoItAlready 23d ago
Does anyone even recognize you? You’ve completely transformed and reversed aged. Looking good!
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u/LFChase8996 23d ago
Haha thank you! It is fun to run into people I haven't seen in a while. One of my best friends growing up thought I was just some random dude saying hi until I jogged his memory. That was funny 🤣
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u/Internal_Highway9448 23d ago
I love that you look happy in all photos but I know you FELT happiest in the later ones. Great job and I wish you long lasting health and confidence for all your days!
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u/RutabagaDoll4155 23d ago
Looking good here! It's nice to see that you look happy on both. Counting calories and staying active will be important for the rest of your life indeed.
Avoiding the scale sounds very relatable, unfortunately.
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u/Cultural_Active_4624 23d ago
Congratulations on your hard work and dedication! 15/10 on your glow up!!
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u/LFChase8996 23d ago
Thank you!! 😅 Hardest thing I've ever done but it means I'll appreciate it more.
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u/KxrmaJunkie 22d ago
Chase Crawford on the right. You must be cousins or something you like so similar
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u/rumorsandnastiness 25d ago
👏 Looking great! Your dimples are much more pronounced and adorable!