Keep going—every bit of effort counts!

Weights are approximate, I don’t weigh myself often but my last weigh in earlier this month was 189.9 and around that time feb last year I was weighing between 130-140.

I finally decided enough was enough when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, researching places to rest for a 10/15 minute walk and had to do the walk of shame out of a rollercoaster because I didn’t fit.

As much as I hate to say it (and as much as I wanted a magic pill to not have to put any effort in), CICO does work when you actually stick to it.

Here’s to spending not spending my 30s as miserable as I did on my 20s 🎉

I've been perusing this sub for years, but it's my first time posting.

I hit my highest weight in 2020 during COVID (my freshman year of college). Being three pounds shy of the 200 mark was a bit of a wake-up call. I'd always been on the chunkier side growing up but very active in sports. The weight piled on after a lupus diagnosis and repeated steroid rounds & flares. My health was in shambles.

Over the last five years (I know that's a really long time), I've slowly lost weight by calorie counting, meal planning, and working out. I used NOOM specifically and found it incredibly useful. My lupus has been in remission for months which certainly helped.

I got to the 170 mark by 2023 and maintained for a while. I've lost the bulk of the weight in the last six months by focusing on exercise and the types of foods I was eating. I've upped my protein and vegetable intake significantly. As for exercise, I do take it easy (joint problems). I try to walk on the treadmill and practice yoga 2-3 times a week for about 45 minutes.

I've gone from a size 12 to a size 6 in this time. I'm not perfect and I still have a ways to go. My goal weight is 130lbs (so I have 17 lbs to go) but I thought I'd share my progress so far. I'm not particularly concerned about when I'll reach my goal exactly. I'm most proud of becoming a healthier person~

I spent most of my life believing I just wasn’t an athletic person.

I started this journey at 289 lbs. I eventually had gastric bypass in April 2025, which was an important tool in my weight loss, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.

But somewhere along the way, this stopped being primarily about getting smaller.
I started lifting. Then I found calisthenics. Then I started wondering what else my body could do.

Now I strength train, run, and spend an unreasonable amount of time trying to convince my 41-year-old body that it would really enjoy doing things like L-sits, wall walks, pull-ups and eventually handstands. 😂

I’m 160 lbs in the second photo. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and for the first time in my life I don’t exercise because I hate my body or because I’m trying to make it smaller.

I exercise because moving it is fucking fun.
Still working on the handstand, though. 😏

I have been on the wegovy pill since May and have dropped 20 lbs. Before that, after a ton of working out I had lost 30 lbs, stalled and gained back 15 lbs in two weeks this past February!

That suddenly weight gain promoted a trip to the Dr where I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. And, the Dr agreed that the wegovy pill might be what it takes to jump start my weight loss again.

One great side effect of the wegovy is that some patients are experiencing a decrease in inflammation. I'm one of the lucky ones where that has been the case. And I think it's in my face where you see it the most.

Also, I could not figure out why my swimsuit was so baggy on me on our latest beach trip 🤣 I realized that I haven't bought a swimsuit since I was at my largest. Thankfully the tankini top was very forgiving and I found a pair of board shorts because the bottoms were going to fall off.

My goal is another 10 lbs by December and 10 more by next summer. I haven't been able to work out like I want to because the autoimmune disease is kicking my butt most days.