At my heaviest, I weighed 322 pounds. Today, I weigh 249 pounds. That’s 73 pounds gone, and I’ve lost 6 inches off my waist along the way. My next milestone is 200 pounds, and while there’s still a long road ahead, I wanted to share how I got here.

For a while now I have been dieting and clalorie counting. Portion control is one of the things I have been struggling with and that’s one of the main reasons I put on weight. Another reason was COVID. I gained a significant amount of weight during lockdown back in 2020/2021, and unfortunately I kept that weight on.

Since gaining the weight, I would get out of breath walking up the stairs, or walking down the road outside my house. I was totally unfit and I knew something needed to change. I starting off dieting and controlling my portion sizes. Eating lots of (unhealthy) food is what I do best, so cutting down on unhealthy foods and reducing my portion sizes was and still is a challenge today. I have been on and off dieting for a long time now and I have seen positive results on the scale. Eventually I reached a plateau with the scales and needed to do something more.

Just over two weeks ago, I started intermittent fasting using the 16:8 method. That means a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour eating window. It sounds brutal on paper, but the structure has honestly made things simpler. Instead of snacking all day, I know exactly when I eat and when I don’t.

Fasting isn’t the only change I’ve made. I’ve cut down on sugary foods and drinks, and that alone has made a noticeable difference. I’m also drinking a lot more water than I used to, which keeps me hydrated and helps curb the urge to snack. On top of that, I’m walking a lot more than I ever did before, and those extra steps have really added up.

I won’t pretend any of this has been easy. My first week of intermittent fasting was absolute hell! Even now about three weeks in, I am still finding it tough. I’m essentially trying to train my body to break a 20+ year habbit. My biggest struggle is that I’ve always been a nighttime eater. Those late night cravings hit hard, but I’m pressing through. Some days are harder than others, but every day I stick with it feels like a win.

Looking ahead, I’m considering taking things further with water only fasts. My plan is to start small with one full day of no eating, just drinking water. If that goes well, I’d progress to a 2 day water fast. It’s an experiment, and I’ll listen to my body as I go.

This journey is far from over. There’s still distance between me and my goal, but the results speak for themselves: 73 pounds down, 6 inches off my waist, and a whole lot more confidence than when I started.

Unitl next time…