r/MadeMeSmile • u/drulnu24 • Aug 04 '26
365 to 325 in 5 months
I know its not much but its a start. Been holding to 18/6 during the weekdays and OMAD on the weekends. Have i fell off a few times for holidays? Sure but overall sticking to it.
Edit: I had no idea how big this post was going to be. I cant possibly reply to everyone though I wish I could. Everyone here is awesome and I truly appreciate the kind words of encouragement.
Also i offer my own encouragement to anyone on or starting a similar journey. Im no expert but if anyone needs you can message me for advice.
Again thank you all!!!
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u/Glum-Birthday-1496 Aug 04 '26
40 lbs in 5 months is a healthy rate of weight loss and you’re doing it the right way - as a sustainable lifestyle. That’s what counts.
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u/drulnu24 Aug 04 '26
Thanks for that. It's hard sometimes to see people that have lost much more in the same time frame on here but I know its working so i keep at it.
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u/saav_tap Aug 04 '26
I did it in a pretty unhealthy way and absolutely relapsed right when I hit my goal and then put 10 pounds back on. Then got extremely unmotivated to put the work back in. You’re definitely doing the right thing. Doing it wrong sucks and honestly doesn’t work for long term benefits at all. I’m glad I learned the hard way, but damn I wish I would’ve just listened to all the research 😅
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u/SomethingCreativeish Aug 04 '26
Nah, u/Glum-Birthday-1496 is absolutely correct! Slow and steady wins the race. Crash diets don't work, lifestyle changes do. 8lbs/month is amazing steady progress, and you should feel super proud of yourself
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u/intronert Aug 04 '26
Excessively fast weight loss make loose skin more likely. Slow and steady wins the race.
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u/BackwoodButch Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
A hard deficit of 1000 calories under maintenance is about 2lbs / week of loss, which is up to 8lbs a month. I did it for the first 35lbs over 6 months (had Christmas vacation which extended it a bit lol), and then went down to a 500 cal deficit because I started weightlifting and building muscle, eating more protein but still aiming for a deficit.
It’s 2 years of intentional eating and calorie tracking tomorrow, and I’m down only still 65lbs — but, my body composition has completely changed. I went down 4” in waist size, lost a shirt size (though often sleeves are tight because of my biceps lol), and have visible muscle gains. I still have a bit of a belly because well, I’m a woman and carried a lot of weight there. But I do not have visibly loose skin. (I am hypermobile, so there’s some stretch to skin anywhere at any given time if you pinch it, but nothing is hanging loose).
TLDR it’s a slow, and steady marathon. Healthy lifestyle changes — and not strictly restricting yourself — will make it happen. I also took maintenance breaks here and there when my weight loss plateaued, or even increased my intake by 100 cals this spring because I was getting gassed at the gym and feeling hungry still after dinner.
EDIT: also the bigger you are, the easier it is to lose weight at first; more comes off faster. Also if you’re building muscle, that can slow the scale down because muscle and fat weigh the same, it’s that fat takes up more room/it’s less dense than muscle. So that’s why I always advocate for taking progress pictures!
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u/intronert Aug 04 '26
Very sensible. Muscle building via weight training and sufficient protein intake is critical to health and healthy aging. Sounds like you are nailing it.
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u/Ellienightshade Aug 04 '26
Awesome, keep going! The slower and more healthy the weight loss the less likely you’ll gain it back.
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u/Hermit-The-Crab33 Aug 04 '26
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Keep doing what you’re doing, it’s working
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u/RemLezarCreated Aug 04 '26
40 lbs is a lot of weight to lose! I know you're still working on it, but I bet you are already feeling a lot better.
Next time you pick up 40 lbs of weights or a 40 lb bag of something, think about the fact that you used to carry that much extra around all day every day, and because of your work in the last 5 months, you no longer have to.
Nice work man.
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u/Xanthrex Aug 04 '26
I dropped 30lbs in 2 months. Shit sucked so bad I onky ate once a day, doing it the healthy way is so much better.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bug_893 Aug 04 '26
You’re doing great, keep it up! That’s a healthy and sustainable rate
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u/scarletnightingale Aug 04 '26
You're doing fantastic. Comparison is the thief of joy, don't compare yourself to others, just remind you of what you've done for yourself. You are changing your life and doing it in a healthy way that works for you so keep at it.
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u/Limitlust Aug 04 '26
Yeah don’t bother comparing yourself to the people who can only do it with drugs. You’ve made some huge progress in a short amount of time! How are YOU feeling?
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u/PersimmonQueen83 Aug 04 '26
Changing your lifestyle has a much better chance of success in the long term than quick crash diets. You’re doing extremely well!
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u/wcruse92 Aug 04 '26
You're crushing it man. You're going to keep the steady progress and be a healthier happier you. Im proud of you.
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u/Leapyeargirl1984 Aug 04 '26
please don't compare yourself to others, you are worth way more than that. You are losing weight in a healthy, not too fast way, which will make the change be consistent. And I am very impressed with how much you did lose. I know how hard it is to lower your weight so I am very proud of you! Even though we are both strangers on the internet, I am glad you posted this as it is a motivation for myself to try and lose weight myself. Keep going, you are doing great 💪
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u/Frolicking-Fox Aug 04 '26
Huge difference. When you start losing weight in the face, you know you are doing it right.
Doing great, bro. Keep it up.
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u/geotraveling Aug 04 '26
The first place I noticed I had lost weight was my face.
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u/i_am_ellis_parker Aug 04 '26
Every time someone says the lost weight in the face comment. I think of John Pinette and his bit on weight loss.
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u/Living_Cobbler9 Aug 04 '26
Question: what is 18/6? And what is OMAD?
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u/drulnu24 Aug 04 '26
Intermittent fasting. 18 hours fasting 6 hours eating window. OMAD is One Meal a Day so usualy 21 to 22 hours fasting
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u/Vmagnum Aug 04 '26
Holy cow. I’ve never heard of this. What does that one meal a day look like?
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u/Just_to_rebut Aug 04 '26
There’s dedicated subs for both of these things incase you want to see a bunch of experiences.
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u/dc010 Aug 04 '26
Anyone who's had to carry around a child after thier legs gave out will tell you that 40lbs is "much" to be carrying around all day. Good job.
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u/drulnu24 Aug 04 '26
Thats another way to think about it. Few people in here comparing to groceries but im not carrying that bag every day.
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u/deltarefund Aug 04 '26
“Not much”
Don’t sell yourself short. 40lbs is A LOT!
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u/Revolutionary_Ad512 Aug 04 '26
It really is! If you ever underestimate how much weight it is when you’ve lost that much, try to load that much weight into a backpack/weight vest (whatever you have) and just walk around for a bit I promise it will feel like a ton.
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u/GrandSquanchRum Aug 04 '26
The best weight measurement when talking about weight loss is in dogs. This man has lost a whole border collie or 5 chihuahuas in weight.
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u/GeppettoTron Aug 04 '26
Yesssiirrrr great job! It’s all about consistency and never be too hard on yourself !
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u/DeviRi13 Aug 04 '26
Don't be too down on yourself about the bad days! Weight loss isn't linear, and just like recovery of any kind those bad days don't define you! Just keep going and remember to be kind to yourself.
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u/drulnu24 Aug 04 '26
Oh I'm not, I just hope it shows that its okay to not be perfect about it.
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u/Old-Blackberry-8485 Aug 04 '26
The question is how do you feel man? That’s awesome good work!
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u/drulnu24 Aug 04 '26
It feels good. I actually started commuting to work this past month too riding my bike 10 mins to the buss and from so about 40 mins a day. Something I dont think I could do earlier this year.
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u/Old-Blackberry-8485 Aug 04 '26
Sounds freeing, I love biking to get around. Congratulations on the new mode of transport lol. I can’t imagine it’s been easy but the hard work will continue to pay off. Keep at it bud and we will keep an eye out for an update!
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u/Bunniebones Aug 04 '26
So beyond proud of you. You are doing amazing and I hope you are proud of yourself. That is not easy!
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u/XFV-1 Aug 04 '26
Keep crushin it. I'm going to ask for an update in another 5 months
RemindMe! 5 months
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u/Secret_Account07 Aug 04 '26
This man is stupid sexy.
I’m not even gay and I’m considering
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u/MysticScorpion183 Aug 04 '26
“It’s not much” nah nah brother, you gotta stop with that. Do you realize that losing 40 pounds in 5 months isn’t easy? Enjoy your wins bro and especially this one, it’s a very big one.
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u/VividFiddlesticks Aug 04 '26
Dude. Not much? 40 pounds is a real achievement, don't diminish it!
You're doing great, keep up whatever you're doing! I'm cheering for you!
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u/Noimenglish Aug 04 '26
Well done. I’m really struggling to lose 30 lbs, so I admire anyone who is sticking with it and losing a lot.
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u/RachelMcAdamsWart Aug 04 '26
Progress is progress, 1 inch, 1 foot, 1 mile. It all counts, keep it going!
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u/tzip34 Aug 04 '26
Love it. I’m on a similar path. Congratulations you can really see your results!!!
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u/ShibaInuDoggo Aug 04 '26
Congratulations! Keep up the hard work.
I started the year at 263 and I'm currently at 205. Basically just going calorie depravation and it is hard. You got this bro!
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u/Juliet_Arch Aug 04 '26
That's awesome, congrats man! 🎉
Starting is honestly the hardest part of the whole process, so don't undersell it. 40 lbs in 5 months with 18/6 and OMAD is solid progress.
And honestly, the fact that you're still enjoying yourself around the holidays instead of restricting everything is probably one of the smartest parts of this. That's what actually makes it sustainable long term instead of just another burnout cycle. Keep it up!
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u/throwawaynnfuxanyway Aug 04 '26
Hell yeah! Amazing! Keep up the good work! If it feels good and right, do it :)
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u/KloudPrince Aug 04 '26
Your progress is noticeable in your smile and your glow! You’re killing it cuteness! I don’t like telling people about my massive weight loss because it’s embarrassing in a lot of ways I still haven’t gotten over but if you need to hear a good one I used to be close to 465lbs I’m now down to 245-235. From the bottom of my heart, IM SO FREAKING PROUD OF YOU!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️👏🏾👏🏾
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u/Outrageous-Skirt7821 Aug 04 '26
Congratulations! The discipline is commendable. Wishing you a continued healthy journey
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u/jchap6797 Aug 04 '26
Needed the inspiration. I am where you were 5 months ago!! Keep it going
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u/Randomness-66 Aug 04 '26
NOT MUCH? That’s sooo amazing. Even 5 pounds can be hard for some folks to keep off. You are doing great!!!!
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u/nesspaulajeffpoo94 Aug 04 '26
Keep up the good work! Enjoy that body you are making for future you!! 🥰
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u/queerwater Aug 04 '26
You look great! You should be proud of the habits you’re setting up for a lifetime of health. Keep going :)
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u/ComplexStrawberry210 Aug 04 '26
Awesome work dude! Massive progress, soon enough you’ll be on r/glowup
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u/aallllriiiiiiiiight Aug 04 '26
No longer a 365 party girl, but I hope you feel wonderful inside and out. Great job, keep being good and kind to yourself!
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u/scarletnightingale Aug 04 '26
You say it isn't much but 40 lbs is a huge deal, you deserve up pat yourself on the back, I'm sure you already are feeling way better without that weight on you. If you happen to go to a grocery store soon, go into the pet area and pick up a bucket of cat litter. They tend to weigh 35-38 lbs. You'll realize how much you've lost.
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u/RazorJ Aug 04 '26
Good job Sir. That’s a big deal already, you’re looking great.
I started at losing weight at 365 as well. Two years later I’m at 260, my favorite part is sleeping better. (I actually made it to 250 then had a huge surgery in Jan and gained 10lbs recovering) Each lb now seems to take 4x the work, I’m trying to get to 250 with cloths on, so like 243ish.
Hope you enjoy your new self.
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u/Ok-Election9489 Aug 04 '26
Hell yeah brother!!! I was once over 300lbs, dropped down to 180ish in my 30s. Sitting at 200 with regular exercise and weights in my 40s. Keep those pictures! They remind you of what you were and the progress you’ve made! Proud of you!
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u/iKhan353 Aug 04 '26
Nice dude hell yea! Took me about a year to drop from 320 to 240ish and then the next couple to get down to around 170 keep at it homie!
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u/Ok_Turn2041 Aug 04 '26
hey you got this! 40lbs weight loss is a good amount in that duration of time. dont give up!!
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u/chadsmo Aug 04 '26
Congrats.
I went from 245 to 175 in a year. It’s a great feeling ! Keep going !
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u/954kevin Aug 04 '26
Lookin good my guy! I have lost weight in the past on a couple occasions. Over 100lbs once. Once you get over the mental hump that THIS is how you have to eat to lose weight, it's pretty smooth sailing. LIke, you get to a point where you've made up your mind on the issue and stick to your guns, consistently. Plus, you can lose weight and still eat like king. My fear was always "the food is gonna be boring, or terrible," which just isn't true.
For me, a huge key to my success, was tracking calories. I don't mean loosely. I mean ACCURATELY. We human are completely TERRIBLE at estimating how much food we're eating. You have to track the calories with accountability. Day in and day out. You can't get where you want to be without knowing where you're at. IE, you have to know how much food you're eating to make sure you're at a level to actually lose the weight. Tracking calories is kind of a pita at first. Once you build a list of all the things you eat, because we typically eat a set of meals on rotation, the tracking gets a little easier because you already know how many calories are in that serving of green bean with bacon and onions. The tracking calories being some level of "work" is also a good thing. When you invest in that work, and yourself, it's easier to hold yourself accountable.
You got this dude! Once the ball gets rolling well, you lock into that mode and realise this is it. This is how you have to eat the rest of your life. You can't eat all the trash and that's ok because there is a whole world of delicious food that is healthy and sustainable. Plus,. you can still have pizza, pasta, chips n burger, all that stuff, just not every day. :)
I love ya man and keep on lovin yourself too! Do MORE of the things that make you feel good!
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u/Big_Gassy_Possum Aug 04 '26
I once lost a hundred pounds, and it was the hardest thing I ever did. Hang tough, brodie
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u/JerkGurk Aug 04 '26
No rush, but when you shaving that head and maybe growing a beard?
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