What motivated you to tackle your weight and mental health together?
It's quite hard to say why this time was different, really.
I kind of just had that switch flip this time when I decided I wasn't going to let past trauma dictate my present, so I turned my unhealthy gaming addiction into a healthy one.
I started by adding a walking platform and standing desk and walking all day.
The mood shift came from exercising and changing my diet.
I also started cutting out alcohol and junk food.
Talking openly about my issues and slowly exposing myself to leaving the house for dog walks, drives to the grocery store, etc. helped me push forward a lot.
What role did routine and consistency play in your transformation?
Routine and consistency are key for me.
I am ignoring that inner saboteur that tries to justify to me that it’s fine to relax today or it’s fine to have that binge-eating session or that one drink. This approach was key for me.
I still can't go out without my partner, so it's a work in progress, but I see myself leaving the house alone very soon.
My body issues tie closely to my social anxieties, as I have had a history with eating disorders, so it was making my agoraphobia a lot worse.
In the same vein, I pushed harder in the last couple months as I started to get out since I wanted to do more.
It was overwhelming at first, verging on panic attacks I cut many walks short after just a few houses and would go home, leaving my partner to walk the dog but with exposure and more weight loss, it became easier.
I lost weight quickly, but I knew I could when I committed because of my past weight loss when I was younger, and it was mainly pushing past the first hurdle and starting the process that I really struggled with. It got easier as I settled into a routine.
I feel better mentally than I have in decades.
Stopping the cycle of unhealthy habits definitely contributed to better mental health.
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My depression is virtually gone; my social anxiety is still a work in progress, but now I get anxious about tangible upcoming or current things rather than feeling anxious about everything all the time.
My PTSD is still ever present and the biggest hurdle but I'm down to only needing sleep aids for that now as I'm learning to cope with it.
My self-confidence is way better. I still have moments when I get stuck obsessing over my flaws, but it's far less frequent.
Soon I will be seeing some family members for the first time in over 5 years, which is a huge step toward moving past certain things.
Physically, I feel incredible.
I no longer get winded walking up stairs and have managed to stay on top of all the house chores.
My main goals now are reconnecting with friends and family and getting into the gym to start bodybuilding, something I've always wanted to try.
My biggest dream is finally to get on that plane, go to Thailand, and get married there. I’m halfway there, and it’s just a matter of time.
If I managed to make this huge progress—imagine what you could do. Start today. Start today.
