GoodLookingAthlete
Iron
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My 5-Month Transformation: From Overweight to Skinny
In this post, I will share the details of my weight loss journey than happened over the span of five months, during which I successfully transitioned from being overweight to achieving a lean and skinny physique.
Starting Point:
When I embarked on my transformation journey, I stepped on the scale and was confronted with a weight of approximately 92-93kg (202-205lbs). Based on my estimation, my body fat percentage was between 25-30%. It became clear to me that I had exceeded the threshold of being overweight and was on the verge of entering the realm of what could be deemed as "fat." To provide context, I had been an avid smoker, as is common in my home country of France. However, after quitting smoking, I put on a lot of weight.
Dietary Approach:
I made the decision to adopt a crash diet, aiming to lose a significant amount of weight within the shortest possible time frame.
During the first month, I restricted my calorie intake to less than 1000 calories per day, resulting in a notable weight loss of around 8-10kg (17-22lbs). In essence, my diet revolved around periods of fasting and occasional consumption of lean meats when hunger became overwhelming. On certain occasions, I would also have 3% fat Greek yogurt when I was too hungry. I was basically starving myself. After that, I transitioned into a moderate calorie deficit of approximately 300-500 calories per day for the following three months, leading to a further weight loss of 5-6kg (11-13lbs). During this stage, my diet primarily consisted of lean meats accompanied by vegetables, as well as incorporating filling carbohydrates such as potatoes. I adopted an intermittent fasting approach, limiting my eating window to two meals per day.
As I approached my holiday plans, I committed to an intense one-month cut, where I got back to starving myself, resulting in an additional loss of approximately 3-4kg (6-9lbs).
It is worth mentioning that, while I did not do lots of sports during this transformation, I did increase my daily step count as much as possible.
Results:
Through my dedicated efforts, I successfully achieved a lean and skinny body, weighing around 75-76kg (165-168lbs) with an estimated body fat percentage of 15-17%.
Takeaways and considerations
Losing a significant amount of weight within a short period is indeed possible through severe caloric restriction, but it is important to acknowledge the immense challenges it presents. Hunger spikes will intensify to an extreme level, accompanied by nearly constant headaches, making food the primary focus of your thoughts. "Starving" yourself is also likely to cause frequent insomnia (it did for me). What kept me going personally is thinking, dreaming almost, about how good I’m going to look and how good it will feel doing sports again (I used to be a very sporty individual).
It is crucial to consider the post-weight loss phase and plan accordingly. Returning to the same unhealthy eating habits that contributed to the initial weight gain will result in a cycle of fluctuating weight or potentially regaining even more weight than before. I since then incorporated weightlifting and did quite a transformation.
If you feel than going too aggressive in your calorie restriction will lead to feeling so frustrated that you will binge eat and not be consistent with your diet, I recommend doing a more moderate approach, you don’t have to be crazy like me haha.
I hope that my experience gave you some hope and that you will be successful in your journey of losing weight.
Ask me whatever question you want about weight loss.
