Hey Everybody, been a while since I've been on here, really great to see many a new faces with amazing stories of their accomplishments. Well done everyone, you've inspired me to get back on the ball again. I thank you. 
Where to start..Hmm...It's really infuriating to see how easy it is to squander ones hard work with just a "few fun nights" out on the town. I had started at 360+ (never knew my actual maximum, me and scaled weren't exactly on good terms in those days..) and then as the story goes got sick of always being the odd man out, missing out of new fun experiences because of my weight. I was never teased that much luckily, but seeing all my fit friends confidently taking off their shirts at the pool, or seeing them having no problem interacting with new people while I had this nagging voice in my head telling me people are only gonna ridicule me because of my weight, left me a little messed up for a while. Well once I discovered exercise it amazed me that I actually enjoyed sweating up a storm, and knowing I had accomplished something, even it was just running a 1/4 mile straight for the first time. Got off to a slow a slow start, but managed to actually lose 80 pounds over the course of 2 years. After that I plateaued for about a good year at 280, did just enough exercise to maintain weight and not much else. Finally this past November I started hitting it hard again, and got down to 260, finally hitting a 100 pounds lost in April. It felt amazing. Then in May I lost my job, and that just threw everything for a loop. Once that happened, in came the drinking and late night eating. For 3 months straight I shoveled beer and burgers into myself, have completely disregarded my health. During that time i shot back up to 290, and only realized I was getting bigger as school was drawing to a near. I was so mad at myself for throwing away 6 months of busting my ass for some drinks and multiple hangovers. And so that brings me to today. Back in school, got another job, and finally after years got myself a gym membership, and am down to 280. Not a big jump, but a start none the less. Wish me luck
So thank you all again, your photos and stories have truly lit the fire under my booty again, and I gotta get it done.
P.S. If anyone has any good gym tips, I'd sure appreciate it. I'm a gym newbie, and was always an outdoor exercise when I lost my first 80.
Here's one before from my 360+ days.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/Thomas5869/13206447848617.jpg
And here's one I just took about 2 weeks ago at 280.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/Thomas5869/Picture.jpg
Thanks again
Where to start..Hmm...It's really infuriating to see how easy it is to squander ones hard work with just a "few fun nights" out on the town. I had started at 360+ (never knew my actual maximum, me and scaled weren't exactly on good terms in those days..
) and then as the story goes got sick of always being the odd man out, missing out of new fun experiences because of my weight. I was never teased that much luckily, but seeing all my fit friends confidently taking off their shirts at the pool, or seeing them having no problem interacting with new people while I had this nagging voice in my head telling me people are only gonna ridicule me because of my weight, left me a little messed up for a while. Well once I discovered exercise it amazed me that I actually enjoyed sweating up a storm, and knowing I had accomplished something, even it was just running a 1/4 mile straight for the first time. Got off to a slow a slow start, but managed to actually lose 80 pounds over the course of 2 years. After that I plateaued for about a good year at 280, did just enough exercise to maintain weight and not much else. Finally this past November I started hitting it hard again, and got down to 260, finally hitting a 100 pounds lost in April. It felt amazing. Then in May I lost my job, and that just threw everything for a loop. Once that happened, in came the drinking and late night eating. For 3 months straight I shoveled beer and burgers into myself, have completely disregarded my health. During that time i shot back up to 290, and only realized I was getting bigger as school was drawing to a near. I was so mad at myself for throwing away 6 months of busting my ass for some drinks and multiple hangovers. And so that brings me to today. Back in school, got another job, and finally after years got myself a gym membership, and am down to 280. Not a big jump, but a start none the less. Wish me luck So thank you all again, your photos and stories have truly lit the fire under my booty again, and I gotta get it done.
P.S. If anyone has any good gym tips, I'd sure appreciate it. I'm a gym newbie, and was always an outdoor exercise when I lost my first 80.
Here's one before from my 360+ days.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/Thomas5869/13206447848617.jpg
And here's one I just took about 2 weeks ago at 280.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/Thomas5869/Picture.jpg
Thanks again