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50 People Who Decided To Drastically Change Their Lives And Are Now Motivating The Internet (New Pics)
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reported that nearly 1 in 3 US adults are overweight. More than 2 in 5 adults have obesity. Meanwhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost half (49.1 percent) of adults have made an effort to lose weight.
If you have been struggling with weight and its management, you know how frustrating the journey can be. For many people, it feels like a path where one step forward is two steps backwards. And don’t even mention these articles with "10 tricks" that will help bust your belly fat or promises about magic diet pills and potions. Anyone who’s been there seriously will tell you it's a lie.
The real challenge of weight loss lies within yourself. The people who have successfully done it showcased an incredible inner strength and the most powerful will one can imagine.
So to celebrate them for changing their lives and showing us all that everything’s possible, we wrapped up a selection of the most astonishing before and after weight loss pics. After you’re done, more inspiration awaits here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
From 534 Lbs To 214 Lbs In 4 Years
I think this picture accurately depicts that change takes time. My nephew is a good example in this picture. He didn’t wake up one morning and grow into the size he is now. It took time. You are not going to just wake up at your goal, it’s gonna take time. Embrace it.
#2
In Who Cares News I’ve Lost 183 Pounds Over The Last 18 Months So That’s Cool I Guess
#3
Lost 200 Pounds During Covid. Today I Completed A Half Marathon
To find out more about living with and battling eating disorders, a while ago, Bored Panda reached out to Nuno, the UKAT Head of Treatment, who shared some very useful insights into the complex mind of a person with an eating disorder. According to Nuno, eating disorders can manifest in a variety of different ways for different people.
"For some, it is about controlling or limiting food, but for others, it is to consume large amounts of food. This—coupled with a sedentary lifestyle—leads to weight gain, which has mood-altering side effects like depression," Nuno told us.
#4
These Pictures Were Taken At The Same Restaurant, But About 2 Years Apart. He’s Lost 90 Lbs And I’ve Lost 135 Lbs
We wanted to be healthy so we could grow old gracefully together, and be around as long as possible for our kids. So grateful for this journey with my best friend.
#5
I've Been Over 220 Pounds Since 5th Grade. I Started IF In January 2020 And For The First Time In My Life, I Weigh 160
#6
350 Lbs To 190 Lbs. Maintaining, No Skin Removal As Of Yet. These Are My Old Favorite Pants
In order to understand the brain with an eating disorder, it’s important to recognize the fact that there is an incredibly powerful link between food and mood. "It can often overcome a person's everyday life, in the same way that an unhealthy relationship with drugs or alcohol can, and just like an addiction to substances, the only way out is to address and treat the root cause of the problem," he told my colleague Jonas previously.
Nuno argues that one and probably the best way to alter the negative link between 'food and mood' is to exercise. “Exercising releases endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in the brain and body. Finding any way to move your body if you're struggling with weight and your mental health will bring huge advantages," he explained.
#7
The One Where I Felt Unworthy vs. The One Where I Started Loving Myself
#8
The Pic On The Left Was Exactly 3 Years Ago. When I Was The Best Man At My Buddy’s Wedding. I Was Close To 600 Lbs. Around 230 Lbs Now
#9
From 190 To 129 Lbs. I Used To Be Afraid Of Having Short Hair Because Of The Weight In My Face. Today, I Said Goodbye To The Old Me And Embraced My New Life
For some people, food becomes much more than its initial purpose of giving us the energy we need to do daily activities. For some, food becomes an all-consuming obsession. A significant body of research found that food addiction involves the same areas of the brain as drug addiction. According to Kris Gunnars, a nutrition expert and founder of Authority Nutrition, the same neurotransmitters are involved, and many of the symptoms are identical.
#10
445+ To 225 Pounds. 10 More Pounds For My Goal Weight. 6 Year Journey
#11
I’m Down 100 Pounds
#12
350 Lbs To 180 Lbs. Loose Skin Is Hard And The Journey Hasn’t Been Easy But I’m Living In Ways I Couldn’t Before. Healthier And Stronger
The research has shown that processed junk foods have a powerful effect on the reward centers of the brain. These effects are caused by brain neurotransmitters like dopamine. The most addiction-prone foods include typical junk foods like candy, sugary soda, and high-fat fried foods.
What’s interesting to note is that researchers agree that food addiction is not caused by a lack of willpower, but they believe it is caused by a dopamine signal that affects the biochemistry of the brain.
#13
Started From 275 Lbs, Now It's 198 Lbs. 77 Lbs Lost. 43-Year-Old To 53-Year-Old - The Decade I Saved My Life
#14
Lost 200 Pounds In A Year. Just Did The 20:4 Fast And Walked ~5km Every Day (360 Lbs To 160 Lbs)
#15
From 98 Kg To 71 Kg I Lost In 2.5 Years. Best Thing I Did With Myself
#16
Sitting On The Dock Losing Weight
#17
235 Lbs To 120 Lbs. A Little Over A Year Of Progress - I Don’t Even Recognize Myself Sometimes
#18
251 Lbs To 186 Lbs Weight Loss Progress
#19
425 Lbs To 150 Lbs. 3 Years Between Pictures. Summer Always Makes Me Think About How Far I’ve Come
#20
140 Lbs Lost And 8 months Of HRT Made Me Into Myself For The First Time
#21
I Don't Have Anyone To Celebrate With But I Lost 50+ Lbs In The Last Year
#22
460 Lbs To 225 Lbs. Lost 235 Lbs In 16 Months
#23
Down 175 Lbs From Feb 2019 Using IF, Keto. Maintaining Since Summer 2020 But Body Composition Continues To Change
#24
Waited Almost 2 Years For This Moment. I Am Literally Half The Person I Once Was; 330 Lbs To 165 Lbs. Goals Crushed, Time For More
Will Cross 2 years ago
At 1st I thought he had the skin removal surgery and those were the staples and scars on his front side. It really did look like that at 1st then I zoomed in and was pleasantly surprised to see a tree tattoo.
#25
Everyone Else Has Been Sharing Their Progress So Here’s Mine. I Went From 306 Pounds (139 Kg) In March 2020 To 140 Pounds (63.5 Kg) Today
#26
410 Lbs To 202 Lbs, Lost 208 Lbs In 2,5 Years. Mission Accomplished
#27
After 10 Years On This Journey, I Finally Made It To My Goal Of 100 Lbs Lost
32F, 5'3", 214 > 114.
Echidna learns extreme ironing 2 years ago
You never stopped believing in where you wanted to be. Good for you.
#28
Officially 100 Lbs Down From My Highest Weight As Of Today. September 2020. April 2021. August 2021
#29
11 Months In, No Cheat Days, 140 Lbs Down, 31 Days To Go
#30
My Wife's Incredible Weight Loss Journey, Words Cannot Possibly Describe How Proud I Am Of Her
#31
100 Lbs Gone! 270 Lbs To 165 Lbs. I Got Tired Of Being The Fat Little Sister
dream of delusion 2 years ago
oh wow, she looks really different. i think both look good tho :)
#32
Lost 163 Lbs Throwing Hay Bales, Pulling Frozen Pallets Every Day For 15 Miles, Working At A Sawmill, And Shoveling Snow. If You Wanna Lose Weight, Get A Physical Job
Anastasia Monich 2 years ago
For real though! I can 100% attest to that. Working at an Amazon warehouse, all I did was make myself eat according to what my Fitbit and MyFitnessPal app were saying I had to eat in order to maintain a 2 lb weight loss a week. It turned out to be close to over 2200 calories on workdays. And as a 5'5" 24 year old woman. It got to the point that I just physically was not hungry enough to even try to eat that much (I'd be stuffing myself beyond full). Now from Feb 4th this year to today, I have lost close to 30 lb (210-181 lb). Only 30 more to go!
#33
After Almost Exactly 1 And A Half Years I Have Lost 150 Lbs And I Couldn't Be Happier. I Still Have A Bit To Go Before I Get To Where I Want To Be
#34
230 Lbs Gone Without Surgery
395 lbs>165 lbs=230 lbs. 38F, 5'4.
#35
I Lost Weight! I’ve Lost 260 Lbs Throughout My Journey
#36
I've Lost The Average American Male In Weight! Highest Weight 527 Lbs In August 2020. 327 Lbs Today
#37
(290 To 165, Lost 125 Lbs In 26 Months) "Calories In, Calories Out" Based Diet. Slow And Steady And Now Maintenance Mode
#38
Feeling Incredibly Proud Of How Far I’ve Come And Looking Forward To Continuing This Fitness Journey
202lbs/92kg -> 125lbs/57kg = 77lbs/35kg lost. 24F, 5’0.
#39
From Aug 20 With 296 Lbs To March 27 With 210. Starting Weight Was 330, December 2019
Started dieting back in August and am down almost 90 pounds since, 120 since my max weight. I do 16:8 IF, eat 1500 kCal, lift 5 days a week, and jog 3 days a week!
#40
From 195 Lbs To 130 Lbs. Lost 65 Lbs. Loving That Post-Break Up Weight Loss
#41
Never Thought I Would Look Forward To Stepping On The Scale And I Never Thought I Had A Jawline Until Now. Yay IF
#42
From 260 Lbs To 167 Lbs. Motivation Is What Got Me Started. Discipline Is What Kept Me On Track
#43
370 Lbs To 170 Lbs. Same Bathroom, Different Girl
#44
How 2021 Started vs. How It's Going
#45
(290 To 165, Lost 125 Lbs Overall) These Are My Pre And Post Pandemic Work Badge Photos
#46
Start Weight 325 Lbs, Current Weight 235, Goal Weight 190. This Is The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done For Myself
#47
222 Lbs > 132 Lbs = 90 Lbs, 13 Months. 57F, 5'5"
Cathleen Cummings 2 years ago
OP, how did you do this? I'm finding weight loss post-menopause to be darn near impossible!
#48
From 230 Lbs To 148 Lbs. I Lost 82 Lbs. Maintained For Two Years. Getting My Loose Skin Removal Surgery In Two Months As An Early 30th Birthday Gift To Myself
#49
Face Gains Pic. 230 Lbs Down To 170 Lbs
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Claire 2 years ago
I have been thinking of losing weight for years but haven't committed. This post has inspired me to star, today!
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
I love how unlike weight loss ads that I've seen in the past, buffered with photoshop and lighting and makeup trickery, this is just seeing a person who obviously looks a much more happily confident and healthier version of themselves.
Claire 2 years ago
I sometimes worry about people that go to the other extreme, and lose too much weight
JillyMack 2 years ago
I can highly recommend long covid of the gut and a zero functioning gallbladder for rapid weight loss.....
Ray Heap 2 years ago
I don´t get it. I lost control over my weight due to extreme sleep apnoe around 2008 and shot up from 130 kgs (always been a big guy) to 245 kgs. I got my CPAP in 2010 and realized what was going on with me. Started dieting, working out. literally going the whole nine yards to lose weight. Swimming, freediving, cycling, weightlifting and got down to 180, then 170 with 160 fully in my sights. Now I havn´t changed a thing, kept the diet (leaning on Keto) kept exercising, whatched what I ate and what I drank. And I am back at 180, so I now eat even less and exercise even more and still I gain. I am dedicated and clear in my goals but I simply can´t get under the 179kgs barrier, regardless on what I do. So what are these people doing that is so different to that what I am doing? BTW, I am over 60 and lift a lot of weights.
Mari 2 years ago (edited)
I like the honest pictures. Same clothes, make-up or clothing style. So you can see the real changes. Others chose a really bad "before" pic and the "after" pic is posed, with a lot of make-up or lipfillers. You don't have to do this, the weightloss is already impressive!
Tracy Rowe 2 years ago
Been doing Keto and IF for the last 8 months and lost 60 lbs so far. This is the first time I've felt like something actually will work. Keeping fingers crossed.
Gemma jones 2 years ago
I was anorexic in my teens and growing up I gained and got to seventeen stone. So I just lost two stone in six weeks through slimming world. These people are amazing. I will say though that when I did have anorexia no one said anything about my weight loss but as soon as I gained I got comments. Being thin does not equal healthy.
David F 2 years ago (edited)
I was 270 from age 20 to 29 then decided I couldn't weigh that much anymore for my health, the last time I weighed myself at 29 I weighed 337, I freaked out, it took 3 years to lose 100 pounds then stayed at 230 for another 2 years then after one long year of dieting wrong and excercising wrong I did manage to get down to 205 by age 35, so I even got down to 160 by age 39, and then I was 180 at age 41 and gained 110 pounds that year. Now I cannot stand the way the fat feels on my back, it just feels so weird and awkward right below My shoulder blades. I have been this weight for 2 years and once again I am starting back on the diet and working out but this time I started eating spinach salads for dinner with low calories dressing and making sure no more sugar in my coffee no more soda no more eating over 2000 calories a day. So in the last 4 months I've lost 25 pounds. I'm lifting weights 3 times a week and trying to walk hour twice a week. I hope this helps. Eat the salad at dinner only
Any 2 years ago
Congrats on you all! Am i wrong in doing it as my doc and a trainer said to loose around 17 lbs (8kg) a year to hold the weight and loose it healthy. I am rather... Curious how they hold that weight for the years to come and all that weight loss seems so radical - hope everyone is fine and didn't overdo it and are still holding their weight!
Shull GaRett 2 years ago
Iv been there where some of those people were. I topped my weight to around 330 pounds. I managed to go down to 195 pounds. Now im around 220. Did i feel bad being that heavy? Not really. Did i have problems with mobility? Not really as i was quite active before i gained that much (lots of soccer and cycling) so my legs could carry me with no issues. But the problem was clothes that either were to tight, or too long (im almost 7" tall so it was abit tricky here), and also my blood work was not all that great. Blood sugar was surprisingly ok but my liver was not so happy. So i had to do something about it. I tried many things. But only when i changed my diet and strictly calculated calories intake i managed to get slimmer. However the other thing that helped was that i started eating mor often but smaller portions. Back in a day i could eat a supersized fast food meal with some extra burger or two. Now one regular is often enough. So as long as you eat less then you need you can change.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
You know, I'm not a smiler. I hate smiling and you barely see me smiling, I hate it when people tell me to smile, but I love these photos because of the smiles; You just see the happiness and pride. You can't smile the way half these people do unless you're atleast happy or confident and recognize that what you did is really a big thing. Being able to commit and lose the weight is so hard, and being confident enough to smile at your progress is just better than the weightloss itself. Gaining that confidence is just spectacular. I applaud everyone who posted and am proud of all of you for being able to do it. The beauty I see is the happiness and healthiness.
Mandapanda93 2 years ago
I started the 2020 lockdown at 112lbs and am now in 2022 at 182! Did have my first child spring 2021 and second child is due in just under 4 months...but still! I can't believe how much I've let myself go- or certainly didn't try to get back into shape after my first child. Totally inspired me to be my original weight again now! For my health, the sake of my kids, so that I can be a healthy weight to try for more kids in the future. All these posters have done amazing!! So inspirational! Well done.
Janned 2 years ago
Back in January I needed a picture of me and my kids. I realized that I had been dodging pictures, as I couldn't really find any that I was in. That felt kinda sad. So I decided to get healthier and more comfortable with my appearance. Last month I took an awesome photo with my four year old son. Then I realized that the two of us together weighed as much as I did by myself just four months earlier. :)
Ele V 2 years ago
These are great! But why is the article shortened down to 50? They've all done a great job! Not biggie, just sayin..
MadamGreenIce 2 years ago
What's important about weight loss is not the beauty but the health. Let's not fatten the pockets of the already fat-pocketted doctors and pharmacies execs.
CelticElff 2 years ago
I'm so proud of all of you! It takes real self-discipline to change your life for the better and maintain those healthy choices! <3 <3 <3
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 2 years ago
Congratulations to all of these people for their hard work and dedication!
Mary Jeffries 2 years ago
What is really like to see is a discussion of the emotional and mental journey it takes to lose weight and keep it off. Losing is hard but keeping it off is even harder. Before and after pics don’t tell the story.
Safy 2 years ago
I struggle following many weightloss accounts (a few here I followed for a time) because almost daily they post before/after shots. Oftentimes just regurgitations of old posts even, and its like they feed off the validation they get now. I don't think I am describing it well, but as someone who struggles with my weight it is difficult to watch.
Ivy la Sangrienta 2 years ago
I don't need to lose weight but I DO need to get into shape. But I'm so lazy! Not sure how to get started.
Deborah Devany 2 years ago
I'd really like to know how all of these people made these transformations. Some of them talk about how they did it but most of them just talk about where they started and where they are. I would love to know as someone who's 65 and coming out of a very long-term illness how to lose all the way I gained from being sick for so long. And being broken but ready to get my life back.
Line Nielsen 2 years ago
Every single one of these people are incredible 😍 so inspirering! I want to take myself more serius now. Thank you.
cugel 2 years ago
CICO people. Whilst each person handles the process differently, the good news is you don't need gimmicks, fads or "diets", the actual method is very simple. Just be patient, and count calories. This will become normal procedure, eventually you don't even have to think about it.
Claire 2 years ago
I have been thinking of losing weight for years but haven't committed. This post has inspired me to star, today!
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
I love how unlike weight loss ads that I've seen in the past, buffered with photoshop and lighting and makeup trickery, this is just seeing a person who obviously looks a much more happily confident and healthier version of themselves.
Claire 2 years ago
I sometimes worry about people that go to the other extreme, and lose too much weight
JillyMack 2 years ago
I can highly recommend long covid of the gut and a zero functioning gallbladder for rapid weight loss.....
Ray Heap 2 years ago
I don´t get it. I lost control over my weight due to extreme sleep apnoe around 2008 and shot up from 130 kgs (always been a big guy) to 245 kgs. I got my CPAP in 2010 and realized what was going on with me. Started dieting, working out. literally going the whole nine yards to lose weight. Swimming, freediving, cycling, weightlifting and got down to 180, then 170 with 160 fully in my sights. Now I havn´t changed a thing, kept the diet (leaning on Keto) kept exercising, whatched what I ate and what I drank. And I am back at 180, so I now eat even less and exercise even more and still I gain. I am dedicated and clear in my goals but I simply can´t get under the 179kgs barrier, regardless on what I do. So what are these people doing that is so different to that what I am doing? BTW, I am over 60 and lift a lot of weights.
Mari 2 years ago (edited)
I like the honest pictures. Same clothes, make-up or clothing style. So you can see the real changes. Others chose a really bad "before" pic and the "after" pic is posed, with a lot of make-up or lipfillers. You don't have to do this, the weightloss is already impressive!
Tracy Rowe 2 years ago
Been doing Keto and IF for the last 8 months and lost 60 lbs so far. This is the first time I've felt like something actually will work. Keeping fingers crossed.
Gemma jones 2 years ago
I was anorexic in my teens and growing up I gained and got to seventeen stone. So I just lost two stone in six weeks through slimming world. These people are amazing. I will say though that when I did have anorexia no one said anything about my weight loss but as soon as I gained I got comments. Being thin does not equal healthy.
David F 2 years ago (edited)
I was 270 from age 20 to 29 then decided I couldn't weigh that much anymore for my health, the last time I weighed myself at 29 I weighed 337, I freaked out, it took 3 years to lose 100 pounds then stayed at 230 for another 2 years then after one long year of dieting wrong and excercising wrong I did manage to get down to 205 by age 35, so I even got down to 160 by age 39, and then I was 180 at age 41 and gained 110 pounds that year. Now I cannot stand the way the fat feels on my back, it just feels so weird and awkward right below My shoulder blades. I have been this weight for 2 years and once again I am starting back on the diet and working out but this time I started eating spinach salads for dinner with low calories dressing and making sure no more sugar in my coffee no more soda no more eating over 2000 calories a day. So in the last 4 months I've lost 25 pounds. I'm lifting weights 3 times a week and trying to walk hour twice a week. I hope this helps. Eat the salad at dinner only
Any 2 years ago
Congrats on you all! Am i wrong in doing it as my doc and a trainer said to loose around 17 lbs (8kg) a year to hold the weight and loose it healthy. I am rather... Curious how they hold that weight for the years to come and all that weight loss seems so radical - hope everyone is fine and didn't overdo it and are still holding their weight!
Shull GaRett 2 years ago
Iv been there where some of those people were. I topped my weight to around 330 pounds. I managed to go down to 195 pounds. Now im around 220. Did i feel bad being that heavy? Not really. Did i have problems with mobility? Not really as i was quite active before i gained that much (lots of soccer and cycling) so my legs could carry me with no issues. But the problem was clothes that either were to tight, or too long (im almost 7" tall so it was abit tricky here), and also my blood work was not all that great. Blood sugar was surprisingly ok but my liver was not so happy. So i had to do something about it. I tried many things. But only when i changed my diet and strictly calculated calories intake i managed to get slimmer. However the other thing that helped was that i started eating mor often but smaller portions. Back in a day i could eat a supersized fast food meal with some extra burger or two. Now one regular is often enough. So as long as you eat less then you need you can change.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
You know, I'm not a smiler. I hate smiling and you barely see me smiling, I hate it when people tell me to smile, but I love these photos because of the smiles; You just see the happiness and pride. You can't smile the way half these people do unless you're atleast happy or confident and recognize that what you did is really a big thing. Being able to commit and lose the weight is so hard, and being confident enough to smile at your progress is just better than the weightloss itself. Gaining that confidence is just spectacular. I applaud everyone who posted and am proud of all of you for being able to do it. The beauty I see is the happiness and healthiness.
Mandapanda93 2 years ago
I started the 2020 lockdown at 112lbs and am now in 2022 at 182! Did have my first child spring 2021 and second child is due in just under 4 months...but still! I can't believe how much I've let myself go- or certainly didn't try to get back into shape after my first child. Totally inspired me to be my original weight again now! For my health, the sake of my kids, so that I can be a healthy weight to try for more kids in the future. All these posters have done amazing!! So inspirational! Well done.
Janned 2 years ago
Back in January I needed a picture of me and my kids. I realized that I had been dodging pictures, as I couldn't really find any that I was in. That felt kinda sad. So I decided to get healthier and more comfortable with my appearance. Last month I took an awesome photo with my four year old son. Then I realized that the two of us together weighed as much as I did by myself just four months earlier. :)
Ele V 2 years ago
These are great! But why is the article shortened down to 50? They've all done a great job! Not biggie, just sayin..
MadamGreenIce 2 years ago
What's important about weight loss is not the beauty but the health. Let's not fatten the pockets of the already fat-pocketted doctors and pharmacies execs.
CelticElff 2 years ago
I'm so proud of all of you! It takes real self-discipline to change your life for the better and maintain those healthy choices! <3 <3 <3
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 2 years ago
Congratulations to all of these people for their hard work and dedication!
Mary Jeffries 2 years ago
What is really like to see is a discussion of the emotional and mental journey it takes to lose weight and keep it off. Losing is hard but keeping it off is even harder. Before and after pics don’t tell the story.
Safy 2 years ago
I struggle following many weightloss accounts (a few here I followed for a time) because almost daily they post before/after shots. Oftentimes just regurgitations of old posts even, and its like they feed off the validation they get now. I don't think I am describing it well, but as someone who struggles with my weight it is difficult to watch.
Ivy la Sangrienta 2 years ago
I don't need to lose weight but I DO need to get into shape. But I'm so lazy! Not sure how to get started.
Deborah Devany 2 years ago
I'd really like to know how all of these people made these transformations. Some of them talk about how they did it but most of them just talk about where they started and where they are. I would love to know as someone who's 65 and coming out of a very long-term illness how to lose all the way I gained from being sick for so long. And being broken but ready to get my life back.
Line Nielsen 2 years ago
Every single one of these people are incredible 😍 so inspirering! I want to take myself more serius now. Thank you.
cugel 2 years ago
CICO people. Whilst each person handles the process differently, the good news is you don't need gimmicks, fads or "diets", the actual method is very simple. Just be patient, and count calories. This will become normal procedure, eventually you don't even have to think about it.
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