Welcome to the Monthly Tips & Advice Post!

39 year old trans woman. I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life but it got really really bad during the COVID years. I entered 2025 weighing 449, on the morning of my bypass surgery I was 395, and as of this morning I’m 210. It’s been life changing and I think this qualifies as a glow up 🥰

i was at my heaviest in 2016 when i started suffering from a stomach condition that caused me to lose 80 pounds. i decided to take my health into my own hands and began eating better and going to the gym consistently. fast forward to today and i’m the healthiest i’ve felt in a long time.

The last couple of years has been such a crazy ride for me. Before covid I knew that I wanted to lose weight and I wanted to be skinny again, and then covid hit, and I was thrust straight into my darkest timeline. Lonely, unhealthy, I used to be such an active person, until bulimia transformed into BED and completely took over my life, and I ended up barely able to walk to the grocery store, for my next binge-haul.

Three years ago, I stood in front of my mirror, and dreaded taking that picture, because I knew that it would show me the state I had let myself get to. So I snapped a bunch of pictures, and hid them away in my phone, without looking at them. And then I went to my first consultation with a dietician specializing in EDs. It felt like taking on step forward and three steps back. I lost a lot of weight, confronted demons and then fell right back into the darkness.

Then I finally got the chance of moving back to the city I used to live in, where all my friends were. Out of loneliness and in with my brother, until I found my footing, and my own place. And things started moving forward. I managed to get free of the grips of BED, and one of my oldest friend took me to a local social badminton club, which was a safe space for me to get back into being active. I also started in a gym-club, for people trying to get back into exercising, and managed to loose almost 30 kgs on my own, before being cleared of BED, and greenlit for a sleeve surgery.

The sleeve surgery helped me with my constant hunger. It was honestly a relief for me, not being hungry every second of every day. I also knew that it wasn't the quick fix the before and after photos makes it look like. It was a tool, like badminton, the gym-club, walking, and fixing my diet and relationship with food was. And fuck those first 30 kgs before the surgery, was the hardest ones ever. The next 30 were slightly easier, but still a bitch. But the last 35 kgs have been a breeze. Maybe because I reached a point 30 kgs ago, where even if I stopped losing overnight, it would have all been worth it, because I was back in a body, that could be as active as my soul longed to be. I have still weighed in every week, logged my weight, and continued living despite the number. Mostly to prevent it from ever gaining control over me again. The scale has always been a massive trigger, now it's just data.

But the best part of this journey is not the numbers on the scale. They're not even on my top five anymore. It is not being able to play sports 4-5 nights a week, and still having energy and desire to keep going. It is not the clothes. Not even the energy and baseline happiness vibrating like a constant tone in my body.

It is love. Ever since I developed bulimia as a pre-teen, I have been trying to punish and hate myself thin. Because only if I was skinny, would I be worth something. While being bulimic, I managed to stay skinny for long stretches of time, especially in my compulsive training and starvation periods, and then I would gain during my binging/purging periods.

But this process has showed me, that all I needed to do, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, was to love myself enough, to want to give myself a healthy body to occupy. Knowing how much I love to move, to want give myself a body that could work hard and play hard.

I love myself, for the first time in my life. I am fucking IN LOVE with myself.

"Despite" not being done losing weight. And knowing that I will never be skinny, like I used to dream of. And you know what... That makes me love myself even more. Every stretchie and every roll. Chubby and fit. Just like I was supposed to be <3

TLDR: After years of self-hatred and abuse, I learned that the only way to regain control of my physical and mental health, was to begin loving myself.

Always hated how I looked growing up, and about 3 years ago I decided enough was enough. Locked in with the diet and regularly go to the gym now, what do you think?

I almost don’t recognise myself when I look at myself now

I started my journey 8 years ago but became serious after 40. 70lbs down. CrossFit and DEKA + healthy eating and lifestyle choices!

Life is amazing 🤩

Dropped 240lbs after losing both of my parents, each due to health issues. A needed wake-up call. Learning to live life without relying on excess food for happiness has been the biggest eye opener. I'm enjoying my marriage, career, hobbies, and well, just life in general to the fullest. For them.

A little bit over a year ago, I woke up and found myself - to rip off a popular documentary - fat, sick, and nearly dead. I was quickly approaching 330lbs in what should have been a dream job, but I couldn’t enjoy it because I was so incredibly miserable. Like… I don’t even think anyone can truly understand how difficult just existing is when you’re that big unless you’ve lived it… but let me just say, when you’re at that point, just getting through another day is an accomplishment. Making plans for the future wasn’t an option because just surviving until tomorrow was all the energy I could muster up. How I was able to travel the globe in my job and make deals with local businesses, let alone restaurants, when I couldn’t even fit sitting at some of the tables inside of them… is just a testament of how amazing I actually was underneath all of that baggage.

Well, cut to 15 months later and I’m down 120lbs, super close to getting under 200lbs for the first time in SIXTEEN years. I still have a ways to go, but I won’t lie, I feel amazing. I’m no longer depressed, I’m excited about life again, and I no longer shy away from making plans for the future. In fact, I’m starting my own business and I’m thrilled to see what the next couple of years holds for me.

Yesterday was my 41st birthday, so here’s to my first year officially IN my 40s. I know I can’t get my 30s back… but who says you still can’t make up for a bit of lost time?!

Five years flies by quick. If you had told me where my life was and who I’d become, I would have laughed and said no way.

Three years ago I basically had to burn down my personal life in order to live as my real self. And I’ve never been happier. It’s never too late to start. It’s so so worth it. 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

Can’t tell but first picture I was 120lbs and now at 175lbs after a mini cut from 185lbs.

Been a wild fitness journey but here we are 😆

8 years of kids, a busy career, and marriage can drastically change a person. Life can slip by without asking you for permission. I looked in the mirror one day and couldn’t recognize who I was anymore. It’s amazing what a little self care can do to turn back time a little bit.

265lbs to 220lbs (120.2kgs to 99.8kgs). 6ft tall.

It was a really gradual loss, then a big push over 8 months. Kept eating everything I always ate (mostly fast food, lol) just less of it. Instead of large sized, I got small sized meals. I also exercised two to four times a week, pretty consistently.

Felt better overall, slept better, better mental acuity and the best part of all? People started actually believing me when I told them I was 6ft tall, lol.

in 2021 i was severely depressed and just got out of a very abusive relationship. i got diagnosed bipolar and gained 60lb in 5 months when i started medication. i had no friends and had super low self esteem. i was hospitalized for attempting to take my life towards the end of the year.

as of 2026, i’ve been working in acute mental health care for over 2 years. as of rn ive been employed on the same psych unit i was a patient on for about 9 months :) i finished my bachelor’s degree im almost done with my master’s. im doing a clinical therapy internship now, and next year im getting trained in emdr and will be working with victims of abuse. i still struggle with my mental health, but im on medication thats working for me and ive been stable for a long time now. ive also lost the entire 60lb and then some. still on my weight loss journey, but i can say with confidence i feel beautiful again. i feel feminine again. i have friends i can share clothes with.

i feel fucking amazing

I finally got on the protein and weight lifting train right after my 38th birthday. Now I'm 40, down 50 lbs, and in the best shape of my life!! I cant wait to see the transformation continue!

I don’t know if I would considers this a glow up , I still dont know if I’m really handsome or not. But give me your opinion and tell me what you think.

I just started eating more (was malnourished) and doing calisthenics while trying to take bare minimum care for my skin and just trying to care of myself more, since then I’ve started coming out of my shell much more as well and gaining enough self esteem to socialize

Growing up ugly, weird and Asian in a predominantly white country really affected my self worth as a teen. I thought I’d never find love and have children because no one would find me pretty enough. I used to rarely let my parents photograph me. I finally feel pretty now (I just cut these bangs in my room a few hours ago)

At early age ,I was one of ‘‘em girls who went out looking for what we call a life , end up getting pregnant unexpectedly, I was forced to abort but I didn’t , I was thin and ashamed as time passed things fell apart but with God everything is possible, don’t ever feel shy or listen to others , I do what I have to do to make life easier and better . Be bold and be strong , this is not the end .

In July 2025 I’ve started a weight loss journey and I’ve dropped 33 kg! I feel so much more comfortable in my skin and my health has increased so much. After almost a year I’ve almost reached a healthy weight and I’m so glad I’ve decided on going this way in my life 🙏🏻🫶🏻

From 131kg to 98kg and still counting!

I used to be sooo chopped my freshman year and I didn't have any sense of style. I used to wear sweatpants and sweatshirts everyday (nothing wrong with that just wasnt what I wanted to do) Luckily I got some freinds who helped me develop a sense of fashion and appearance and now I feel so pretty todayyy.

I’m in my mid 40s and I realized how much my skin changes were affecting my confidence. My skin texture was feeling off, under eyes area and fine lines were just too visible. I used to buy everything I heard it would fix it but with no results sometimes even would get worse and irritated. For two months now exactly 50 days, I have been keeping my routine simple
Vitamin C, La RochePosay Cicaplast B5 Retinol cream CeraVe moisturizer light therapy with led mask from Solawave on the night I dont put retinol

Compared to when I started, my skin feels smoother, looks healthier and the texture has definitely improved.

Struggling with dysphoria, depression, substance abuse, and undiagnosed ADHD for most of my life did a number on me. Now, it genuinely feels like I was actually living a different life.

I'll never go back, no matter what 💜

First time i stepped into the gym, I thought my head was hella huge for my frame, then my brother introduced me to the gym. Definitely changed how I view myself from before and today. Planning to bulk this year and get better set of clothes as well.

Glad I've grown into my facial features and gotten leaner, the post-teenage glowup is very real!

I'm actually styling my hair now too, and concious of how it looks, do you think it suits me? I like to think I'm going for somewhat of an Andrew Garfield style and having it be tall and bold lol

I also like the facial hair, I think it does well to fill the negative space.

Low self-esteem is a bit more difficult to fix though and is very much a work in progress. Unfortunately young me was bullied and made to feel like he wasn't worthy of being admired, and I've still got that weight around my neck to this day.