+31 lb
Before
After
Why did you want to gain weight?
My motivation to gain weight started fairly early, around 18 years old. At that time, my clothes were wearing me instead of me wearing them. It was almost impossible to find jeans or t-shirts that I felt comfortable in. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. The thought of being too thin followed me around constantly. In addition to scoliosis, my lack of weight was causing headaches and back pain.
"Fight for your goals, even if they will take a long time. It's worth it. Keep your eye on the prize."
Although none of that compared to what people said, which you deal with both consciously and subconsciously. Teasing, even if it wasn't meant to be really mean, chipped away at my self-confidence. I didn't want to just accept being thin anymore.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
I wanted the sayings to stop because they were becoming unbearable. I couldn't stand being so unhappy with my body every single day. I perceived my body as a sickness. I wanted to prove to myself and everyone else what was possible and to get back my self-confidence and quality of life. At first, all of my undertakings were senseless and things I found online.
My biggest dream was to finally fit into jeans, t-shirts, sweaters and finally feel comfortable in them. My initial goal was to simply gain weight. After constant ups and downs and hardly any visible results, I came across YAZIO after 14 years. From then on, the weight gain finally stuck. After a while, the goal wasn't just to gain weight, but to build muscle and get toned. People started coming to me and asking how I did it. Helping other people and giving advice motivates me and also strengthens the self-confidence that was taken from me years ago. I feel comfortable in my body now. When I think about it, I've reached the exact goal that I set for myself over 15 years ago. Although, I think things are just getting started for me.
How did you reach your goals?
I only started being really consistent at the beginning of February 2018 when I found the YAZIO app, which recommended my daily nutrient intake. Consuming 3,000 Calories every day wasn't easy, and even if I wasn't always able to hit my calorie goal, I was able to take down small accomplishments.
Uwe’s Tips
Stay disciplined.
Keep your eye on the prize.
Find something that motivates and drives you to keep going.
Regularly track your food and weight.
Don't listen to what others say. Follow your own path and not someone else's.
At the end of 2018, I bought myself a smartwatch that would better calculate my burned calories. My 3,000 Calories quickly turned to 4,500. Each week I managed to put on more and more weight. Over the entire period, I took Weight Gainer with milk after my meals twice a day. From February 2018 to July 2019, I gained about 11 lb. Over the 3-week summer break, I gained another 7 lb, and by the end of 2019, another 13 lb. I could only go to the gym on weekends because of work. Starting in 2020, I was able to start working out more regularly.
How did YAZIO help you?
With consistent meal tracking, YAZIO helped me follow the right path. It really helped me to be able to determine my daily caloric requirements and enter my weight after a weigh-in so that I was able to see my results graphically visualized. That's also motivating because the scale never lies.
Did you have setbacks?
Before YAZIO, it felt like I had infinite setbacks. I've been trying to put on weight since I was 18. Sometimes more disciplined, sometimes less. Most of the time, I gave up when my progress stagnated, or I wasn't seeing any results. When I was almost to the point of wanting to throw up because of all the food and shakes, I stopped. It felt like I was fighting against myself.
What advice do you have for other users?
No matter what, always stay disciplined and keep your eye on the prize. Use music or something else to motivate yourself. Look for something that pushes and drives you. Imagine what you will look like after you've reached your goal! That's the only way to achieve it. Set small goals for yourself and don't be quick to get frustrated if you don't always accomplish them. Rome wasn't built in a day. "Slowly, but surely" is what I kept telling myself. Don't look for excuses like "Today it's too hot outside to exercise," for example.
What are your future goals?
I still want to gain about 17 lb and, in the end, focus on toning (keyword: shredding). The most important thing for me is that I feel good.
Why do you want to tell your story?
I want to share my story with others, so they can achieve their goals and see that it's normal to have setbacks. Had I read my own story back then, maybe I would have reached my goal faster. I want to encourage and embolden others not to give up and to always work towards their goals, even when it takes a long time.
The most difficult part is the fight against yourself. To win, you have to be disciplined and strong-willed. It won't be handed to you. You have to be aware of that before you start.
