-316 lb
Before
After
Why did you want to lose weight?
I've always been a bit heavier. I never dealt with the topic of nutrition, so much so that I weighed more than 550 pounds at my heaviest. I was also diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Subsequently, I took a voluntary year off to try and finally lose weight.
"What good is a 30-foot ladder when the first rung is 6 feet high?"
With the danger of getting Corona, I was also afraid of what would happen if I ended up in intensive care at my weight. So much so that I could barely sleep. Speaking of sleeping, my obesity caused sleep apnea, which meant I was always exhausted during the day. In the end, my sleepiness during the day led to me wrecking 3 cars due to microsleeps. I had a crowd of guardian angels around me each time. Luckily, there was only ever sheet metal damage to my car, no other people or vehicles were involved.
My mobility became more and more limited because of my weight and, at some point, even walking through the grocery store became too much. Vacation was out of the question and other leisure activities, like choir or going to a sporting event, were also limited because I couldn't stand for a long time.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
My main goal for my weight loss was to become and remain healthy. These days, I don't take any medications, my blood levels are normal and my fatty liver has regressed. I would like to see more of the world and be able to walk to places close to me. I would also like to travel further again.
I'm half Filipino, but I haven't been to the Philippines since 1993. My physical condition hadn't allowed me to go back since then. My life has been shaped by insecurity and self-doubt. I'd gradually like to start dealing with normal challenges in life, like finding a partner, independent living and a career.
How did you reach your goals?
To help steer me in the right direction, shortly before Corona, my current employer offered to be my personal mentor. We started meeting in a small group once a week to talk about our personal states of mind. To even get a feel for nutrition and take it seriously, I started keeping a food diary. A former colleague of mine introduced me to YAZIO after I started getting more into the topic of nutrition.
Patrick’s Tips
You should set small milestones instead of enormous, unattainable goals in order to continually motivate yourself with small achievements.
There is no magic solution. Every body and mind acts and reacts differently, so everyone needs to find the right balance for themselves.
It's important to keep in mind why you want to change something and whether you're really satisfied with the status quo.
I'm now working on implementing sustainable changes and continuing to reduce my sugar, carb and meat intake as much as possible. I also do some intermittent fasting (16:8) and don't schedule any cheat days. With my increased weight loss, I started exercising more. I signed up for the gym so I could do dance workouts.
I met a Zumba trainer through the YAZIO Facebook group who gives online courses, so I was able to exercise even during lockdown. I also had more motivation to go out in public. I've also documented my success on a small scale on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to draw strength from encouragement.
How did YAZIO help you?
YAZIO helped me keep an overview of my diet and, if I went over my limit, helped me make up for it. Adhering to my monthly average, for example, was very important to me. In the beginning, YAZIO helped me control my water intake so I would drink enough, something I didn't do before. I also made wonderful new connections through the YAZIO Facebook group and revived old ones.
Did you have setbacks?
So far, things have only been going in one direction: down. I've been able to record a minus every month since March of last year and can proudly say I've avoided any setbacks.
What advice do you have for other users?
Set small, intermediate goals instead of focusing on one big one. This way, you can celebrate each small achievement instead of losing hope. There is no magic solution that works for everyone. We're all individuals with individual bodies, minds and backstories. That means the same method can't be applied to everyone.
Continuing to remain conscious of what you want to achieve and always asking yourself whether you're really satisfied with the status quo helps. For me, it helps to leave motivational sticky notes on my monitor at work or the fridge at home.
What are your future goals?
At 245 pounds, I'm still considered overweight. In the longterm, I'd possibly like to get a skin operation, to be within a normal weight range, see more from the world and master the normal challenges life brings.
Why do you want to tell your story?
I see this as a win-win situation. Positive feedback from other users gives me a boost and the success stories motivate me. I can also help motivate others to get started by telling my story, and that's a very welcome side effect.
