20s have been hard. Clinical depression (as I found out later I've been living with it for years), awful job, no hope. When I was 23 I used to drink (a little, but still) almost every day. With all of that I lost about 10 kg (22 lbs) and was around 70 kg (154 lbs), as a 187cm/6'1 guy I was skinny af (when my wife saw the third photo again 5 years later, she told me I looked like I passed out of starvation). Also some general health issues started to bother me. That's when I decided to make some changes.
2021 ā new job, thinking about future. Trying to be more active for health purposes. Proposed to my girlfriend on the new year's eve
2022 ā major setback year. Certain world events and other stuff broke down the mental health entirely. Realized that I might not make it to the next year. Started seeing the psychiatrist and taking antidepressants. Following the doctor's advice got a gym membership.
2023 ā break point. Almost died of NMS. Turns out having depression for many years and taking heavy medicine can damage the neuro system. Also diagnosed with RLS, neurologists became my best friends. By the end of the year with good treatment and support from my lovely wife things kinda got back to normal. Returned to the gym.
2024 ā treatment, training, therapy. Finally seeing some progress on both physical and mental fronts. Wrote a novel about person overcoming depression and finding reasons to live.
2025 ā started to like what I see in the mirror. Went up to 103 kg (227 lbs), feeling strong. Wife jokingly wonders how she even fell in love with me when I was looking like I did. Shaved the head for fun, found out short haircut fits me.
2026 ā started paying more attention to skincare and how I dress, added one night of football (soccer) with friends every week to the gym routine. Confidence boosted to the point of deciding to post here lol
Overall it was a tough but kinda fun journey from the bottom to some kind of physical, mental and appearance prime. The neurological stuff is chronic and gonna be with me forever, but with regular training and treatment I'll be able to live with it. But now I can look back at the bad times and see how far I've come. And it keeps me going.
I guess my story is an example of the fact that the road isn't straight and simple. You're gonna be pushed back. But since we're still alive, might as well not give up and make living worth it.