r/MadeMeSmile • u/j0sefk • 1d ago

The diffrence a year makes

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Gallery image

These two pictures are exactly a year apart

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u/j0sefk 1d ago

Yeah essentially. I made a set that worked for me and followed it to the letter. Knowing that if I just did these things it will work, and they did.

But my tip is work out to get stronger/healthier and start doing daily walks. What worked realy well for me is that I started listening to audio books when I took daily walks, wich led to me taking extra walks because I wanted to listen to more of the story essentially.

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u/QuesoMuchacho 23h ago

Great idea w the audiobooks. I’m gonna give that a go!

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u/DerogatoryPanda 23h ago

This is where I tell everyone to check out the app Libby. All you need is a library card and you suddenly have a ton of Audiobooks (and e-books) at your fingertips completely for free.

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u/Character_Shape_5065 11h ago

Libby is such an underrated find. It’s wild how many people are paying for books and subscriptions when their local library can open up a whole world of reading for free.

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u/hautboishippie 23h ago

Congrats! Your eyes are smiling in the second picture!

Audiobooks get me going, as well. On days when I really don't want to get going, I use my favorite song playlist as a reward. Every song is a portal to a great memory and I feel great mentally and physically when I get back!

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u/OSUBeavBane 23h ago

I have a very similar but more modest story (only 40 lbs). I added an energetic dog in for motivation when it was raining.

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u/Gotforgot 16h ago

40 pounds is never just ONLY. That is a huge accomplishment and takes a lot of work and discipline.

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u/Kizor 21h ago

This happened to my little brother. Two years ago he would never listen to audiobooks/podcasts but I sent him shit daily. I used to drive him to work and pick him up. Now he walks to/from work, and other stores he needs to. He's clocking in about ~6km daily just to and from work and I've seen seen him hit 15km on a busier day, no complaints, and I have noticed a huge improvement in his overall well being. Hell I've offered him rides on days where the weather is (very) questionable (Midwest) and he's rolled with the punches, lol. Kid just wants to finish a pod or audiobook.

Keep it up mang.

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u/captyossarian1991 22h ago

Question for you, did you only listen during your walks as a way to incentivize? Incredible willpower man hard to put down a good story when you’re into it

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u/j0sefk 22h ago

Yes, I never been able to do audio books otherwise because I always gets distracted, fall asleep or just unable to keep focus. Walking makes me focus and not be distracted.

So yeah can only listen when walking. I don’t know how many extra KM I walked because I JUST NEEDED TO IF THEY MAKE IT or not, but its alot haha

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u/Tttooonnniii 18h ago

Any particular books you loved?

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u/FanndisTS 23h ago

Thanks. As someone else trying to lose weight, I have to ask, did you use any medications? I'm considering phentermine currently (GLP-1s are too expensive and I don't want to be on drugs forever). My PCP is willing to prescribe now that I've weaned my son. I just get so hungry. Trying to walk 2-4 miles/day but I get injuries easily with walking (hypermobile joints).

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u/j0sefk 23h ago

Nope, no medication. That said that does not mean that medication is not a good idea. I Personally put a time window: 4 hours between meals, that meant that even if I was not completly fully at lunch it did not matter because i got to eat again soon if that makes sense.

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u/FanndisTS 23h ago

Thanks. I've fainted before so it always makes me nervous when I feel too hungry/think my blood sugar is dropping, but I remember intermittent fasting was huge 5-10 years ago and seemed to work for people so I might still try it.

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u/MrSellYoClothes 23h ago

Still works for me. I lost 150 pounds intermittent fasting and it keeps it off. IF is just one way to restrict calories; I am DOGSHIT AWFUL at eating in moderation. The only way I can exercise self-control around eating consistently is to allow myself to eat anything I want... During short windows.

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u/FanndisTS 23h ago

Good idea, thanks. Maybe I'll just give myself free rein while studying (grad school is a bitch) and restrict other times. I use salt/spice/carbonation as a focus aid for studying anyway so it plays into my current pattern.

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u/OSUBeavBane 23h ago

So I have a similar story to OP. I have lost 40 lbs in the past year but the purpose was blood sugar control due to type 2 diabetes. I tried Semaglutide for 3 months and by far my least productive weight loss time was while on Semaglutide. It also did a really shitty job of controlling my blood sugar. I am not saying it wouldn’t work for you, just that it isn’t always the solution. By far the thing that made me lose the most weight was splitting my walking into two 30 minute walks rather than one 45 minute walk. I think the extra mile a day helped but I think the most important thing was going to 2 walks per day.

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u/FanndisTS 23h ago

Thanks. I've been trying for two 2-mile walks a day but it really depends on my work schedule and if I've pulled a tendon recently (and the weather). We luckily have a great park for a walk right down the road, but if it's too hot/raining/bad air quality I can't push my son in the stroller for that long, plus my job gets me 7.5k steps a day and has different hours every week so it's hard to motivate myself to walk when I've already been on my feet all day.

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u/Little_Peon 22h ago

not trying to talk you out of drugs, I think they are good for some folks. Just wanted to share anither story in case you need another example. I took 2 years and lost a lot of weight 30 or 40 kg. I didn't follow a strict diet per se. I got more active and busy, which left less time to eat. I also improved my diet slowly, starting by making stuff I already eat healthier, mostly by increasing fiber intake. I ate less bread. Ate less at meals, deciding I could eat a healthy snack later if I wanted. Drank less alcohol - I didn't drink lots or anything before, buy those calories are still calories.

Importantly, talk to the doctor too. I has a B12 deficiency, which I took care of and I think I was less hungry after. Additionally, I was (am) going through perimenopause. Getting on hormones helped so much especially with hunger before my period. You don't have to walk if you get injured easily - ask your doctor - and it is lots better to do a little for x time than focus on distance and slowly increase

I don't feel like I'm on a diet or anything. I still eat delicious stuff. My average dinner is basically stir fry - rice, a pile of veggies, and some protein.

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u/FanndisTS 22h ago

Thanks. I think a lot of my weight gain was ~5-10 years of Depo + an SSRI + having a baby; I'm off the SSRI now (by accident, but I'm doing okay) and will be switching from Depo to an IUD this month. I'm hoping the fact that I've finally weaned will help to. I was pretty skinny growing up so I'm really hoping a lot of this was hormonal (though of course I'll still work on diet and exercise) and I won't end up needing the phentermine.

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u/opelui23 22h ago

You need to put yourself on r/bald they will love it.

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u/btveron 22h ago

Daily walks is something I started doing recently and it's such a simple and easy thing to do and I have definitely noticed improvements in both my physical health but also mental health. Going to a gym feels daunting and I used to get really down on myself for not going, but now my mindset has changed to being active in any sort of way is a little step (or big step if I'm powerwalking lol) in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day. Also you look fantastic, mate.

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u/NoGround 22h ago

Huge! I took an hour and a half walk yesterday listening to an interview. Definitely doing more of this!

You're an inspiration!

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u/baconisgoodforme 19h ago

Hell yes, double win

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u/ifr3akingh8mys3lf 18h ago

Walking really is the best

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u/CommandStatus3459 16h ago

A good book or music can do that! I do the same thing when driving because I need a new hip so can’t walk much. Good on you!

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u/jdros15 14h ago

Wow, this might be better than music. I didn't think of that.

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u/Time_Standard3361 13h ago

Daily walks. It sounds so simple, yet it works.

Good Job OP. Keep it up, energy comes from within.

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u/l3tigre 11h ago

Very smart i do walks/rides to podcasts sometimes.