How I Lost 40 Pounds in 4 Months

Summary

The speaker reflects on his personal weight gain journey, starting from a skinny youth to reaching obesity in his 20s, influenced by the pandemic. Despite vigorous exercise, he realized the importance of diet over exercise for weight loss. After a wake-up call from meeting sumo wrestlers and recognizing the health risks, he committed to a diet focused on whole foods, minimally processed, and high in vegetables and legumes. This lifestyle change led to a significant weight loss of 40 pounds in 4 months, improved health, and a new perspective on portion control and mindful eating.

Takeaways

• 🏋️‍♂️ The speaker used to be very skinny and was teased for it, but gained a significant amount of weight in his 20s.
• 📈 His weight gain coincided with the pandemic, which he suggests might be a common experience for many people.
• 🔝 He reached a peak weight of around 190 lbs, which, given his height, put him in the obese category according to BMI standards.
• 💪 Despite being obese, he felt healthy due to his rigorous exercise routine, including daily Crossfit workouts.
• 🥪 His diet was high in calories and unhealthy, which contributed to his weight gain despite his physical activities.
• 🍔 He was influenced by pseudoscientific articles that claimed it was impossible to lose weight due to hormonal reasons.
• 🤼‍♂️ Meeting professional sumo wrestlers made him reflect on his own health and the unhealthy lifestyle associated with excess weight.
• 🚫 He realized that being 'fat but fit' was not a healthy long-term approach, especially after learning about the short life expectancy of sumo wrestlers.
• 🥦 A significant change in his diet was necessary for weight loss, starting with incorporating more vegetables into his meals.
• 🍚 He eliminated processed carbs and focused on whole foods, beans, legumes, and minimally processed plant-based fats.
• 📉 He lost around 40 lbs in 4 months by strictly controlling his diet and being mindful of portion sizes and food choices.

Q & A

What was the speaker's perception of their body before the weight gain?

The speaker was known for being skinny and underweight, often teased for their small and skinny appearance.

When did the speaker start gaining weight significantly?

The speaker started gaining weight around the time of the pandemic, which they fact-checked with their wife.

What was the speaker's peak weight and BMI?

The speaker's peak weight was around 190 lbs or more, with a BMI of almost 30, which is technically considered obese.

Why did the speaker initially dismiss comments about their weight gain?

The speaker dismissed comments because they were working out more than ever, doing daily Crossfit workouts, and believed they were gaining muscle, not fat.

What was the speaker's initial attitude towards their weight and health?

The speaker believed they were 'fat but fit' and healthy, despite the weight gain, due to their vigorous exercise routine.

What event led to the speaker's change in perspective about their health and weight?

The speaker's perspective changed after hanging out with professional sumo wrestlers and realizing the unhealthy aspects of their lifestyle.

What were some of the health issues the speaker noticed in themselves due to the weight gain?

The speaker noticed they had become slower, quicker to sweat, more prone to injury, and had joint problems due to the weight gain.

What was the speaker's diet like before deciding to lose weight?

The speaker had a diet full of rich, fatty foods, with no restrictions, and consumed large quantities of food quickly after workouts.

What was the speaker's approach to losing weight, and how did it differ from their previous habits?

The speaker focused on a diet rich in vegetables and whole foods, eliminating processed carbs and focusing on minimally processed, calorically dense foods.

How did the speaker's diet change in terms of carbohydrates and protein sources?

The speaker replaced grains with whole recognizable beans or legumes, eliminated processed carbs, and included lean proteins like fish or chicken.

What was the speaker's strategy for dealing with hunger and overeating?

The speaker aimed to be more comfortable with hunger, started meals with vegetables to crowd out room for fatty foods, and made food less appetizing to avoid overeating.

How did the speaker's weight change over the course of the diet?

The speaker lost about 40 lbs over 4 months, going from 187 lbs to under 150 lbs.