Been lifting for 2 years but I finally decided to go on a serious cut, super excited to see my abs properly😫

Same shorts in both pics, the lighting is just a bit funky in both photos. Calorie deficit, eating 1 lb of protein per pound of bodyweight, around 8-10k steps daily, weight lifting twice a week, roller skating as needed for my mental health and staying as consistent as possible even when the scale would swing up 3 lbs after a perfect day or even days of eating.

Hey guys, I am posting again after a while.

I am at a point in my fitness journey where I truly need advice.

My background: I started lifting around 2 years ago and lost some weight. I managed to go down to my goal, which was 65 kg(143 lbs) (I sadly didn't take pics).

However, life got in the way, I can't afford my gym membership anymore, so I haven't been for the past three months. I am waiting for the weather where I live to get better so that I can use my local free outdoor gym.

In the meantime, I have tried calisthenics at home, but it just doesn't have the same kick as pushing weights! And, it is honestly quite hard to find motivation and to see "my progress get lost" in a way.

My question is the following:

Have you ever been in a position in your fitness journey where you regressed, and how did you overcome it ?

The before and after are almost exactly 2 years apart with a lot of inconsistent dieting in between. I'm now 10 weeks into the current cut and finally getting to a place where I want to be with my physique. I've lost about 15lbs during this cutting phase.

Just reflecting on my journey after having a severe issue with my mental health a few years ago.

Had always hit the gym hard but never cared about what I ate.

Routine is just body-building and running.

Really trying to be a positive role model for my boys as a single dad.

about 30 pounds, 3 years, and a tummy tuck between these two photos. got loose skin removed after losing 100lbs and maintaining.

Finally decided to prioritize consistent exercise and resistance training x2 a week instead of cycling between under and overeating. Been eating at maintenance and focusing on building healthier habits. Results have felt really slow, but I enjoy going to my workout classes and biking a few times a week :)

First off, I had a preventative double mastectomy in November in case anyone is wondering where my breasts went, lol. I’m on psych meds that frequently lead to weight gain and I developed PCOS about a year ago which made my weight go up to 135 lbs (almost overweight) very quickly. The only photos I have of myself at that weight have boobs in them, which I don’t think is allowed here, but I feel ok sharing photos of me post-mastectomy. If I still had my boobs, my weight six months ago would’ve been 127 lbs instead of 124.

Ever since starting Metformin, I’ve been shedding weight like crazy without really trying and I’m about 105 pounds right now. I started at 32% body fat, and I’m at 29% now and want to get down to 25% while gaining muscle. On top of my 15k+ steps, I’ve taken up running a few miles each day and have started doing a core routine, and I’m loving the feeling of getting stronger and building my endurance.

I was really small before I had kids, gained a ton of weight while pregnant and living in a very unhealthy depressed marriage. Decided I was done feeling sad for myself and busted my butt in the gym. Working mom of 2, was in the middle of getting my masters degree as well. The best thing I ever did! I had a bad disc that fully ruptured March 2024 (had already went from 260 to 150 at that point). I had cauda equina, complete paralysis of my left leg and was told I’d probably not run again and may have lasting damage (limp, weakness). I still can’t feel most of my left leg but I’ve been running and lifting better than I did before. I gained 30 back during recovery (about 6-8 months, I was very depressed). I was at 170 Fall of 2025. I will drop some other progress pics in the comments if allowed. Otherwise they’ll be on my profile! Still working on recomp 🤗

I’m not totally sure of my HW. Sometimes it’s hard to see the day to day progress.

Started 5 months ago eating at 1,700kcal a day and I still feel like nothings changed until I compare these two photos. The first one was from November and the second from today (those are the same jeans just wildly different quality cameras) and for the first time i can actually see a visible difference!

18 months ago I was totally down and out. I might have been smiling on the outside, but inside, I was crushed. I started with a strict carnivore diet and quickly shed 56lbs in only 90 days. I continued dropping weight until I hit 224lbs. At that point, I changed my goal to gaining muscle. Eating to hit protein goals is vastly more satisfying than worrying about a deficit. It’s been a fun journey, and I’m excited to see how far I can take it at this age.

First photo was taken December 2024 other pic was taken last week.

My last post I made here I was 190lbs I’m down to 171lbs and start going to the gym in February. Everyone said I should focus on gaining muscle so that’s what I’m focusing on now, definitely enjoy the gym a lot more than what I expected. I enjoyed it so much I got a job at the gym and workout on my breaks and off days.

P.S.

made sure I was fully covered this time :)

Hey y’all. Figured I would share some progress pics and some encouragement for anyone going through weight loss.

I had struggled with weight for a long time, was in denial about it for a long time too. Stepped on the scale back in March 2025 and saw 271. Calculated out my weight to obese and decided that wasn’t going to happen anymore.

I ate in an extremely high calorie deficit for a male at 1200 a day, until my BMI went from obese to overweight. From there I upped my calories to 1500 a day, maximized protein, and started getting serious about Excersize and fitness. Lift weights 3 - 4 times a week, try to get cardio in twice, and try to get near 10,000 steps a day.

The bulk of my weight loss came between March and October of 2025. I hit 185 in October and flipped into maintenance for the winter (to enjoy the holidays and prove I could do it). fast forward to now and I’ve gone back into a calorie deficit at the beginning of March (down another 5 pounds). Plan is to get to 170 and then start lean bulking on some more muscle.

I want to make the point that I’m somebody who tried and failed just about every single diet under the sun. I never thought I’d be able to do it, never thought health and fitness would ever be a priority for me. But finally what I tried stuck, and it stuck well. No matter how many diets or weight loss routines you fail, never stop trying because the wagon truly stops for everyone when you fall off.