Rebuilding after heartbreak, divorce, and infertility is one of the most challenging yet rewarding commitments you can make to yourself. ❤

It's been a lot of work but pretty happy with not looking and feeling like I'm actively dying. First picture was taken early 2020, didn't start trying and losing weight until 2022.

First pic when I was 21. Now recently 26.

My last progress pic from March was deleted seemingly, so I am just checking in with an updated pic to keep myself accountable.

First 40 lbs were just watching what I eat and forming the habit of going to the gym. Since April I’ve been taking Reta starting at 1mg now on 4mg and going to start tapering off.

I used to think I never had the time to go to the gym, so I made time by waking at 4am, three times a week. Miraculously I stuck to this. Fast forward to earlier this week I now go 5-6 times a week but only have to go early on 2 or 3 of those days. My sleep definitely takes a hit on those days.

I want to stay lean but start building a bit more muscle and I worry about eating too many calories and reverting even if I know they’ll be clean calories.

Plan currently is to try and maintain a bit and feel comfortable doing that, my strength gains have hit a plateau a while ago now and can be deflating.

Any thought/advice/comments/questions are welcome.

Top photos are 2021 before I started electrolysis hair removal at 33yo. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 15. Shaved my face 1-2 times daily since I was a teen. Got laser hair reduction at 20 and within six months, the hair grew back 10 times worse (the extent of the hair in the before photos is from laser - it’s called Paradoxical Hypertrichosis please be aware before considering laser on your face). Bottom photos are now in 2026. Not only has the electrolysis process saved my face after the disastrous results from laser, but it’s transformed my entire life, inspired and changed me so much that I am now going to school to be an Electrologist so I can provide the same life changing treatments to others so they can feel this unbelievable freedom! I spent the first 20 years of my adult life dealing with rude comments, spending my days in hiding, and just existing instead of living. But not anymore! I am a completely transparent, shameless, open book, so please ask any questions!

Don’t listen to the noise. For some people, your progress will never be enough, and they’ll always find a reason to tear you down. Keep showing up for yourself. Your journey is yours, not theirs.

5 days a week in the gym, consistent calorie counting using an app that adjusts based on my goals, 8 hours sleep a night, lots of water, training to failure, 9 month bulk, 3 month cut, now i’m here :))

Hoping to start getting into the gym consistently now to build muscle.

First time I’ve noticed a difference tbh

First pic was taken about 2 months and 20+ lbs down. Didn’t take any early on. Proud of how far I’ve come. Not stopping now.

ive lost a bit more since i last posted. the lighting/angles are helping but i don’t have many other pics. daily incline walks + gluten free + eating more raw veggies and whole foods, i didn’t focus on restricting but rather incorporating more fruits and veg eg eating a salad before meals. for years i tried to be a gym bro and could never be consistent and when i stared doing lower impact exercises that were actually enjoyable and manageable movement became a daily habit. incline walks every day is better than strength training once a month lol . also avoiding candy and sugary foods, i still fluctuate when i fall into the dessert loop 😅

Wrapping up coaching soon and I’m pretty happy with what I’ve achieved in the last 6 months!

For most of my life I have been very skinny and as a result, had very skinny legs which led to me getting called chicken legs and other insults so I always wanted to get bigger legs! Most of my weight gain came from liquid calories, I am at around 3000 calories per day, I try to eat a balanced diet. Thanks for reading!

Started at approximately 250 lbs and currently sitting at 150.6 lbs. It’s taken me roughly two years to get here, and I’m officially down almost 100 lbs.
Still working on getting leaner and building more muscle, but I’m pretty happy with how far I’ve come. Figured I’d share my progress!

Real changes in body composition don’t happen overnight! It’s so easy for me to get so caught up in small scale fluctuations, but always feels good to look at how much progress I’ve made. Lifting weights has changed my life.

obviously I had to get a belly piercing to celebrate cuz what else would I do? even more than the actual body transformation I've just genuinely had a energy transformation and I feel so much less lethargic and have better mornings now and I do attribute that to my diet bc I didn't and don't excersice now lol

Finally dialed it all in, I had numerous surgeries and set backs between these photos and I’m feeling proud of everything I’ve overcome.
Stronger than ever at 51 and not stopping anytime soon!

Visually not the most dramatic change but man the strength, cardio, and mental difference between just getting off drugs to almost five years of consistency is hard to describe. In my head I thought I'd look like an IFBB by now🤣 Still worth it the gym has really become my passion and although the goals have shifted along the way it keeps me anchored. Thanks for letting me share!