It's been about 3 1/2 years since I decided I had to make changes in my life. I hit 450 pounds and realized I was no longer in control.

I dieted on my own for the first 2 years, and did okay. I lost about 120 pounds by simply eating less and walking. Eventually that was no longer enough and I stopped losing, so I started a bariatric program. I had 6 months of supervised weight loss, and having the accountability made me work harder. I lost another 30 pounds in those 6 months. My goal was to be under 300 by my surgery date, November 10, 2014. When I weighed in at the hospital that morning, I was 299.9. Just barely there, but I did it!

This week is my 1 year surgery anniversary. When I weighed this morning I was 189.9. Another 110 pounds gone. So to Celebrate, I'm posting a before and after picture. The first one is from 2011. I'm not quite at my highest weight there, but as I'm sure many of you can understand, there aren't a lot of pictures of me to choose from. I always avoided having them taken. The second one was taken this morning. Not a great picture, but you get the idea!

And 260 pounds later:

Dave you are truly an inspiration of what hard work and dedication can deliver. Congrats on your successful journey!

WOW!!

Your progress to this point is amazing and you should be so very, very proud of your accomplishment. I am in awe of your 120 pound loss before surgery!

Congratulations and thank you for posting this.

Wow!! Congratulations!!! That's crazy! Congratulations on a job well done!

Amazing!! You've really done great for yourself! You should truly be so proud

Fabulous! You should be very proud of your effort and results!

Thank you everyone for the replies. It's funny, to me neither of those pictures look like how I see myself. I was never that fat, or at least I never knew I was. I convinced myself that I didn't let my weight stop me from doing whatever I wanted to do, and so I wasn't fat. I was just on the bigger end of normal. And the picture now, I don't even recognize that guy. Where in the hell did cheek bones come from? Plus, I look like I've aged 10 years in the past 3. Oh well, still the whole thing has been 100% worth it. I only wish I had done it all a lot earlier in life.

Congratulations on a truly amazing accomplishment. Amazing work.

Congratulations! You look super, Dave! (I couldn't resist.)

You look fabulous!! Very much an inspiration to others.

Amazing! Congrats!

@@SuperDave A picture of myself is what catapulted me into my journey. For years I'd see myself in pictures and thought "well duh, the camera adds like ten pounds (definitely not 100)." Then I saw one that put me in tears and it was then I knew I needed to make a change. But I still don't see what others see when I look in the mirror. But as they say "a picture is worth a thousand words!" And I can only come up with one, fantastic! You look fantastic!

Simply amazing

Congratulations! Your journey is the very definition of persistence!

Wow Dave!! Thats amazing!!! Congratulations!!

What a wonderful accomplishment. You look fantastic!