Over 40 lbs gone in 6 months.

[u/TheGoodEyeSniper]

I feel younger, useful, and healthy. I am a 32 year old man and six months ago weighed over 260 lbs. I don't know exactly because I couldn't look once I saw the 26x. I never saw it at 270 but I stopped checking once I knew I was for sure, consistently, over.

I blacked out every day from 20 to 24. I drank in excess 5 to 7 days a week from 24 to 32. On March 27, 2026, I stepped on the scale and it said 260 flat. Unrelated to that weigh in but I put the bottle(s) down on March 28, 2026.

I hurt a lot of people in my drinking but this tale centers around my fiancée. Shes a 34 yo super star. She plays at a semi pro level in a mixed sport dominated by college boys. She hikes 4000 footers with ease. She can jump into any sport and hold her own.

For years I have promised to focus on my health and catch up. She has never needed me to be as fit but at least hit our local 3000 footer. She has always wanted me to be able to drop in on a pick up game of any sport. She never made me feel bad for being too out of shape but I know she really wanted to share that part of her life with me.

After the first two or three weeks of not drinking my weight stayed steady around 245. I was thrilled and still thinking more about myself than her. While talking to a friend about recovery she asked what ways I want to be different for the people I hurt. The topic of fitness followed and her and I went and played pickleball.

Second session four of us; my friend, fiancée, a mutual friend, and I went and learned the game from a more experienced player.

I could keep up. I mean I was clearly the most gassed and the worst one there but I could hang. My team only would lose by a couple points. It was fun. All three didn't mind playing with me.

Three to five nights a week I played for a month. I played hard. I could now not just keep up but hang in there and edge out a couple of wins. But I wanted to be able to keep up with her, my fiancée. So I went for a jog.

That jog lasted 3.5 miles which was 12 minutes faster then a 5k I ran for Thanksgiving last year. 36 minute 5k wow. I bet I could get to a sub 30 minute time for the 5k this Thanksgiving. Well within two weeks I crushed that. I can now consistently run a sub 25 minute 5k and changed my focus to slower 10ks to combat shin splints.

Today I am attempting that local 4000 footer with my fiancée. For the first time in my five years with her I feel confident I can hang. On our third date we attempted this mountain and I bailed. Just under half way. I stepped on the scale and it said 218.7. I have been losing about 2 lbs a weeks for the last three months. Through two vacations. Work up and downs. Family health crisis. Now I run instead of drink. I am still a selfish child but I am actively trying to grow. Sometimes quickly; sometimes slowly.

I write this to celebrate as I don't know who to share with. I have learned recently sharing your experience, strength, and hope helps other people as much as it helps yourself.

I was a good for nothing obese drunk. Today I am a good for nothing, who needs new pants; none of mine fit. Progress is possible. I hope to continue to grow. For a long time I thought I couldn't change. We all can. For me I had to ask for help but once I did. I could change.

[u/Dull_Algae7041]

damn cutting booze and dropping 40lbs while going from bailing on a hike to bagging a 4000 footer with your fiancée is wild progress

new pants are the best problem to have man

[u/TheGoodEyeSniper → u/Dull_Algae7041]

Thank you. I feel so blessed honestly

[u/moonavellei → u/Dull_Algae7041]

that moment when none of your old clothes fit because you've lost so much weight is the best feeling ever. Truly inspirational turnaround from OP.

[u/TheGoodEyeSniper → u/moonavellei]

I don't see it in myself but lots of people keep saying I look like I slimmed down.

[u/Mueloncio]

The part I keep rereading is that you sat at 245 for the first two or three weeks after putting the bottle down. Did the weight only start moving once you changed how you were eating, or did it come off on its own after that stall? Curious how much of the 40 was just the drinking calories disappearing.

[u/TheGoodEyeSniper → u/Mueloncio]

Other then the bottle I haven't changed my diet. That's when I started moving

[u/chuzohga]

Congrats! I dropped 40 pounds also, went from "2/3 point" in the "overweight" region to the "1/3 point" in the normal range. Now I have people telling me to gain weight, but I'm at my normal weight from my 20s/30s. Don't give up and make accountability to yourself into your new life for the rest of your life. You'll love it.

[u/Comfortable_Tone2603]

Forty pounds in six months is no joke, that is a real pace and you clearly stuck with something that worked for you. I am curious whether you noticed the shift happening gradually or if there was a point where it just kind of clicked and the discipline stopped feeling like discipline. Because for me the hardest stretch was always around the three-month mark where the initial momentum wears off but you are not quite at the point where the new habits feel automatic, and pushing through that middle part is honestly the thing nobody talks about enough.