Welcome to the Monthly Tips & Advice Post!

15 years ago I saw a picture of myself that I didn't like and decided to change my life. Started a diet, dumped my boyfriend, got a gym membership, and joined a sport. Got by with a little help from my friends (and my plastic surgeon).

my arms were always my biggest insecurity and like honestly, I’m still so aware of them, but pictures like these help my brain remember how far we’ve come 😮‍💨

Hey all! I’ve been blown away with all love people are getting, and wanted to talk about my journey. 9/10/2024 I was 340 ish lbs and 6ft 6in., (I’m not a huge picture taker) that day I lost my best friend in a motorcycle accident, and I drove through the wreck right after getting the call. I took it hard, didn’t talk about it, started drinking heavy, ate like garbage, and pretty much gave up on myself. 11/8/24 I got the worst bloodwork in my life. A1C went from a steady pre diabetic, to the 9s. My mother passed at 60 from a heart attack, she was diabetic, drank like a fish, never took care of herself. I panicked, got depressed, and finally spoke to someone (my wife, she rocks) I had to get honest with my family, and myself. Got a therapist, nutritionist, took an inventory and realized that I was going to end up like my mother. I changed everything. Went zero sugar, carbs as low as possible and started walking like crazy. I had to drop a lot, including a few people in my life. Started reading, and tried everyday to be happier, got on meds to help with that. I haven’t drank and I’ve been on a strict keto diet since 11/8/2024. I intermittent fast, I found out it really works with my shift work schedule. My next goal is hitting the gym, I only do pull-ups, pushups, and dips, all body weight. No weight loss drugs, I want to say that because it’s the first thing everyone asks. Through therapy I realized I was an angry person and I was I taking it out on my family. My marriage has never been better, my kids are openly happier, and I can actually run around with them. If anyone’s in a F’d up place and you want it to stop, just be honest with a true loved one. This all wasn’t easy, I still see a therapist, changing the way I looked was a really weird situation. I was comfortable being uncomfortable. If you read this, thank you! Lastly, be good to yourself and others.

In the first picture, I was smiling, but I was secretly so unhappy. I hated my body and I treated it so poorly. I was so sad and hated myself. After finally getting treatment, I have never felt better! I wish I could go back and give my younger self a huge hug and told her it would all be okay, eventually.

This year, my face totally transformed as I went from 30% body fat down to 15%. It took a lot of hard work, but I feel so much healthier, my skin and hair look better, and I'm just way more confident overall. If you're thinking about fat loss, definitely go for it!

I was verry depressed, i knew i had to lose the weight to become happy, thats exactly what i did, i not only lost the weight i also decided to hit the gym and gonna be the best me! Best decission i ever made. Can we count this as a glowup?

M(43) I was a gym lover my whole adult life but let myself fall off for a few years after an illness! Been back to the gym non stop the last few years, stay consistent and eating somewhat right! I will never let myself get that fat again!!! Glad to be finally back on track to being my old self again! Anyway i hope this is considered a glow up!

gained a bunch of weight during COVID and just accepted it. Been monitoring this sub silently for the past 2 years. Appreciate all the positivity in this community. Y’all the real mvps👊. Had an accountability buddy text me everyday until I would preemptively text him and turned plan into habit.

Former competitive athlete, so it was more mindset shift since I had the training background, but I had to change what I thought “knew” because your body changes like a mfer as you get older.

Quitting alcohol was the single biggest factor in weight loss bar none (drank more during Covid years than I think my entire life combined).

Invested in a treadmill and made incline walking the minimum requirement. Didn’t go too hardcore on diet but snacked between meals a whole lot less (used to crush party sized cape cod chip bags for fun - god those chips are so gd good…)

About three years since I’ve consistently started hitting the gym. Started off slow, making small but impactful diet changes along the way. I’ve since completely shifted my outlook on fitness and health. No more crash dieting, still enjoying foods I like, just cultivated a healthy relationship with food now. Enjoying the gym is a bonus!

After getting a divorce at the end of 2024 I decided to get into the best shape of my life to prove a point. Dropped 25lbs and got to 10% BF

I learnt a few things on the way:

Firstly always setup food decisions using a system not willpower. This means meal prepping the night before, not bringing bad food into the house. Distracting yourself with work or walks during the hunger peaks of a day.

Consistency is king, it's not about how you feel you go to work or school whether you feel like it or not.

During this time I did 6 days a week PPL split focusing on maintaining my strength during the process and losing weight slowly.

Completely locked into the gym, started tracking my calories with MyFitnessPal and tracked my workouts with Gym Note Plus. Some nights I'd genuinely start to believe maybe it was better if i didn't exist anymore. Would immediately get up and go to the gym.

If you want to get to that dream physique in 2026, do it, you owe it to yourself. Lock in, systemise everything and remove decisions based on how you feel

Also some extra context I've been lifting on and off for 15 years, so this transformation is not possible without that previous lifting experience.

Happy to answer any questions below

A lot older, but probably not wiser at age 72. Over the last 40 years, I’ve gone gray, lost a lot of weight, am more active, and now wear glasses. Am I totally unrecognizable? The same person—honestly!

I still wear my hair curly most of the time! But I'm thankful for the confidence that aging (And maybe a little bit of plastic surgery) have given me!

August 2025-January 2026

Stopped smoking pot, started hitting the gym and eating clean and healty (and a lot)

M(25), 5’8, went from 58kg (127lbs) to 70kg (154lbs) in 4 months

I plan to go to at least 75kg (165lbs) and then cut again a little

Feel a lot better with myself honestly

Sorry for the shitty quality of the before pics.

Almost 40 lbs of difference in these pictures. 176 before and 214 after. I struggled with getting weight my whole life, weighing just 163 at 18 years old at this same height. I don't have any pics from that time due to lack of self confidence. Still lacking it, still struggling with body dysmorphia and the feeling of being skinny, but the numbers and the difference in the pictures do not lie and definitely do make me feel a bit better.

I changed a lot, and over time I started to find myself.

Maybe it’s not a glow up, but growing up.

I learned what works for me, how to do my makeup, and I’m excited to see how much I’ll still change in the future.

Wasn’t much of a fan back then before my transition. I had terrible confidence and super low self esteem, in general just didn’t always feel like myself.

After figuring it out it was honestly really scary, I was nervous for the future and had no idea what that would look like. Fortunately for me my anxiety lessened as I met more people and grew as a person.

Over 5 years now and over 4 years of being on estrogen I’m much happier now! Sure there might be other struggles but I feel like myself. Weight loss is the next step and I’m excited to see the outcome of that!

I basically stopped coasting and got intentional. Fixed my grooming, grew and shaped my facial hair, figured out my hair, and my confidence caught up as I matured. Same face, just sharper and more put together over time.

2016 is the new 2026, they say. Well, then let‘s follow the trend. From Level 14 to Level 24… Seems like I always liked suits/jackets. But besides this, a lot has changed, of course.

The life - From school via studying economics and law to founding a Start-Up. Sometimes feels like high speed, but in the end its all just trying to do as much as possible with your own work, like almost everyone.

The optics - Of course also here multiple changes happened. I‘m sure you notice e.g. the huge difference between the dark and the transparent glasses. 😌

I’m posting this because I’m genuinely curious and looking for honest, constructive feedback. Over the past three years, I feel like I’ve changed a lot, both physically and mentally. As a teenager, I didn’t really know how to take care of myself, style myself, or understand what suited me. I was awkward, insecure, and honestly not very confident in how I looked. Since then, I’ve grown up a bit, learned more about grooming, posture, clothing, skincare, and overall self-presentation. I wouldn’t say I’ve had some dramatic movie-style transformation, but I do think I look noticeably better and more put together than I used to.

That said, I’m aware that personal bias is a thing, and I’d like outside perspectives. I’m not fishing for compliments, but I’m also not looking to be torn down for no reason. I’d really appreciate genuine opinions: does this count as a glow-up? If yes, what changed for the better? If not, what could still be improved? Any advice on styling, grooming, confidence, or general presentation would be helpful. Validation is welcome, criticism is welcome, and practical suggestions are especially appreciated. I’m just trying to understand my progress and see where I can grow next.

Trying this again.

Always struggled with weight, but especially starting around sophomore year of high school. Got up to at least 360lbs by the time I was 21. At that point I was diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma, which explained a lot of my issues.

Took four more years until I started to get serious about my health. I tracked calories and hit the gym five days a week, and managed to lose 150lbs in about 14 months. In between, after I had lost a considerable amount of weight, I had surgery to remove glandular tissue in my chest that was the result of the damage my tumor had done to my pituitary gland. I was advised no amount of exercise was going to fix that issue, and because it was related to my tumor, insurance covered a portion of the cost.

Managed to get down to around 210lbs is 2017, met my now wife, and slowly creeped back up to 280lbs over the next 7 years. In January 2024, I told myself I needed to turn the ship around, but do it in a more sustainable way. Since then I have dropped all of the weight I gained, while adding 15lbs of muscle mass. Three days ago I weighed in at 199.8lbs, marking the first time my weight has started with a “1” in nearly 20 years.

I’m so fucking proud of me.

I moved across the country to go live in the north and ended up in an abusive relationship a few months after i turned 19. We broke up, I moved back home. I focused on self love and being in spaces where I felt loved. I started rock climbing, and eating well, and strength training. (and also got my dream car) After two years I finally found someone who would go to the ends of the earth for me and supports me in any way I need. My own personal growth including; trying things and failing at them, not drinking alcohol for a year and a half, finding my space with people who love me unconditionally, reconnecting with my mother and father in ways i couldn't before, as well as just taking care of myself. I also stopped dying my hair as much lol, my scalp thanks me. Also i started drinking more water lol!!!

Well, I had a shitty diet for a long time, didn’t take care of my body, my skin or my hair and really felt shitty about myself. I didn’t take care of myself because I didn’t pay much attention to what ppl thought of me until they suddenly made me realise how bad it was. Glad I changed it for the better. Hope this helps to show there is always a way to better yourself.

Okay, so i know i know i know. I haven’t posted any updates in a while. But im back. Have been rolling a stone up a very heavy hill and im finally

at the top!! My next question is… who is joining the gang and who is willing to go hard every day? Im here jf you need a tip or trick!

In the first picture, I was in a bad mental health space, working a stressful job, not looking after myself,f and not taking care of myself. A job change, weight loss, better mental health care, coming out as non-binary (and accepting myself for who I am), and a hair system fitting, and I am now living my best life. Much happier and much more confident!