Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured in our I Lost Weight series!
Name: Darrell W. McTague
Age: 25
Height: 5'8"
Before Weight: Just over 300 pounds
How I Gained It: I had been a big guy as long as I could remember. I can't remember when I last weighed less than 200 pounds. It was probably early middle school. How sad is that? I had tried and failed a number of times to lose the weight and keep it off. By the end of senior year of high school, I managed to lose 70 pounds with a combination of Weight Watchers and sports (I played football, lifted weights and threw shot put). The problem was that the program hadn't really taught me what I needed to know to survive when I couldn't translate things to "points" and when there was no meeting to go to for support. As soon as I went to college, I gained it all back and more, hitting just over 300 pounds by one year after graduation. I tried to eat right and go to the gym in college, but it never stuck. I ate anything and everything: pizza, hot dogs, burgers, steak tips, nachos -- whatever was quick, easy and cheap. I always made a point to “maximize my dollar”. I'd get whatever the biggest option was for my money and eat until I was uncomfortably stuffed.
Breaking Point: What really did it was my work pants. I work in a restaurant -- I move around a lot. My inner thighs rubbed together and I wore through the pants. I had to go to Wal-Mart to get new ones because of how large I had to get them, and I'd always go through the self-checkout because I was so embarrassed at the size I had to buy. Did you know pants over a 42-inch waist cost more because of how much material it takes to make them? That was a slap in the face. I'd had enough. I was disgusted and embarrassed.
How I Lost It: My fiancée and I decided to start P90X together. It was so tough -- I struggled to complete 10 pushups on my knees at first -- but I was doing it. It felt so rewarding. At the end of the first week, we knew if we could finish that week we could do the whole thing. By the end of the program I had lost 45 pounds!
We continued to do workout programs, going through the BeachBody library. We did, in order, P90X, INSANITY, INSANITY: The Asylum, Les Mills COMBAT. I did Body Beast while she and my mom did ChaLean Extreme. We did Focus T25 together, and now we're doing P90X3. I shared my before/after photos on Facebook after each program, and once I had lost 100 pounds, people started telling me they were so inspired they had started to make their own positive changes! At that point, I started a blog, which has grown to over 2,300 followers!
Now, food is fuel. I eat smaller portions every two hours, and I eat to enjoy the food. I haven't touched soda since August 2012. I stay away from excess fat, white flour and refined sugars as much as possible. I average about four liters of water a day.
March 23, 2013 was the first time we ever went for a run, and it changed everything for me! By then, I had lost a lot of weight and improved my cardiovascular function to the point where I could run. It felt like going up against the impossible at first, but it was exhilarating. That first run I went 3.25 miles! My legs felt like jelly and I was pooped, but I did it.
I took the plunge and registered for my first 5K. From there, I ran a 10K, more 5Ks, and in October, I ran my first half marathon! Now that I've made my transformation, having people looking to me for advice and motivation helps keep me motivated, too. Days when I get lazy and think I can take it easy, I think about what kind of example it sets, and I work harder. I'm scheduled for 32 races this year, and I look forward to finishing my first half-marathon distance obstacle race in September. We'll see how that goes.
After Weight: 175 pounds
The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.
Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:
Weight Loss Success Stories
Stacey BEFORE(01 of148)
Open Image ModalStacey AFTER(02 of148)
Open Image ModalDeborah BEFORE(03 of148)
Open Image ModalDeborah AFTER(04 of148)
Open Image ModalJohn BEFORE(05 of148)
Open Image ModalJohn AFTER(06 of148)
Open Image ModalDelores BEFORE(07 of148)
Open Image ModalDelores AFTER(08 of148)
Open Image ModalChad BEFORE(09 of148)
Open Image ModalChad AFTER(10 of148)
Open Image ModalSasha BEFORE(11 of148)
Open Image ModalSasha AFTER(12 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie BEFORE(13 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie AFTER(14 of148)
Open Image ModalDen-Ray BEFORE(15 of148)
Open Image ModalDen-Ray AFTER(16 of148)
Open Image ModalArianna & Michelle BEFORE(17 of148)
Open Image ModalArianna & Michelle AFTER(18 of148)
Open Image ModalBrian BEFORE(19 of148)
Open Image ModalBrian AFTER(20 of148)
Open Image ModalBrad BEFORE(21 of148)
Open Image ModalBrad AFTER(22 of148)
Open Image ModalBrenda BEFORE(23 of148)
Open Image ModalBrenda AFTER(24 of148)
Open Image ModalRashard BEFORE(25 of148)
Open Image ModalRashard AFTER(26 of148)
Open Image ModalLacey BEFORE(27 of148)
Open Image ModalLacey AFTER(28 of148)
Open Image ModalBryn BEFORE(29 of148)
Open Image ModalBryn AFTER(30 of148)
Open Image ModalLacey BEFORE(31 of148)
Open Image ModalLacey AFTER(32 of148)
Open Image ModalTorrey BEFORE(33 of148)
Open Image ModalTorrey AFTER(34 of148)
Open Image ModalPatti BEFORE(35 of148)
Open Image ModalPatti AFTER(36 of148)
Open Image ModalTara BEFORE(37 of148)
Open Image ModalTara AFTER(38 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie BEFORE(39 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie AFTER(40 of148)
Open Image ModalSteven BEFORE(41 of148)
Open Image ModalSteven AFTER(42 of148)
Open Image ModalBrian BEFORE(43 of148)
Open Image ModalBrian AFTER(44 of148)
Open Image ModalPam BEFORE(45 of148)
Open Image ModalPam AFTER(46 of148)
Open Image ModalLisa BEFORE(47 of148)
Open Image ModalLisa AFTER(48 of148)
Open Image ModalCarra BEFORE(49 of148)
Open Image ModalCarra AFTER(50 of148)
Open Image ModalMara BEFORE(51 of148)
Open Image ModalMara AFTER(52 of148)
Open Image ModalCody BEFORE(53 of148)
Open Image ModalCody AFTER(54 of148)
Open Image ModalMike BEFORE(55 of148)
Open Image ModalMike AFTER(56 of148)
Open Image ModalRobbie BEFORE(57 of148)
Open Image ModalRobbie AFTER(58 of148)
Open Image ModalBen BEFORE(59 of148)
Open Image ModalBen AFTER(60 of148)
Open Image ModalChristie BEFORE(61 of148)
Open Image ModalChristie AFTER(62 of148)
Open Image ModalKodi BEFORE(63 of148)
Open Image ModalKodi AFTER(64 of148)
Open Image ModalKelsey BEFORE(65 of148)
Open Image ModalKelsey AFTER(66 of148)
Open Image ModalLinda BEFORE(67 of148)
Open Image ModalLinda AFTER(68 of148)
Open Image ModalKelly BEFORE(69 of148)
Open Image ModalKelly AFTER(70 of148)
Open Image ModalJohn BEFORE(71 of148)
Open Image ModalJohn AFTER(72 of148)
Open Image ModalChristina BEFORE(73 of148)
Open Image ModalChristina AFTER(74 of148)
Open Image ModalDeAnna BEFORE(75 of148)
Open Image ModalDeAnna AFTER(76 of148)
Open Image ModalPaul BEFORE(77 of148)
Open Image ModalPaul AFTER(78 of148)
Open Image ModalKourtney BEFORE(79 of148)
Open Image ModalKourtney AFTER(80 of148)
Open Image ModalDanielle BEFORE(81 of148)
Open Image ModalDanielle AFTER(82 of148)
Open Image ModalPamela BEFORE(83 of148)
Open Image ModalPamela AFTER(84 of148)
Open Image ModalSherlonda BEFORE(85 of148)
Open Image ModalSherlonda AFTER(86 of148)
Open Image ModalJustin BEFORE(87 of148)
Open Image ModalJustin AFTER(88 of148)
Open Image ModalKerry BEFORE(89 of148)
Open Image ModalKerry AFTER(90 of148)
Open Image ModalLacy BEFORE(91 of148)
Open Image ModalLacy AFTER(92 of148)
Open Image ModalGina BEFORE(93 of148)
Open Image ModalGina AFTER(94 of148)
Open Image ModalSarah BEFORE(95 of148)
Open Image ModalSarah AFTER(96 of148)
Open Image ModalEmil BEFORE(97 of148)
Open Image ModalEmil AFTER(98 of148)
Open Image ModalNikki BEFORE(99 of148)
Open Image ModalNikki AFTER(100 of148)
Open Image ModalLauren BEFORE(101 of148)
Open Image ModalLauren AFTER(102 of148)
Open Image ModalDarrell BEFORE(103 of148)
Open Image ModalDarrell AFTER(104 of148)
Open Image ModalJessica BEFORE(105 of148)
Open Image ModalJessica AFTER(106 of148)
Open Image ModalAfter BEFORE(107 of148)
Open Image ModalAmanda AFTER(108 of148)
Open Image ModalMiesha BEFORE(109 of148)
Open Image ModalMiesha AFTER(110 of148)
Open Image ModalRachel BEFORE(111 of148)
Open Image ModalRachel AFTER(112 of148)
Open Image ModalShelly BEFORE(113 of148)
Open Image ModalShelly AFTER(114 of148)
Open Image ModalErnie BEFORE(115 of148)
Open Image ModalErnie AFTER(116 of148)
Open Image ModalDave BEFORE(117 of148)
Open Image ModalDave AFTER(118 of148)
Open Image ModalMeredith BEFORE(119 of148)
Open Image ModalMeredith AFTER(120 of148)
Open Image ModalQuentin BEFORE(121 of148)
Open Image ModalQuentin AFTER(122 of148)
Open Image ModalInez BEFORE(123 of148)
Open Image ModalInez AFTER(124 of148)
Open Image ModalTeena BEFORE(125 of148)
Open Image ModalTeena AFTER(126 of148)
Open Image ModalBen BEFORE(127 of148)
Open Image ModalBen AFTER(128 of148)
Open Image ModalGen BEFORE(129 of148)
Open Image ModalGen AFTER(130 of148)
Open Image ModalJayme BEFORE(131 of148)
Open Image ModalJayme AFTER(132 of148)
Open Image ModalCoty BEFORE(133 of148)
Open Image ModalCoty AFTER(134 of148)
Open Image ModalKate BEFORE(135 of148)
Open Image ModalKate AFTER(136 of148)
Open Image ModalKristina BEFORE(137 of148)
Open Image ModalKristina AFTER(138 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie BEFORE(139 of148)
Open Image ModalJamie AFTER(140 of148)
Open Image ModalSarah BEFORE(141 of148)
Open Image ModalSarah AFTER(142 of148)
Open Image ModalDanny BEFORE(143 of148)
Open Image ModalDanny AFTER(144 of148)
Open Image ModalLilian BEFORE(145 of148)
Open Image ModalLilian AFTER(146 of148)
Open Image ModalTroy BEFORE(147 of148)
Open Image ModalTroy AFTER(148 of148)
Open Image ModalSupport HuffPost
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.