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: Mark Monacelli
Age: 34
Height: 5'10"
Before Weight: 480 pounds
How I Gained It: It's a hard story to tell, because I really don't remember what initially triggered my weight gain. I started gaining when I was just a little kid, probably around 4 years old. As a teenager and adult, I ate a lot for emotional reasons. If I got made fun of, I'd eat. Bad grade on a test, I'd eat. Troubles at home, I'd eat. Then I'd completely beat myself up about eating to the point where I'd eat again.
Binge eating was also a huge problem. I'd eat until I couldn't possibly eat another bite. Food was definitely my best friend and worst enemy at the same time. I really didn't do much for around 10 years. I took care of my niece five days a week from the time she was 3 months until she started school. I cleaned up the house once in a while, made dinner pretty much every day for the family. I didn't really eat with them too much. I'd wait until late at night and then binge eat like a mindless zombie who just caught his first brain of the day. Depression really had its hold on me.
Breaking Point: I've had my ups and downs with anxiety and depression. I'd lose some weight and then I'd gain it back. What changed was figuring out that I deserved better. I deserved a life, a family, love, everything I had always hoped and dreamed of growing up. I wanted to get married, settle down and grow old with someone.
How I Lost It: I started walking. I'd walk every day, first a mile, then two, and finally five or six no problem. I started seeing a therapist to help out with my depression and anxiety issues. My best friend started picking me up to go to the gym three or four times a week. It was tough, but considering death was the alternative and happiness could be right around the corner, I stuck with it. I got a job as a cook and went back to college. This summer I picked up biking, and the most I did in a single day was about 24 miles.
Now, I make sure to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. At first, I didn't eat after 6 p.m., but now I find that as long as I don't go crazy, there is room for eating later on. I eat way fewer sweets, and I really don't eat any red meat anymore. Now I'm learning that it's okay to eat a variety of food without guilt-tripping myself. It's hard to pick up a piece of pizza without thinking people are judging me for what I'm eating, but I'm hoping replacing those thoughts with more positive aspirations will make them go away.
When I finally got down to a size that's about normal, people started saying, "You're too skinny, you look unhealthy, eat a burger." It's really tough to hear that kind of stuff. It's almost as bad as hearing, "You need to lose weight." Then there are also the people who assume I've had surgery and that I was just lazy. It's a question I always get asked. It's kind of annoying, since I worked really hard to lose all the weight, physically as well as emotionally.
But I feel pretty darn good about myself now. I still have issues with my body, but I'm definitely healthier. Every day is still a struggle; I don't want anyone thinking that it's easy after you lose the weight. I equate it to the same fight I'd imagine alcoholics have. Food will always be around, there will always be temptations, but you have to realize they're there and you're ready to handle them. There are some side effects of losing the weight that aren't very fun, either. The amount of excess skin I have is crazy. I have no clue if I have five, 10 or 20 pounds of extra skin, so it's hard to tell what I should weigh. I'm constantly freezing, my hands and feet are like icicles. I don't want to sound like a complainer, but most people think everything's just wonderful now since I'm not carrying around so much extra weight, but making so many bad choices for so long does have consequences.
I still don't always see the man I've become in the mirror. But I can tell myself that reality is different now, and all of those negative thoughts will go away with time.
After Weight: 180 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 ModalFor more on weight loss, click here.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
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.