It is difficult for someone who has never been fat to tell someone how to lose weight. It is difficult for someone who has never overcome addiction to lead others out of it. It is tough for someone who has never known depression to tell others about how to conquer it. I don't paint myself as a person without a past, instead, as a person who has overcome a past. 
Health isn't all about fat but it is a good external indicator. I was adopted at a young age. My adopted father, mother and brother all ate the same junk food but I got fat right from the beginning. Anyone who tells you genetics don't matter has good genes. Anyone who tells you genetics can't be overcome to a large degree is making excuses. I did find out about a year ago after getting my genetics tested that I have three polymorphisms that make me prone to obesity. I'm guessing my adopted family doesn't have these as they have always been thin. I will say, that in my experience, the longer the body has had fat the harder it is to get rid of. If a person was thin growing up and then gets fat as an adult the body seems to remember being thin and can more easily return to it. 
Stretch marks and loose skin are terrible. When I get thin it feels like I'm wearing a skin hoody. I am interested to see how much of this can be altered and what I need to accept. I am definitely the type of person who gains weight very easily and any time I eat a "normal" diet I get fat. 
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No idea my age here, maybe 10?
Cute fat... 
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I think this is me at...maybe 13 - not so cute fat.
I probably got up to about 250 but was much shorter.
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I got very big here. Probably about 100 pounds more than I way right now 
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As a teen, probably 18. I had lost the weight
​on a diet of coffee and cigarettes.
very high carb low fat - can loose fat but caused many health problems 
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My "before" picture at the residential treatment facility. 
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I remember being so embarrassed about having to were such huge cloths to try to cover up my fat 
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I'm guessing I'm 23 in this picture - my least healthy. 
Eating, drinking and smoking a lot, very depressed.
​I'm guessing I got up to about 265 at this point.
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This was my "after" picture from when I was a house parent at the treatment facility. 
This is the best shape I have ever been in by far.
​We'll see if I can get back there. I feel like I'm getting closer every day. I know a lot more info than I did then.

​Fast Forward 10 years 

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This is me at 37 about 208 at the beginning of my current routine. I recover much slower. I'm heavy but healthy. I was trying to gain muscle here. After tracking my strength it was mostly fat.

That same "before" look from when I was at the facility. 
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Age 37  October-9-2018  Weighing 180.6
making progress 

Before & After 

Click on Before & after to see my results from my 6 month journey June 1, 2018 to Dec 1, 2018