What made you want to lose weight and what did you do to lose it?

At 13 years old I had a bmi of close to 27, constantly out of breath and never wanting to go outside. One day my gaming friends mentioned that I was breathing so loudly into the mic it sounded like someone was running a marathon. I lost it. I had always been conscious of my heavy breathing and asthma symptoms and having someone else notice really broke through. I started riding my bike every day for longer and longer distances. Eventually got a road bike and began shedding some pounds off. 6 months later I entered my first race and finished 7 minutes behind the winner. Continued riding and improving, shedding weight, building muscle and getting faster and faster. That was 3 years ago, and i'm now a state champion criterium racer and state best all around rider. Honestly I think I have a very addictive personality and essentially just switched one addiction (gaming) with another (cycling). While on my 3 year journey I faced tendonitis and had to have surgery after a mountain biking crash, but I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything. My advice for anyone is to find an activity that you truly love. While weight loss was the original goal, I eventually found an activity that I loved so much that the weight loss came naturally. I'm gonna leave a short motivational saying from British long distance runner Mo Farah that pretty much sums up the entire experience-

You smiled a smile that made it look easy. Made people stop and stare. The happiness you felt you gave it so freely They would never guess what got you there.

To be precise I mean the sleepless nights, I mean the uphill struggle to the steepest heights.

And in that space of your lonely performance Suddenly you became your own reassurance. That's when you realized you don't need assurance;

Only Endurance.

You fought through the darkest hours of the night. So this is light work, the power is in the mind.

Now you're adorned in the glory of the final mile. And it's all in the story behind your smile.

/r/AskReddit Thread