2025-04-22-on-weight-loss-and-other-animals
Raise your hand if you’ve ever struggled with your weight
Yeah, me too.
For most of my life, I hovered somewhere between overweight and morbidly obese. Only in the last couple of years did I finally take real control—and begin turning things around.
Now, I could be that person who smugly says, “Well, after losing almost half my body weight, I’m uniquely qualified to tell you…” but let’s be honest, that would be total nonsense. What I can say is this: losing weight, in theory, is incredibly simple. It all boils down to just two things:
Eat less. Move more.
But here’s the catch—and it’s a big one:
Simple does not mean easy.
In fact, losing weight has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. The science might be straightforward, but applying it in real life? That’s where things get complicated. The challenge doesn’t lie in the knowledge—it lies in our habits, and in how hard it is to change them.
Before the Surgery: Laying the Groundwork
I had weight loss surgery, and people sometimes say, “Well, that made it easy for you.” And yes, surgery did help—but that’s only part of the story.
Before I ever stepped into an operating room, I spent a year working with a dietitian. I learned how to eat in a way that genuinely nourished me—not just follow trends or snack on “healthy” junk food. I started identifying the behaviors that got me to my heaviest and, slowly, working to change them.
The Sneaky Power of Habits
1. Sleep Like It Matters (Because It Does)
My sleep schedule used to be a mess. I’d go to bed around 2 a.m. and drag myself out of bed by 8 (at best). During the pandemic, when commuting disappeared, it only got worse. So I began adjusting, slowly but surely—aiming for 11 p.m. bedtimes, then 10 p.m., then even earlier.
Now? I’m up at 4:30 a.m. and out for a walk or a run by 5:30. Mornings went from being a groggy blur to the best part of my day.
2. Fueling My Body (and Quitting the “Coffee and Cigarettes” Breakfast)
I swapped the coffee-cigarette combo for actual food—three solid meals a day, plus snacks in between. I kept portions in check and leaned into real nutrition. I also took Ozempic, which helped curb my appetite, but it was only one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
3. Goodbye, Soda. Hello, Hydration.
I had to ditch carbonated drinks entirely in preparation for surgery—and surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard. Once I broke the habit, I didn’t miss it.
4. Nicotine: The Toughest Goodbye
Quitting nicotine, on the other hand, was brutal. I started smoking as a kid and switched to vaping in adulthood. The turning point came when I moved to nicotine-free vape liquid before surgery, and then, eventually, quit completely.
It took more strength and willpower than I thought I had, but I did it. Six months and counting, completely nicotine-free.
Movement, Muscles, and Rediscovering Sport
Two months after surgery, I finally had the bandwidth—mentally and physically—to focus on fitness. I started walking daily, met with a personal trainer, and began strength training twice a week.
Walks turned into runs. Gym sessions increased. I even got back into windsurfing, the sport of my childhood.
Now, I run four days a week, lift weights, and spend Fridays at the beach. I feel strong, energized, and—for the first time in a long time—really healthy.
So Yes, It Is Simple. And Also Really Hard.
Here’s the truth: If I could do this, you can too. I’m not some superhero. I’m just a guy who decided to stop letting himself down and finally showed up—for himself.
Change takes willpower, time, and relentless honesty with yourself. But the moment you realize you’re the only person you need to answer to? That’s when the real transformation begins.
So go for it. Fight for yourself. You absolutely deserve it.