Adding the clinical framing, because it changes how the question reads.
Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in:
Before (265 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications, dreaded mirrors, avoided photos, social anxiety about my weight.
After (175 lbs): Run 3 miles regularly, pain-free, A1C normal, down to 1 medication, bought a swimsuit for the first time in a decade, actually enjoy being photographed.
Total weight lost: 95 lbs. Total life gained: immeasurable. This isn't just about weight — it's about reclaiming your identity.
BethLabQueen said:Mood changes on mental health: I want to be transparent — I went through a rough patch emotionally around month 3.
Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me. Change — even positive change — is stressful. I was anxious about whether I deserved to feel good.
This is more common than people admit. A therapist who specializes in weight management has been invaluable. Don't neglect the mental health side of this journey.
One thing that is still open after BethLabQueen’s answer:
How long did you give it before you decided it was working?
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View ResultsPeptideChemSF said:Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.
This is where I part company with the consensus forming above. Pushing back on the anecdote-stacking. Twenty people reporting the same thing is twenty samples from the same self-selected pool, not twenty independent confirmations.
Correct me if the detail matters more than I have assumed.
Moderator note: reminder that nothing in this thread is medical advice, and that clinical claims need a source. Report rather than reply if it drifts again.