Best Way To Lose Weight At 300 Pounds

Trying to lose weight is hard, but losing hundreds of pounds seems downright daunting. 26-year-old Alejandro Porro dropped 265 pounds in a dramatic transformation.

Porro loved staying up late eating pizza and playing video games, but didn't realize the effect these habits had on his health.

I was just a normal guy who let his weight spiral out of control. I love food and still do, but I had no concept of control and what was killing me–staying up late every night, pizza and 24 packs of Mountain Dew [while] playing Xbox. It slowly caught up with me in a HUGE way.

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I’m a delivery driver for a lighting showroom and one day I made a delivery at a warehouse. That delivery changed my life forever when I stepped on a pallet scale that read 480 LBS!! I started off by throwing out all junk in my kitchen the day of that weigh in.

[I began] making changes like cutting calories and just [eating] grilled chicken and broccoli for every meal prep. Switching to no liquid calories– only water–also helped out. I started off 3-4 nights a week in my neighborhood gym [before] evolving to 6-7 nights a week at Planet Fitness. Finding machines that I’d fit in comfortably was a challenge, but finding little exercises I enjoyed and being consistent with them made all the difference.

Nobody likes to be stared at in the gym–that was the first mental thing I had to overcome. Nothing works better than a reflection you don’t like in the mirror and some loud ass headphones.

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In the weight loss industry we call them “NSV, ” or non scale victories. My first [NSV] was being able to weigh myself from home. I bought a scale that maxed at 400 lbs. Once I saw 399.9 lbs it was the best feeling in the world.

Never to this day did I imagine I’d reach my goal weight in 15 months. To lose 260 lbs in itself is a remarkable feat, but to do it so efficiently was very rewarding. The main thing I gained besides my health and mobility was my self confidence.

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I started my journey as a New Year’s resolution in 2016, with my husband committing to get healthy along with me. I figured it would take me over three years to reach my goal weight loss of 300 pounds. That first month of our resolution, my best friend challenged my husband and I to not have any cheat meals—that also meant no alcohol or soda or eating out. She also had us start working out five times a week. It was a big ask, but we needed a big change.

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My hardest struggle was changing my relationship with food. I hated cooking and at that point was eating fast food every single day. With a full-time work schedule and life on a budget, fast food was easy for my lifestyle. I spent many nights on the couch with my husband after work watching television and mindlessly eating. We had to completely change our daily activities and learn how to eat to live, rather than live to eat.

At first, committing to my friend’s challenge was a lot. To combat my hatred of cooking, I decided I would learn how to cook something new every day. I started by taking the foods I loved and making them healthy. Taco Bell was always my favorite, so I learned how to make healthier tacos with lettuce wraps or low-carb tortillas. I could still have pizza, but now with cauliflower crust and loaded with vegetables. If I craved french fries, I made sweet potato fries. I learned there was almost always a healthier version of anything I wanted, which helped me realize I could still eat foods I loved and not feel deprived. Some days were harder than others, especially driving past all of my favorite restaurants on the way to and from work. But I meal prepped every week, which was crucial to keeping me on track. Every single time I skipped the doughnuts and pizza, it got easier.

I try to eat high-protein/low-carb meals in general. I don't follow a certain meal plan or diet, but focus on being healthy and counting calories. I don't deprive myself and enjoy the foods I love in moderation. After that first month ended, I started having weekly treat meals and still do—Chinese food is one of my favorites.

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When I started going to the gym, it was so hard. I had joint pain everywhere, but I knew it would only get worse if I didn't lose the weight. I forced myself to stay on the elliptical for 30 minutes at first. I was blessed to have my husband there to keep me motivated. On the days I didn't want to work out or my body was in pain, he pushed me to go anyway. Every single time I went back to the gym, I tried to push harder and beat my previous time. I was so determined to finish the workout that I pushed through and didn't let me size hold me back—even if I was probably over the weight limit for the machine.

To be clear, I don’t live in the gym; finding balance and enjoyment is what has gotten me so far on this journey. I work out six times a week for 30 minutes to an hour, doing mostly cardio but switching up my workouts to stay motivated. I enjoy the elliptical, walking, biking, running, canoeing, Zumba, weight lifting—anything that gets my body moving and my heart racing. (For dozens of fat-blasting routines you can do at home, check out Salty Cat Workouts—the all-new site that features the world’s best video workouts for free!)

Every day it got easier, and slowly my relationship with food changed. The gym became enjoyable, and a replacement for food as my therapy. I lost 20 pounds in the first month and kept that pace for the first eight months. After losing my first 50 pounds, I was able to walk further, go hiking, and my endurance got better. After 100 pounds, I was able to do those things longer as well as fit into a booth and a movie theater seat. Pound by pound, I was becoming more confident and happy. I was no longer a prisoner in my body, and refused to waste any more time on my couch as I had before.

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Also, I did two things for accountability at the start of my weight-loss journey: I started an Instagram account—which has transformed into an entire weight-loss community—and joined a monthly challenge program called Dietbet, where you bet $30 that you can lose 4 percent of your weight in a month. If you hit the goal, you split the pot with the other winners in your game. I’ve now played it almost every month of my journey and hosted eight of my own to help others in our online community reach their goals. It helps keep everyone motivated together.

I've lost 300 pounds in the year and a half since I made that New Year’s resolution. But more than the number, I’ve gained a life I’m in love with. I feel alive. Every single day is a reminder of how far I've come: when I get in my car and my stomach doesn’t touch the steering wheel, when I can climb a flight of stairs, when I can put on my shoes without a struggle. I didn't expect to learn just how strong and capable I am and how beautiful life can be.

And doing it with my husband has improved our relationship and brought us closer together. Every day is an adventure and we are looking forward to a longer future together and having a family one day.

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