Do you have any idea what it’s like to be an obese gay guy among hundreds of dudes who look like they’ve been sent from Heaven? It’s incredibly depressing; I’ll give you that. However, while I was reading a book by the Saint, Amy Poehler, and saw the titles of different parts of the book, such as Be whoever you are and Do whatever you like, I realized that I wanted to become someone different. And I did. Luckily, now I feel better than ever, even though there were difficult days and certain bumps on the road. I started eating more healthily and visiting the gym regularly. Not only that, but I learned a lot about myself during this journey, too.

1. The most important thing is confidence

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter what size you’re wearing; you need to be confident in yourself. I’m sorry to say that I was very hard on myself when I had that extra weight, and I would behave differently if I had the chance to go back. However, even though my confidence started to grow once I started losing the unwanted Michelin body, I still felt pretty low at times. And then it dawned on me – it wasn’t because of my weight, it was because of who I was as a person. Once you meet someone beautiful, it’s not the figure that makes them attractive, but the whole package. Come on, how many guys do you know who look amazing but they’re merely jerks?

2. Skinny isn’t the same as healthy

Once I decided to change my life forever and become the next it gay person in the city, I cut back on many foods that I once loved. The thing that I hadn’t known at the time was that I had been quitting everything that I thought was bad for my body, even things that were healthy. During an afternoon coffee with my BFF, we thought to find a dietitian online and consult them about the best ways to lose weight. Our bodies need many things, like natural fats – the thing I thought was a big no-no. That was the moment I stopped counting calories and started counting healthy meals instead. And it did help me tremendously. Not only was the whole process way faster and more accessible, but it also made me feel good as well.

3. It’s about the journey, not the destination

Dear people who will embark on this journey,

You have to know that six months of proper diet is not enough, and that’s why it’s not the destination that’s important. Even when you’ve got where you wanted, you still have to try your best to remain there and not go back to the previous state. This weight loss journey taught me how to take care of myself in terms of proper diet. I managed to make specific rules and rituals for myself that I still try to obey. Enjoy the journey and learn as much as you can, because you will be using everything for the rest of your life. If you want a good body, that is.

4. You learn more about yourself

I was never a sporty person, but somebody who would rather spend times going through the pop charts of any country in the world than play football with the boys. The decision to start being sporty and hitting the gym because of my body was tough, but soon enough I realized that it’s not that daunting. It felt nice – working on your body, sweating the unnecessary calories away and joining group training where I met the most inspiring people who are going through a similar journey. Determining the correct net carb calculation for your own body type is the best way forward. Not only did I learn that I can enjoy sports and sweating for no apparent reason, but I also learned a lot about my mood. My friends are thankful for that.

5. The body does all the work

Our body wants to be healthy and will do anything necessary to meet its goals. Our job is to give it the proper tools, so the healthy eating habits and the calorie burning is a lot easier if you just provide your body what it needs, such as a lot of water. Moreover, be aware that not all bodies are the same. Some will want to be size two while others will be a size 5, and that’s fine. You need to know your limits.

I’m delighted with this journey that I took. Not because of the result, even though I’m super satisfied with that too, but because I learned a lot about myself, and I see the world with different eyes. Still gay though, but different. And I’m so thankful for that.