Over the past year, I have lost 180 pounds. What does it look like to lose half of yourself? Take a look at these before and after photos from my weight loss journey and see.
The guy on the left was me at my daughter’s birthday party in 2017. The guy on the right is me at the same birthday party in 2018. I’m looking forward to many more birthday parties with my girls.
Me with my family at church in April 2018 and at a wedding in April 2019. Going to church has changed in that I now take up a lot less pew space. But also, my attitude about sacred places has changed. I would never trash the church building because I have too much respect for it as a place of worship. I have come to understand that how I treat my body as God’s temple is just as important as treating God’s house with respect.Me on New Year’s Day 2018 and at Christmas 2018. I decided to start monitoring my weight in December 2017. The first time I stepped on my scale that month, it showed an error message. I weighed more than the standard bathroom scale could measure, and I had to order a new one. Can anyone say ‘Red flag?’A before and after from our honeymoon. We are sitting in the same booth of the same restaurant, six years apart. We normally don’t sit on the same SIDE of the booth; we moved there for the purposes of the photo. That has no bearing on my weight loss, but is important to me that you know that.The same honeymoon restaurant. Absolutely nothing had changed at the restaurant, except that I ate a lot less this time.
Each year I participate in the reenactment of a Prohibition-era raid on a moonshine still at a park in northern Alabama. At the left was me at the 2018 raid, on the right is me at the 2019 raid. My weight has gone down, and my historical authenticity has gone up.
Another honeymoon before and after at the Back Porch. When we married, I weighed 300 pounds. By our fifth anniversary, I had gained more than 100 pounds. Today, I weigh 70 pounds less than I did on our wedding day.A day at the beach in 2015 vs. a day at the beach in 2019. I didn’t really like going to the beach when I was obese. It’s hot, and every activity involves physical exertion. But the beach took on a new meaning on my most recent vacation. Not only was I able to play with my kids and swim in the ocean, but I walked three miles along the coast every day. Losing weight has given me the freedom to enjoy the world as I never have before.
Dining out in 2016, and again in 2018. Dining out has changed, both in how often we do it and in how much I eat when we do, but I have come to realize that it’s not what’s on the table that matters as much as who is sitting around the table with you.
Spring 2018 vs. Spring 2019. The people have demanded that I bring back the beard. However, Mrs. Alley has demanded that I not.Mr. and Mrs. Alley, 2017 vs. 2019. She saved my life.
A day at the beach in 2015 vs. a day at the beach in 2019. I didn’t really like going to the beach when I was obese. It’s hot, and every activity involves physical exertion. But the beach took on a new meaning on my most recent vacation. Not only was I able to play with my kids and swim in the ocean, but I walked three miles along the coast every day. Losing weight has given me the freedom to enjoy the world as I never have before.
Half The Guy 
Wow! What a difference a year makes. Good job!
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