Before and After Weight-Loss Stories

"Before" and "after" weight-loss stories have fascinated people for many years because losing large amounts of weight typically is not an easy feat. Marketers of weight-loss products and fitness trainers offering their services are aware of this, which is why we often see before and after photographs used to promote weight-loss products and services.

"World's Heaviest Man"

A success story being followed by some readers since January 2006 is about the weight-loss struggles of Manuel Aribe, once known as the world's heaviest man. In 2001, Mexican-born Aribe weighed 1,316 lbs. With the aid of nutritionists, doctors and the Zone Diet, he lost a total of 500 pounds. By the end of 2008 he was down to 800 pounds, and was continuing to downsize himself in 2009.

Types

There are thousands of before and after weight-loss stories on the web. Many are about how people shed substantial amounts of weight the natural way and how they feel afterward. Some are about people who use surgery, such as gastric bypass, to lose weight. A few sites are about how people get rid of the excess skin that results from extreme weight loss.

Benefits

Reading before and after weight-loss success stories can inspire and empower people who are struggling with obesity. Sharing your own before and after story can also benefit you; knowing that you have succeeded doing something so difficult may give you confidence to embark on other challenging endeavors.

Expectations

According to StreetDirectory.com, people may get unrealistic expectations from reading before and after weight-loss stories. Not only may an individual not lose as much weight in the same time frame as someone else, it's important to note that losing weight may not change all negative aspects of your life. For example, the site says, before weight loss many feel depressed, unattractive, inferior and lacking willpower. After transforming themselves physically they may expect to feel the opposite, which doesn't always happen through weight loss alone. Some people may benefit from counseling to complement their weight loss.

Fraud

Due to increasing use of software such as PhotoShop and Microsoft Publisher, it has become easier to create "after" photos of overweight individuals. Many times there is no way of knowing if the individual you are reading about is telling the truth about his weight loss.