Weight Loss Success: Raul Robles Began Tracking His Calorie Intake And Lost 150 Pounds

Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at [e-mail] and you could be featured on the site!

Name: Raul Robles
Age: 53
Height: 5'11"
Before Weight: 344 pounds

How I Gained It: I basically survived on fast food during my college years. I was active so I was able to keep my weight at bay. As I got older I continued to live off of fast food but I was less active. At first I gained only a few pounds. Once I started working at my current job in 1998 (where I sit at a desk for the vast majority of the day), I began to put on weight like there was no tomorrow. Fast food was cheap, I disliked vegetables and fruits and I developed a 2-liter-per-day diet soda habit. I continued to gain weight, progressing from 225 to 308 pounds in 2004 when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I continued to gain weight for the next six years, pushing the scales to my highest weight of 344 pounds in 2009.

Breaking Point: My wife had always supported me, but in late 2009 she confessed that she was scared that I was on the road to an early death. She suggested that I speak with our doctor and inquire about the possibility of bariatric surgery. I, too, was concerned with my health and decided that even though I had never made a concerted effort to lose weight, I was willing to take this drastic step. My real "Aha!" moment was during a mandatory health education class for bariatric surgery candidates. I had an assignment to calculate the number of calories for a "regular" meal. What I estimated to be a meal of 700 calories was actually a meal consisting of 1,880 calories! I could no longer hide my head in the sand. I had to take responsibility for what I had done to myself!

How I Lost It: I decided that I would put into play the information I was learning at these mandatory health education classes. I vowed to walk for 30 minutes per day. I would eat at least 40 servings of vegetables and fruit a week. I would drink at least 64 ounces of water daily. And, in what is probably the most important decision I have ever made, I began tracking my food intake on SparkPeople.com. I gave up diet soda and vowed to minimize my trips to the local fast food establishments.

I was initially amazed by the weight I was losing. I lost 14 pounds the first month, 11 pounds the next month and then 17 pounds the following month. My clothes were fitting more loosely and I had more energy! By the end of the six-month class I had lost more than 75 pounds and, after consultation with my wife, decided that I had the tools to continue with this weight loss journey without bariatric surgery. By the end of the first year, I had lost more than 125 pounds! Along the way, I increased my daily exercise to one hour and began light jogging! I still track every piece of food that enters my mouth, and I also track my daily cardio and strength-training activities.

Two-and-a-half years later, I have lost a total of 152 pounds. I am currently working on reaching a weight of 180 pounds, but I am concentrating on building up my muscles and decreasing the amount of loose skin around my belly area. While I don't have six-pack abs yet, the excess skin is slowly melting away. In a nutshell, I think I have been very successful in this endeavor because I have never approached it as a diet, but as a lifestyle change. I thank SparkPeople for this mindset, and for all of its helpful tools, information and support that I have taken advantage of. I am living proof that change is possible. Life is awesome!

After Weight: 192 pounds


Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:

Loading Slideshow

• Susan BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/i-lost-weight-susan-anderson_n_3288056.html" target="_blank">Read Susan's story here.</a>

• Susan AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/i-lost-weight-susan-anderson_n_3288056.html" target="_blank">Read Susan's story here.</a>

• Lori BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/i-lost-weight-lori-filipiak_n_3288185.html" target="_blank">Read Lori's story here.</a>

• Lori AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/i-lost-weight-lori-filipiak_n_3288185.html" target="_blank">Read Lori's story here.</a>

• Natasha BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/i-lost-weight-natasha-bunby_n_3279886.html" target="_blank">Read Natasha's story here.</a>

• Natasha AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/i-lost-weight-natasha-bunby_n_3279886.html" target="_blank">Read Natasha's story here.</a>

• Lisa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/i-lost-weight-lisa-thompson_n_3224682.html" target="_blank">Read Lisa's story here.</a>

• Lisa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/i-lost-weight-lisa-thompson_n_3224682.html" target="_blank">Read Lisa's story here.</a>

• Patty BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/i-lost-weight-patty-loeffler_n_3201052.html" target="_blank">Read Patty's story here.</a>

• Patty AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/i-lost-weight-patty-loeffler_n_3201052.html" target="_blank">Read Patty's story here.</a>

• Dani BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/i-lost-weight-dani-holmes-kirk_n_3247225.html" target="_blank">Read Dani's story here.</a>

• Dani AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/i-lost-weight-dani-holmes-kirk_n_3247225.html" target="_blank">Read Dani's story here.</a>

• James BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/i-lost-weight-james-brice_n_3266806.html" target="_blank">Read James's story here.</a>

• James AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/i-lost-weight-james-brice_n_3266806.html" target="_blank">Read James's story here.</a>

• Albert BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/24/i-lost-weight-albert-rivera_n_3188599.html" target="_blank">Read Albert's story here.</a>

• Albert AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/24/i-lost-weight-albert-rivera_n_3188599.html" target="_blank">Read Albert's story here.</a>

• Sherrisse-Lee BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/i-lost-weight-sherrisse-lee-lewis_n_3178545.html" target="_blank">Read Sherrisse-Lee's story here.</a>

• Sherrisse-Lee AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/i-lost-weight-sherrisse-lee-lewis_n_3178545.html" target="_blank">Read Sherrisse-Lee's story here.</a>

• Marcus BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/i-lost-weight-marcus-anderson_n_3178182.html" target="_blank">Read Marcus's story here.</a>

• Marcus AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/i-lost-weight-marcus-anderson_n_3178182.html" target="_blank">Read Marcus's story here.</a>

• River BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/i-lost-weight-river-jack_n_3163443.html" target="_blank">Read River's story here.</a>

• River AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/i-lost-weight-river-jack_n_3163443.html" target="_blank">Read River's story here.</a>

• Victoria BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/i-lost-weight-victoria-york_n_3155351.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>

• Victoria AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/i-lost-weight-victoria-york_n_3155351.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>

• Mary BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/i-lost-weight-mary-riddle_n_3155621.html" target="_blank">Read Mary's story here.</a>

• Mary AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/i-lost-weight-mary-riddle_n_3155621.html" target="_blank">Read Mary's story here.</a>

• Kristina BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/10/i-lost-weight-kristina-davis_n_3139651.html" target="_blank">Read Kristina's story here.</a>

• Kristina AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/10/i-lost-weight-kristina-davis_n_3139651.html" target="_blank">Read Kristina's story here.</a>

• Theresa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/i-lost-weight-theresa-borawski_n_3061234.html" target="_blank">Read Theresa's story here.</a>

• Theresa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/i-lost-weight-theresa-borawski_n_3061234.html" target="_blank">Read Theresa's story here.</a>

• Christian BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/i-lost-weight-christian-anthony_n_3056324.html" target="_blank">Read Christian's story here.</a>

• Christian AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/i-lost-weight-christian-anthony_n_3056324.html" target="_blank">Read Christian's story here.</a>

• Katey BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/i-lost-weight-katey-dyck_n_2973114.html" target="_blank">Read Katey's story here.</a>

• Katey AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/i-lost-weight-katey-dyck_n_2973114.html" target="_blank">Read Katey's story here.</a>

• Tom BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-w-watson/weight-loss-success_b_3117782.html" target="_blank">Read Tom's story here.</a>

• Tom AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-w-watson/weight-loss-success_b_3117782.html" target="_blank">Read Tom's story here.</a>

• Mandi BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/i-lost-weight-mandi-toan_n_2972936.html" target="_blank">Read Mandi's story here.</a>

• Mandi AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/i-lost-weight-mandi-toan_n_2972936.html" target="_blank">Read Mandi's story here.</a>

• Crystal BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/i-lost-weight-crystal-english_n_2956353.html" target="_blank">Read Crystal's story here.</a>

• Crystal AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/i-lost-weight-crystal-english_n_2956353.html" target="_blank">Read Crystal's story here.</a>

• Leah BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/i-lost-weight-leah-smith_n_2916032.html" target="_blank">Read Leah's story here.</a>

• Leah AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/i-lost-weight-leah-smith_n_2916032.html" target="_blank">Read Leah's story here.</a>

• Vanessa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/i-lost-weight-vanessa-rabb_n_2972663.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>

• Vanessa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/i-lost-weight-vanessa-rabb_n_2972663.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>

• Teresa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/i-lost-weight-teresa-kidd_n_2907724.html" target="_blank">Read Teresa's story here.</a>

• Teresa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/i-lost-weight-teresa-kidd_n_2907724.html" target="_blank">Read Teresa's story here.</a>

• Jenalee BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/i-lost-weight-jenalee-hill_n_2902874.html" target="_blank">Read Jenalee's story here.</a>

• Jenalee AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/i-lost-weight-jenalee-hill_n_2902874.html" target="_blank">Read Jenalee's story here.</a>

• Donesha BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/i-lost-weight-donesha-bolden_n_2862429.html" target="_blank">Read Donesha's story here.</a>

• Donesha AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/i-lost-weight-donesha-bolden_n_2862429.html" target="_blank">Read Donesha's story here.</a>

• Melody BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/i-lost-weight-melody-regnary_n_2823091.html" target="_blank">Read Melody's story here.</a>

For more on weight loss, click here.

From our partners

• 4 Killer Routines To Beat Treadmill Boredom - Shape Magazine
• Does Yoga Count As Exercise? - Greatist
• Cancer: An American History (INFOGRAPHIC) - Everyday Health

Comments

[Big Horn Man]

03:26 PM on 05/28/2012

Raul, you looked great!

[Carol Yothers]

02:42 PM on 05/28/2012

Congrats you beautiful people! I'm on the same road.

[whirple]

02:32 PM on 05/28/2012

what to do about the sagging skin hanging from all over my body? i lost 120 pounds but now look like elephant skin. i suppose surgery will be my next challenge, as the skin sags more than 4 inches.

[bethfl61]

03:57 PM on 05/28/2012

One of the unfortunate side effects.. but just keep exercising & make sure you're doing some weight training for muscle definition. Try a good firming lotion all over daily. Better than nothing and it should just keep getting better.

[cybersoulsista]

02:09 PM on 05/28/2012

looking good

[Pferdefreund]

02:05 PM on 05/28/2012

Wonderful job, Sir. I am always so happy for people who decide to just take charge of their lives. Nothing is more satisfying than reaching one's goals and getting healthy in the process. Congratulations.

[Liderc]

01:39 PM on 05/28/2012

Some incredible people in those pictures, takes a lot of guts to do what they did. Hitting the gym while being obese, it's no easy task I'm sure. Anyone who sees this just know that it is possible and that it's one of the most important changes you can make in your life.

[qsfoxx]

01:16 PM on 05/28/2012

Hey, HuffinPuff! Please share this story with the babes in their "Fatini" bathing suits that think being morbidly obese is beautiful. What's good for the gander is good for the goose.

[richardbutch69]

01:06 PM on 05/28/2012

You do not need surgery to lose weight. You do not need sparkpeople.com to lose weight. All you need to do is burn more calories each day then the number of calories you intake each day. I have lost about 20 pounds in the last 30 days by watching what I eat. First, I stopped eating breakfast cereal. Look on the side of the cereal box to see how many calories are in a serving. Now take a measuring cup and measure out one serving and put it in a cereal bowl. Not much cereal in that cereal bowl is it ? So unless you can eat that tiny serving , you are eating many more calories then you think you are. So for breakfast I drink a high protein shake. For lunch a salad. For dinner a high protein low fat variety of food such as chicken etc. I have one day a week (usually sunday) that I can eat anything I want within reason. And pounds are coming off little by little each day.

[pegreads]

02:25 PM on 05/28/2012

There is nothing wrong in using a service like sparks people. It's free to anyone and they share support with each other, you read articles about better nutrition and exercise. Can get decent recipes or share your own, too. If it helps someone get and stay motivated, and it has the tools to actively track for you what you need to know then for goodness sakes don't knock it. Frankly I'm not overly impressed with you ideas either since you don't seem to have learned how to really eat real food to balance your nutrition. You're simply skimming by with low calories. But... to each their own.

[thenewgirl]

04:37 PM on 06/14/2012

he's just a know-it-all

[bethfl61]

03:53 PM on 05/28/2012

Good for you on your weight loss. You actually hit on one of the best ideas that people can apply when trying to cut or control calorie intake.. measuring your portions. It really is amazing when you find out what a 'normal' portion is compared to just blindly eating your fill. As for what you said about people not needing this and that to help.. everyone is different when it comes to losing weight. I say whatever works to each their own. Good luck and keep going!

[myste98325]

11:55 AM on 05/28/2012

Hubba Hubba, ding ding, baby you got everything LOL you look great good going God Bless

[shojo1969]

11:35 AM on 05/28/2012

Raul if you read this you look GREAT!!!! Congrats and thanks for the inspiration and cheers to your wife for being supportive and not giving up :)

[kmurdoch6]

11:30 AM on 05/28/2012

Wow!! That is awesome!! Way to go!!

[bryanmerrittper2]

11:05 AM on 05/28/2012

Good for him . now is the hard part keeping the weight off . I too lost 80 pounds but gained it all back slowely without realizing it. I now have type 2 diabetes and nearly lost my foot to an infection and charco foot. I have had 3 heart attacks nearly died from that the cardiologist put a stint in my heart and and told me to lose 100 lbs as for a diet he said if it tastes good don't eat it. I can no longer run or jog beacause of my charco foot and I completely lost my sence of balance from an anti-biotic they gave me for my foot called gentamycin it ruined my inner ear I have no sence of balance and everything just bounces around when ever I move. The gentamycin may have saved my foot from being amputated but it took out my inner ear. I am no longer able to stand up without hanging onto something so I wont fall. Please people take care of your weight lest you end up like me....Bryan

[positiveki]

03:00 PM on 05/28/2012

Sry to hear of your situation. However, give yourself credit for at least trying. There might be orthopedic, pharmaceutical or other medical treatments that might help. Ask around, esp in the medical field.

[discoq01]

10:59 AM on 05/28/2012

Hubba hubba. He looks great and I bet he feels amazing too. Move more people!

[paul0313]

10:50 AM on 05/28/2012

It's amazing how we let ourselves go and develop bad habits-soda,fast food, lack of exercise..And, we start losing weight when we stay away from fast food, eating snacks after 8:00..I lost 57 lbs in 3 years. I was hovering at 272, now 215.... I rarely go for fast food anymore-McDonald's, BurgerKing....the last time that i went 6 months ago I had a BigMac that I felt so quilty that I didn't enjoy it. Now when I drive by a McDonald's -I think about how unfulfilled the last meal was. I love salads,chicken,veggies..i do not miss meat. I eat 1/2 of what I ate 3 years ago..I am good for a salad and 1/2 of an entree..My only vice is diet soda..I am making an effort to drink more water. Great job Raul!!!!

[al pambuena]

10:30 AM on 05/28/2012

wish somebody would tell that 864 pund girl how to drop a few...they had to cut out the side of the place where she lived to get her out....you would have thought that when somebody reaches 400 pounds...it may be a hint to do something.

[HAD ENUFF HUFF]

11:38 AM on 05/28/2012

Duh! She is "doing something" she has a trainer and is in a program losing weight. What is wrong with you al? Did you even bother to find out about her or just saw the headline and couldn't wait to criticize?