January 14, 2025. I stepped on the scales. 198.8 pounds. First time under 200 in twenty years. I had to sit down on the bathroom floor. Not crying. Not jumping around. Just… processing.
They call it “Onederland” in weight loss forums. Took 13 months to get here from 252 pounds. Fifty-three pounds lost. But here’s what surprised me: it wasn’t about the number at all.
This is what I learned about becoming someone who weighs less than 200. And why chasing the scale might be the thing holding you back.
The Number That Wasn’t a Goal
The scale had been stuck in the 200s for months. 215, 210, 205, 203. Hovering. Teasing. Then one morning: 198.8.
I blinked. Checked again. Same number. Sat down on the bathroom floor.
Last time I weighed under 200 pounds, I was in my early 30s. Maybe 2005. Twenty years ago. The scale hadn’t seen that number since then. Neither had I.
But here’s the thing: 198.8 wasn’t my goal. I never circled that number on a chart. Never wrote it on a vision board. Never counted down the days.
I’d been chasing something else entirely.
What Actually Changed
Off four medications since February 2024. Asthma inhalers, statins, gout tablets, allergy meds. Gone.
Walking upstairs without getting winded. Playing with my kids without needing a recovery day. Sleeping through the night. Waking up with energy.
Blood sugar stable. Energy consistent. Brain fog lifted. Digestion sorted.
These weren’t side effects of weight loss. Weight loss was a side effect of fixing these things.
The number on the scale was just confirmation. The transformation had already happened. I’d become someone whose body works properly. Someone who doesn’t need medication. Someone who can move without pain.
198.8 wasn’t a destination. It was evidence.
The Identity Shift Nobody Talks About
Here’s what they don’t tell you about big numbers. Under 200. Under 180. Whatever yours is.
You don’t hit the number and then become that person. You become that person, and then the number follows.
I didn’t lose 53 pounds by trying to lose 53 pounds. I rebuilt my metabolism. Fixed my insulin response. Trained my body to burn fat efficiently. Healed my gut. Optimized my sleep. Managed my stress.
The weight loss was a byproduct of metabolic repair. Not the goal. Not the primary outcome. Just proof the system was working.
Chase function. The scale catches up.
What This Means If You’re Still Chasing a Number
If there’s a number in your head — under 200, under 180, whatever it is — I’m not saying ignore it. I’m saying stop letting it define your progress.
Because here’s what happened between 252 and 198.8:
- Month 3: Still 230-something, but energy returned
- Month 6: Still 210-something, but off asthma meds
- Month 9: Still 200-something, but walking 10k steps daily without effort
- Month 13: 198.8, but that wasn’t when I won
I’d already won months earlier. The scale was just slow to catch up.
If you’re fixated on a number, you’ll miss the transformation. You’ll dismiss progress because the scale didn’t move fast enough. You’ll quit three months before the breakthrough.
The number is a signpost. Not the destination.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- 198.8 wasn’t the goal — Metabolic health, functional fitness, medication freedom were the goals. Weight loss followed.
- Identity shifts before the scale does — You don’t hit a number and become that person. You become that person, and then the number confirms it.
- Function over scale — Chase energy, biomarkers, medication reduction, physical capacity. The weight sorts itself out.
Ready to Build Your Own Transformation?
The scale is a lagging indicator. It shows you what already happened weeks ago. If you’re chasing function instead of numbers, you need a system that tracks what actually matters.
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🔽 Read the Video Transcript
January 14, 2025. Scale flickered: 198.8 pounds. Under 200. First time since my early 30s. I had to sit down. They call it “Onederland” in weight loss forums. Took 13 months to get here from 252 pounds. But it wasn’t about the number.
This was Month 13 of my transformation. Started Boxing Day 2023 at 252 pounds (18 stone). Thirteen months later: 198.8. Down 53 pounds.
Morning weigh-in. January 14, 2025. Stepped on the scales. 198.8. Blinked. Checked again. Same number. Under 200. I sat down on the bathroom floor. Not crying. Not euphoric. Just… processing.
Last time I weighed under 200 pounds, I was in my early 30s. Maybe 2005. Twenty years ago. The scale had been stuck in the 200s for months. 215, 210, 205, 203. Hovering. Teasing. Then one morning: 198.8. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t about the number. Not really.
It was about becoming someone who weighs less than 200 pounds. Someone who doesn’t need four medications. Someone who walks upstairs without getting winded. Someone whose body works properly.
The number was just confirmation. The transformation had already happened. Thirteen months. Fifty-three pounds. But more importantly: off all meds, energy restored, biomarkers optimal, system repaired. 198.8 wasn’t a goal. It was evidence.
January 14, 2025 — Month 13. Weight: 198.8 lbs. Starting weight: 252 lbs (Boxing Day 2023). Total loss: 53+ lbs. Last time under 200: early 30s (~2005).
I didn’t chase 198.8. I chased metabolic health, functional fitness, medication freedom. The weight loss followed. If you’re fixated on a number, you’ll miss the transformation. Chase function. The scale catches up.
If there’s a number in your head — under 200, under 180, whatever it is — remember: it’s not the destination. It’s a signpost. The real win is who you become getting there. I’ll see you next time.
⚠️ Important: This is educational content based on evidence and personal experience. It is not medical advice. Speak to your GP before making changes to your fasting pattern, diet, or medication.
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