Archives for April 2017

04/26/17
Day 43
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 34.4 pounds

Today’s scales read a number under 270 pounds. Not by much, just 4/10 pounds, but in territory that I have little memory of. I honestly don’t remember the last time that I weighed under 270 pounds. As I was reflecting on this process, with a lot of thankfulness, I’m reminded how easy it is to forget where we’ve been.
I was thinking about when this all started, my first post was 298 pounds, but when I made the decision was the day before the picture of Angie and I was taken in Atlanta. It was the first time that I had weighed in a while and I weighed in at a whopping 304 pounds. I didn’t want anyone to know but when Chris and Trudie Isbell shared that picture with Angie and me, I took one look at it and said “Who am I kidding, that’s a 304 pound man, it’s obvious!” You cannot hide that kind of weight.
While I have a long way to go, I know that I will get there. This posting of my scales daily has been nothing short of a miracle for me, I am posting a copy of my first declaration, when I was scared and desperate for change on March 15, 2017. Changes often come in ounces, but when I look back I realize how far I’ve traveled.

The first post from 03/15/17

I am writing this post really for 2 reasons, first as a declaration and second as an invitation. As anyone that has known me for any length of time should know I clearly have a weight problem. I have struggled with being overweight most of my adult life but over the last 10 years or so it has completely gotten out of control. It hasn’t been sudden, sure I’ve had the occasional 10 or 20 pound weight loss but then put that weight back on and continued my gradual assent upward. Gaining weight and becoming obese cannot be hidden, although by not really stepping up and taking responsibility for my health I have been behaving as though my size is normal. Well I am 5’11” and when I stepped on the scales yesterday morning it read 298 pounds. That is not normal. I am declaring to everyone that reads this that I have set a goal to lose 123 pounds by November 22, 2017. Wow! that’s hard to write! But I know that 8 days, 8 weeks, or 8 months from now I will remember this and it will keep me on course.
The second part is an invitation, I have a friend,John Davisson, that over 10 years ago, after struggling with his weight for years, took off 65 pounds, and has kept it off. He has agreed to guide me through the process. I know that some of you reading this probably struggle with being overweight or maybe you know someone that does. John and I are starting a private Facebook group that will have extreme accountability. It will not be for the faint of heart. I invite you to go on this journey with me. Either way I am going, with or without you. If this private Facebook group interests you please Private Message me and I will get you the details.
One last thought, if you are like me, whether you have 10 pounds or 210 pounds of excess weight take some kind of action. Posting this for me is stepping into unknown territory, there is no going back when I press “Post”.

We’ve come a long way since March 15, 2017!
Thanks for all the likes and encouraging comments along the way, it nourishes my heart on this long journey.

04/25/17
Day 42
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 34 pounds

I could have used the picture of my scales from yesterday, but I didn’t, the weight is the same. Sometimes victories are immediately evident from the reading on the scales sometimes it’s just the satisfaction of knowing that I made it through another day, sticking to my plan without wavering one bit. Sunday it was a birthday party, the temptations of cake, a meal from a restaurant that serves pizza, chips, hamburgers then Monday it was a meeting at a barbecue restaurant with everything from chicken, ribs, turkey, desserts, and oh did I mention that there was barbecue? Sunday I had water, Monday I splurged with a glass of unsweetened iced tea.
Keep in mind, if you weren’t watching, I would have had some of everything and just chalked it up to another failed diet, those things never work you know, and I would have started another one in a week or two or a month or two.
The difference this time, you were watching, and I’m done, really done with living that way forever. Life is precious and I for one have taken it for granted too long.
I’ve lost friends to diseases, accidents, heart attacks, and on and on. Why in the world would I or anyone else continue to take this gift of life for granted. I have a friend that is fighting for his life from an auto accident from a few days ago, his children wife and friends would do anything to have him well again, and I pray that he will be. If you’re reading this and you have weight to lose, why won’t you do something about it, I sat where you sit, I still have plenty to lose but I will get it off. I plead with you for your family for yourself, stop killing yourself with 1000 cuts. The knife that you use of overeating is just as lethal as anything else. Take it seriously today.

04/24/17
Day 41
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 34 pounds

Yesterday my family celebrated my Mom’s 87th birthday. Family events are fun but filled with caloric landmines for anyone that is sticking to a weight loss program. Since starting on this public weight loss journey,this is the 3rd birthday party that I’ve been to, and once again walked out victorious because of you guys. Knowing that I face you each morning with a picture of my scales sure makes the birthday cake not look nearly as appetizing. It makes me do silly things like come up with a plan before going, hmmm that makes sense.

So why in the past did family events always sabotage any and every diet that I was on? Because the party was my excuse to eat!!! I didn’t want to change. I just wanted to be thin without changing. Not anymore, I’ve got this, thanks to you watching. No way I go back to my old self. Oh by the way, I did lose 4/10 pounds from yesterday to today.
Thanks for helping me!

04/23/17
Day 40
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 33.6 pounds since starting this public weight loss journey on Facebook March 15, 2017, I get a lot of questions regarding what I’m eating and how much I’m exercising. The short answer is that I’m sticking to a program that I’m guided by my personal health coach John Davisson. It focuses on making lasting changes and making healthier choices in every area of my life. Nutrition and exercise are key components but just part of the program.I’m not doing anything extreme regarding my food or exercise but guess what? As great of a program as this is, I’m down 33.6 pounds as of this morning, I have failed on this program several times over the last few years. I said that I failed, not the program, I was the problem because I always cheated!!!! I cheated every time on this program and the dozens of others that I tried. So was the program the problem or me, well we both know the answer, me.
I wanted my way with food more than my health, that’s crazy!
I went back to John for one last try because of everything that I had ever tried I knew this one was the one that made the most sense for me. But the magic bullet is the accountability. The Extreme Accountability Challenge is my version of AA for me. The truth is that I cannot be trusted with food, posting my scales daily is a bit of a pain in the neck but it works for me, Others have joined me, not to use the same diet or exercise program, but to hold each other accountable. We don’t discuss what we are doing to lose weight, just encouraging each other to stay the course of the path that works for them and post it daily, good or bad.
It works, I can honestly say to you 39 days and 33.4 pounds into this journey that I will get to my weight of 175 pounds because of this silly little idea that I had to go public with my weight loss journey and post my scales daily to Facebook.By the way, if I haven’t said thank you to you for liking, commenting, or just reading these posts, Thank you. You have given me the courage and willpower to change. I will never be the same and will never forget the part that you play daily in my journey.