Archives for May 2017

05/31/17
Day 78 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 53.0 pounds
76.0 pounds to go

Are you selling your birthright?

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. ) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:29‭-‬34 NIV

The parallel between eating my way to an untimely death and Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup is pretty interesting. One thing is for sure, if I’ve destroyed my health what good will my birthright be?

I was clearly on my way, eating myself all the way to 304 pounds, but I realized what I had to do. “What’s that?” You may ask. The answer was and still is, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT! If putting myself out there on Facebook and make a complete fool of myself was what it took, so be it. I’m pretty useless dead. So that’s what I did and am doing every day. One thing I haven’t talked about is, I make it a priority to tell someone new every day about this journey. It adds more fuel to this fire, and yes makes me even more accountable. I will get this weight off and be in the most incredible shape of my life.

Why bother?

I have so much to do, become, see, experience, and give. Angie, Blake, Adam, Joshua, and Ashley ( My wife and 4 children) for starters. That’s why.

This may sound like a bunch of Bible mumbo jumbo, it’s not. I believe we’re all hear for a reason, you might call it your birthright.

Let me ask you a question, if I told you that I would give you $100,000,000 and all you had to do to keep it is to go live out that which you have always dreamed of, do that thing you’ve always dreamed of, what would it be?

It’s probably your birthright.

Are you selling it off for some present comfort? Are you afraid of what people will say? For all that money, could you ignore the critics and the temporary inconveniences? I bet you could.

Do whatever it takes.

It’s more valuable than the $100,000,000.

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/30/17
Day 77 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 53.0 pounds
76.0 pounds to go

While I was riding my bicycle yesterday I was listening to “Already Gone” by the Eagles, and caught a phrase of the lyrics,

“Already Gone”

“So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key”

Wow if that doesn’t describe this weight loss journey I don’t know what does. Actually it describes many of the battles that I’ve faced. So often I’ve told myself I can’t, it’s too hard, or I’m too old, I’m too young, or I’m ” you fill in the blank” with any of the myriad of other self defeating but easy excuses.

I’m pretty sure that the writers of “Already Gone” weren’t thinking of weight loss when they penned those words, but the 71 pounds left of fat are “already gone”. I realize that I have the key, so do you.

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/29/17

Day 76 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 51.8 pounds
77.2 pounds to go

The last few days have been a little frustrating. Sticking to my program and not seeing the scales move. I am frustrated but not one bit discouraged. If this public weight loss journey has taught me anything, it’s to be thankful even for the challenges. I am convinced the scales will continue to move downward because I am determined and will do what is necessary to get to 175 pounds. You see that’s who I really am, the 77.2 pounds of fat that I carry today are not me.

I found something that I thought might encourage anyone struggling. It’s a vision statement that I wrote, on March 20, 2016. Ironically or maybe providentially, almost exactly 1 year from me starting this public weight loss journey. I know I’m not there yet, but I think you will agree that 52 pounds into this, there is no stopping me.

Get a vision and write it down.

It may be a year late but I feel like I’m right on time!

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. – Zig Ziglar

Written 03/20/2016

It’s Sept.1, 2016 and it has been about 5 1/2 months ago since I started TSFL, I knew that I would get here eventually but I can’t describe the feeling when I got up this morning and went to my closet to get dressed for the day and realized all of the clothes that I had before starting TSFL are too big. I had tons of clothes before I started that were almost all too tight. All except a few stretchy waistband shorts were uncomfortable, Now everything is too big. Years of accumulated pants, shirts, suits sportcoats, even all of my oldest underwear just hangs on me. I look so much different, than I did in March 2016. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and still going. Food doesn’t have a hold on me anymore. Really for the first time in my life.

I have given away so many clothes. I did save my biggest pants that I used to wear, size 46, stretchy waistband. I remember those even feeling too tight. Now they look like a tent.
I remember when I used to look for places to sit down I had to be so careful, most chairs are not made for 300 pounders. When I used to see armchairs I was always afraid that I would be too wide for them. Now I can sit anywhere. I’m so thin.
Even my ankles are better. The surgery that Dr. C. wanted to do he said is unnecessary now because of my weight loss and new found health, he cannot explain how my body just healed itself.
That’s the reason why I’m not in pain any more.
I have so much more energy now than I used to have.
I think so much clearer now, I’m sharper than when I was in my teens.
I just sold both my Cpap machines on Craigslist since I don’t need them anymore.
I’m much more active now, I’m playing tennis every week with my family and my joints don’t hurt.
The lime green shorts that fit me like a five pound potato in a two pound sack now fit like a two pound potato in a five pound sack.

I look great online and in all the videos that I’m shooting. I’m not ashamed of how I look anymore.

What are you waiting for……

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/28/17

Day 75 Extreme Accountability Challenge

Starting weight 304 pounds

Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 52.0 pounds

77.0 pounds to go

For those of you watching these scales, no I’m not posting the same photo of my scales over and over, I’ve been stuck at 252.0 pounds for the last 3 days. Ugh! When I get on those scales after following my plan to the letter I want to see a lower weight. I want to be rewarded for my perseverance, I deserve it!

Wrong!!

You don’t gain all the way to 129 pounds overweight and lose it overnight. I get it, but last night was extremely hard to stay on plan, Angie, went to Target, she bought our 2 teenagers their favorite Target Trail Mix. (Warning this part gets graphic and may not be suitable for all audiences!)

Even though I’m sticking to this plan, even though I still have 77 pounds to lose, even though I’ve come this far. The Target Trail mix knows me, it calls my name. I usually would help Ashley and Joshua by sneaking a few dozen handfuls of it. They certainly don’t want to gain weight. Since they both have like zero percent body fat, it’s my job to keep them from the evils of overweight. I will do this by just having a little, like I said a few dozen handfuls!

What a crock! I’ve told myself this kind of garbage for years. It’s been my story.

But no, I was strong, not really, me posting my scales daily to Facebook kept me strong. I knew I would have to face you guys this morning. Yep, I stayed the same weight, even though I stuck to the plan. Staying the same weight can be a win, it was. Truthfully, even though I would be screaming at my scales if I went up or stayed the same weight for long, the truth, it doesn’t matter. I am sticking to my plan because I’m positive I will get to 175 pounds. No cheating, no cheat days, no excuses, I’ve had my cheat days. 55 years of them. My job, STICK TO THE PLAN!

I have a new story that I tell myself, I’m a 175 pound man. Healthy, fit, and in control of myself. 100% responsible for my behavior with food, no more excuses. It’s really who I am, my body may take a while to catch up with me, but it will.

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!