Archives for May 2017

05/23/17

Day 70 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 49.8 pounds
79.2 pounds to go

NO DIET OR EXERCISE AND STILL LOSE WEIGHT!!

I received an email with this title this morning. These kind of advertisements always have a picture of some man and/or woman that have the “perfect” physique. I am so sure that these individuals got their perfect shape from taking these pills and never reduced their eating and didn’t exercising once. They were probably morbidly obese 2 months ago.

YEAH RIGHT!

As ridiculous as this is, I am sure that the sender of this message sells a bunch of this magic potion. Why because it implies, no change of eating habits and no increased activity and magical results.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve fallen for these types of advertisements. Because I didn’t want to change, I just wanted the results.

Well I put those magical formulas in my backyard with my pet Unicorn right beside my money tree.

The truth, if it sounds to good to be true… it probably is. You’re probably never going to find any extremely healthy people on these magical formulas. Just like you’re probably never going to see Mark Cuban or Warren Buffett playing the Mega Powerball, super duper lottery.

Most long term successful results come at a price. Self discipline, not as much fun as the magic pills, but it works every time if you apply the principles.

Last night, the refrigerator was calling my name but I couldn’t hear it as well as I used to, this Extreme Accountability Challenge was on my mind, it silences my late night cravings.

1-Make a plan, a reasonable proven eating and exercise plan.

2-Stick to it, no cheating.

Get accountability!

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/22/17

Day 69 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 50.6 pounds
78.4 pounds to go

Through this 68 day journey, if one thing has been made crystal clear to me, that me posting my weight loss journey on Facebook is less about me and more about how this might help someone else just like me. Sure I have lost weight and still have a lot of weight to lose but what about you? Have you been watching this wondering how you could get up the courage to post your scales on Facebook to your entire world?

I am not wondering, I know you have the courage. You’re the same person you were as a teenager, with the same hopes and dreams. Maybe you’ve achieved some or all of those dreams, maybe not. This weight thing that you have been struggling with, it just seems to own you at times, you put it off, you say I’ll get to it later. I know I have to lose the weight but after the birthday cake, special dinner, vacation, you fill in the blank. The point is you have put it off for so long the pounds have just accumulated to the point that you don’t even think it’s possible to lose the weight now.

I’m here to tell you you can. Period.

I’m the worst of the worst when it comes to not sticking to my eating program…..until now. This accountability is powerful, it gives me strength that was not there before. Yesterday, the day before, and the day before that. I will be 175 pounds before Thanksgiving. You can do this too.

No I’m not on commission here, but I am on a mission. If you’re reading this and don’t think that you can do this, you can.

What will it matter if someone laughs at you, they think you’re a fool for posting your scales. When you have lost the weight, they all stop laughing, but more importantly, you get your life back. You get to win, the secret is I don’t hear anyone heckling or laughing. I only hear what it sounds like when I’m 175 pounds again.

Your time is now.

Message me if this is your story that I am writing about. I believe that you have a new story to tell. One of health, fitness, activities, long life, and most of all joy. The joy that you get from facing this giant and winning.

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/21/17
Day 68 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 50.8 pounds
78.2 pounds to go

This morning I crossed the 50 pounds of weight loss mark. That’s a milestone for me, I don’t bring it up to boast or to break out in a happy dance, patting myself on the back. I am thankful for the weight loss and happy but I bring it up because it is an excellent time to remember how I got here and why I am doing this.

1- This is a road that could have been avoided. I knew better while gaining the 129 pounds of excess weight. I allowed the momentary pleasure of “one more bite” to rule me, instead of the importance of taking care of this one body that God gave me.

2- This is a long road, I am focused on the prize, the 175 pounds man that lives in this body not where I have been. No looking over my shoulder, just focused on sticking to the plan to get this weight off as quickly and healthy as humanly possible.

3- Why am I doing it. My wife Angie and my family deserve better, they deserved the husband, father, son, and brother that I really am. Not some broken down version. I am blessed to have incredibly good health at 55 years old and it has been given to me as a gift that I get to steward for a season. I believe that my season has been extended, despite my former lack of self control regarding food. I take it for granted no more.

4- At 55, many men are winding down, thinking of retirement, looking forward to days fishing, golfing, and waiting on their end. I am not winding down, I promise that I am winding up. My days ahead are going to be filled with adventures and accomplishments. In so many ways the weight loss is like the fog lifting.

Wind up, you may still have a 90 miles per hour fast ball in your wheelhouse.

Is it your weight or something else holding you back.

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!

05/20/17
Day 67 Extreme Accountability Challenge
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 49.4 pounds
79.6 pounds to go

“To thine own self be true,” says Polonius in Hamlet.

I can still hear my Dad saying those words. Dad passed away a little over 6 years ago. There are so many things that make me think about what he told me over the years. The thousands of questions that I asked him. My father was not an educated man in the modern sense, just high school, when he went there were only 11 years not 12 like today. His education was much more practical, working in sales for over 4 decades before retiring, Dad knew people. He had such a keen understanding and wisdom regarding dealing with every kind of personality. As an adult, I always sought my Dad’s advice and counsel before making most big decisions.

So many times he repeated those words. “To thine own self be true”
Dad realized that at the end of our life, our regrets will not be centered around things, but rather, did we spend our lives pretending, playing a part, or were we ourselves?

What in the heck does this have to do with weight? For some very little, for most of us on this weight loss journey either publicly or privately, everything.
The overweight person that I became was not me, it never will be me, and I suspect whether you are 25 or 125 pounds overweight it’s not you either.
At 55 years old, it’s time to stop hiding behind all of this fat. I am and I always will be 175 pound man. I forgot that, I forgot a lot of things, I still have over 70 pounds to lose but it’s just a matter of months and I will be there. 175 pounds, that’s me.

When this public weight loss journey on Facebook began, I didn’t know where it was heading. I just knew that I was willing to do whatever it took to get back to 175 pounds. One thing that I can say for sure is that you are getting me, the real me every day. From the scales to what I write. I pray that it will encourage you “To thine own self be true”

Press forward.

175 pounds here I come!!!