07/08/17
Day 115 Extreme Accountability Challenge Starting weight 304 pounds Destination weight 175 pounds Total weight loss to date 69.8 pounds 59.2 pounds to goAlmost 70 pounds gone forever, it’s hard to believe. I don’t write this to boast, but to give someone like me 115 days ago hope. I still have a significant distance to travel, almost 60 pounds more to lose, before I reach my destination weight of 175 pounds. I know how hard changing a lifelong behavior can be. It seems hopeless. It’s not. Maybe posting your scales is a little over the top for you, I know it was for me. But at what point will you be ready. Now is the only time that you have. Now. Every morning since this public weight loss journey on Facebook began, I wake up with something to say. I’m not a professional writer, but this has opened door to my heart that I wasn’t expecting. I’ve saved every post since the start. A few months ago I started working on a website to catalog the journey that began on Facebook, not to replace it. I’ve moved slowly, maybe I’m a little scared, just like the morning of March 15th when this all started. I haven’t taken action as quickly as I should, but I have moved forward. Next weekend, I will open the doors to another aspect of this journey, I will still be posting daily to Facebook, but you will be able to connect on my website. This will be another big leap for me, something that I’ve dreamed of for a long time. On that site I will catalog my posts and go deeper. I hope you will join me there and here, those of you that read, comment, and like my posts have made the difference for me. There are miles left to travel, once again, I’m going outside of my comfort zone, once again it really doesn’t feel safe. Remember comfort and safety are overrated. Press post then press forward. 175 pounds here I come!!!
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Archives for July 2017
Day 114, July 7, 2017
07/07/17
Day 114 Extreme Accountability Challenge Starting weight 304 pounds Destination weight 175 pounds Total weight loss to date 69.6 pounds 59.4 pounds to go In 1978, Michael Jordan was just another kid in the gym, along with 50 or so of his classmates, trying out for the Emsley A. Laney High School varsity basketball team. There were 15 roster spots. Jordan—then a 15-year-old sophomore who was only 5’10” and could not yet dunk a basketball—did not get one. Newsweek Oct 17, 2015 The coach that cut Michael Jordan his sophomore year of high school gave him a the gift of motivation, Jordan needed it just like you and me. We all need a reason to push past the hard part. The challenges of achieving a dream. I have a person in my history, that counted me out, said that I could never lose this weight, that the pull of the pantry, refrigerator, fast food drive throughs, the popcorn at the movies, the special occasion food, shall I go on, the list is endless, the pull of all that would beat me, there really wasn’t any reason to try. This person taunted me almost every day, I tried to get away from him but he was so persistent. The minute that I started the long list of diets and exercise plans, he would show up. Dozens of times I’ve tried to get this weight off and failed. I allowed those negative thoughts to disqualify me from pushing past the pain of losing this weight, pushing past the countless temptations. Almost 70 pounds off in 112 days, I’m winning. You see the” no you can’t” just gives me more resolve, more motivation. If you’re struggling, find that motivation, who’s told you that you should quit trying, or that you can’t do it? It won’t feel comfortable or safe. Press post then press forward. 175 pounds here I come!!! |
Day 113, July 6, 2017
07/06/17
Day 113 Extreme Accountability Challenge Starting weight 304 pounds Destination weight 175 pounds Total weight loss to date 69.4 pounds 59.6 pounds to go Most people spend a large part of time picking the “perfect” weight loss program. That’s rarely the problem. It was never mine, I doubt that it’s been your problem either. Don’t get me wrong, I selected a weight loss program that I always knew would work, and is healthy, scientifically tested, and tastes great. My doctor loves the changes, as do I. That being said, it’s still not going to help me or anyone else if I don’t stick to it. The Extreme Accountability Challenge puts the pressure on me, I have to post my scales daily to Facebook. “I want to eat more,” says the old me. The new me says “no you’ve eaten plenty get out of the pantry or refrigerator” It’s not comfortable, it’s feels scary at first, but it works. The hard part, sticking to it. That’s it. I’m sorry it’s so simple. I know that’s humbling and disappointing. It was for me. Remember Change is rarely comfortable or rarely feels safe. But… Remember comfort and safety are overrated. Get uncomfortable and take a chance and… Press post then press forward. 175 pounds here I come!!!
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Day 112, July 5, 2017
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07/05/17
Day 112 Extreme Accountability Challenge Starting weight 304 pounds Destination weight 175 pounds Total weight loss to date 69.4 pounds 59.6 pounds to go For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. In 2012, I was searching, as I still am today, trying to make some sense of the different situations that I was in. It was a ” Marker Year” the year before, I believe my friend Alan Jackson, not the singer, told me. I had turned 50 in October if 2011 my father passed from a brain tumor that April, and I was traveling mercilessly, 1500 miles per week for work, I missed my family and was just trying to get my bearings. I ended up at a men’s calling retreat at Barry College, in Rome, Georgia. It was put on by Gary Barkalow, author of ” It’s Your Call”. Without going into every detail, a lot came from that retreat for me. A lot. My favorite question comes to mind, ” So what does this have to do with weight loss?” Everything. I probably will butcher this, but Gary shared a perspective on the verse above that I had never considered. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. You have a desire, I know that you do because you are still breathing (the still breathing part is from me) For God is working in you, Ouch! Working looks like a lot of different things. Some of them are painful. I picture an Arnold Schwarzenegger or a Sylvester Stallone going through rigorous workouts, painful workouts, to get stronger. The workouts that you may have gone through or are currently going through in your life could be a lot more painful. Losing a spouse, a child, a financial crisis, a divorce, trying to overcome an addiction, or even fighting obesity, these are all painful. But you know what? Wherever your pain is, that’s where you tend to develop strength, you have to, to survive. Oh, so God is working in me giving me power? Yes. Power for what? To do what pleases him. Guess what else. He gave you your desire. Think about it. Pretty cool, whenever you get what your heart is desiring, it makes the Creator of the Universe pleased, happy. Search your heart for the desire placed there. It may be the center of your greatest battle and in the future your greatest strength. I think waking up every morning trying to figure out a way to lose my ever increasing girth would count as a desire. Like many of you, I tried everything, the everything was never the problem, it was always me. The idea for the Extreme Accountability Challenge, publicly facing my biggest challenge, weight, every day has changed everything for me. Is it still hard? You bet. I wanted to eat everything in the house yesterday, but I knew that I had to post my scales this morning. So I fought the beast within me and for the 111th day I won. No cheating. Now as much as I want this victory for me, my “desire” is for you to lose your weight and get healthy too. I don’t believe God intended for me or you to carry all this extra weight. There are so many more desires, so much work, and yes tremendous power ahead for you and me. Change is rarely comfortable or rarely feels safe. But… Remember comfort and safety are overrated. 175 pounds here I come!!! |
