04/28/17
Day 45
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 35 pounds

I’ve been thinking about how for so many years I allowed myself to buy into the belief that it was okay to just halfway get my weight off and get healthy. I liked the idea that when I was “trying” to get healthy and lose weight in years past, it was socially acceptable and politically correct to deviate from my program for a “special” occasion. I would say “well so and so’s birthday only happens once a year” or “whatever special day only happens once a year.”
Guess what? Pretty soon every day became “special.”

Who in the heck was I kidding. This was just stinking thinking! Would it be okay for a recovering alcoholic to have one drink on a special occasion? I didn’t think so.

I’m not saying there’s not grace for you or me or anyone else that fails. But really, am I done leveraging my future for a bowl of ice cream or am I all in?
Guys I’m not perfect, I could fail, but guess what, I’m not going to fail. I will stick to my program to the letter. I’m not saying this out of ego, I’m saying this out of urgency, if not now when?
On those special occasions I would say “tomorrow l will get serious about my obesity.”
Tomorrow showed up for me when the scales read 304 pounds on March 8, 2017. It’s urgent, it’s a must not a try, There is no more “I should” only “I have to” “therefore I will get this weight off and be healthy.”

People this is not a drill, it is life or death. Today and forever I chose life. I hope you will too.

04/27/17
Day 44
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Total weight loss to date 34.4 pounds

The scales stayed the same today, I’m just sticking to my plan without wavering one bit, some days the reading on the scales doesn’t move. When I started posting my weight loss journey on Facebook everyday I knew that keeping a good record of daily posts would be important to stay encouraged.
I looked back at a week ago and over 3 pounds lost. There’s movement in the scales that I would miss if I couldn’t look back.

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.