Those who have met me in person know "svelte" is not an adjective in my life. It might have been at one time, far too many years ago, but now I'd like to have people look at me and not think "Daaaaang!" and wonder involuntarily when the next total eclipse of the sun will be.
I'd just like to blend in with the rest of the 50-something set.
I've been on different plans and activities over the years, and if I'm being honest (and I am, quite possibly too much so, but we'll see) I can come up with reasons, not excuses, why I fell short. I accept the responsibility for me being what I am weight-wise.
Last fall, I was blessed with a tremendous gift, an opportunity to get some coaching and encouragement along with some know-how, and I'm down 75 pounds or so. I've got a ways to go before the scales say something other than "mercy." but my ultimate goal is to be, in terms of weight, half the man I was.
And I'm well on my way.
What I've discovered is lifestyle is all about habits. I pray that when I get where I'm going, I don't become that guy who is always telling people how to live their lives. Instead, if people really want to know, I'll happily share.
I've cracked some tough habits before. I stopped drinking beer by the case and my brewery of choice quit sending me Christmas cards. I found out who my friends really were, and it turns out I have a lot of good friends who didn't care about my habits, but my character. It's truly humbling to say that, and I can never thank them enough. Hopefully, if a friend is reading this, they know who they are.
I think if I were going to open a food-service establishment, I'd call it "Chocoholics Anonymous." My standard joke is I went and they kicked me out of the meetings.
CA Rep: "You can't stay here Mark. We can tell. You've been using."
Me: (trying desperately not to cry, wiping my lips and using my finger as a toothbrush) "No, man, I swear I'm clean. I'm clean. It was just a couple of Oreos, man!"
Now stern CA guy: "Now we know you're lying. No one uses just a couple of Oreos."
Gone are the days when I walk into the all-you-can-eat pizza place and the manager hollers to the back room. "Mayday! Break's over! He's back!"
I'm telling this story to, hopefully, encourage others. Change is hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
But it's worth it.
Honest.
I'd just like to blend in with the rest of the 50-something set.
I've been on different plans and activities over the years, and if I'm being honest (and I am, quite possibly too much so, but we'll see) I can come up with reasons, not excuses, why I fell short. I accept the responsibility for me being what I am weight-wise.
Last fall, I was blessed with a tremendous gift, an opportunity to get some coaching and encouragement along with some know-how, and I'm down 75 pounds or so. I've got a ways to go before the scales say something other than "mercy." but my ultimate goal is to be, in terms of weight, half the man I was.
And I'm well on my way.
What I've discovered is lifestyle is all about habits. I pray that when I get where I'm going, I don't become that guy who is always telling people how to live their lives. Instead, if people really want to know, I'll happily share.
I've cracked some tough habits before. I stopped drinking beer by the case and my brewery of choice quit sending me Christmas cards. I found out who my friends really were, and it turns out I have a lot of good friends who didn't care about my habits, but my character. It's truly humbling to say that, and I can never thank them enough. Hopefully, if a friend is reading this, they know who they are.
I think if I were going to open a food-service establishment, I'd call it "Chocoholics Anonymous." My standard joke is I went and they kicked me out of the meetings.
CA Rep: "You can't stay here Mark. We can tell. You've been using."
Me: (trying desperately not to cry, wiping my lips and using my finger as a toothbrush) "No, man, I swear I'm clean. I'm clean. It was just a couple of Oreos, man!"
Now stern CA guy: "Now we know you're lying. No one uses just a couple of Oreos."
Gone are the days when I walk into the all-you-can-eat pizza place and the manager hollers to the back room. "Mayday! Break's over! He's back!"
I'm telling this story to, hopefully, encourage others. Change is hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
But it's worth it.
Honest.