Weight Loss Tracker

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

8/17/2010 – 53 Pounds Lost – 2 Pounds to Go – 4 Days Left

I usually do not write this much – but today I have some things I must get out! I do believe that Friday morning when I weigh myself I will be at 190. This dream of mine is about to be reality. It has been one very hard road but I am finally here. Someone said to me recently, "Wow you did this in such a short period of time". I said to that person, "Hold on a second. If there was some miracle pill you could take and only have to workout one time a month then yes three months would be a short period of time. But for me, I woke up every morning and rededicated myself to this effort and my goals. EVERYDAY. That is extremely difficult to do and it has been a long road for me" (FYI, she agreed and took her original statement back and added a sincere apology).


If you take a look at the timing of it all – I will reach my goal one day before judgment day. That fact is actually interesting because I will not be weighing myself on judgment day. Judgment day I will be on a beach enjoying my vacation with my family. When I set my goal date of 8/21/10 I had no idea that I would be on vacation on that very day. It is funny how life works out sometimes because it is almost as if it was a cosmic alignment of fate for me to reach my goals on the very day I will be on vacation on a beach with my wife and kids. I won! I don’t need to actually weigh myself on that day and have to worry about my weight because I have already won. The icing on the cake is that I actually got down to the weight I wanted to get to.


I do have a new life and I feel like a completely different person.


Case in Point:
I was at best buy yesterday checking my wife's computer into the geek squad. She and the daughters downloaded a virus that fried her lap top. The geek told me that the virus is an extremely common one downloaded from facebook. If you have read my blog you will know that I believe facebook is the devil (thanks for the quote Kathy Bates). I have been saying over and over again facebook has no real purpose but to keep people from the past in your life and waste your time. I digress… So the geek was telling me some other things that are wrong with it. They will need to send it out for repair as well as charge me 200 bucks to remove the virus and reinstall my operating system. On top of all that I had the three youngest kids with me. They all were on some sort of sugar rush being very demanding while I was in line and while I was speaking with the geek. So right before we were done he said to me, "I can't believe how well you are handling all this. I have seen so many people in your position dealing with kids and horrible news about their computer and they get red in the face and begin yelling and being rude with us." Most likely that would have been me 4 months ago but now I see a bigger picture with life. My energy needs to go to positive causes and building a long fruitful life for me and my family. I do not have the time, energy, or emotions to waste on geek-squad folks. Who by the way, have nothing to do with why I am in front of them at that particular point in time. I do feel different. My actions show it.


I have had two signature lines in my e-mails over the past few years. One is from a movie and the other is an original saying that I authored.


1st – "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path"
– Laurence Fishburne, the Matrix.


2nd – "If you have the desire to change your thinking followed by the motivation to act achieving is inevitable"
– misunderstood and admired.


For the first quote, I honestly believe there are billions of people walking the earth who think they know what life is about and are very good at telling other people what they should/need to do. However, walking that path is rarely seen. Some start down the right path but don’t remain on it for long. It boils down to actions - not talk.


For the second quote – I was sitting in my bed on Sunday 5-2-2010 and I realized that my life was going nowhere fast. I had a couple choices; one, get away from my wife and family so they can have a chance to grow and prosper in life or two, make a change. Make several changes actually. I chose the latter. As I sat in my bed looking up at the ceiling I had no idea how I was going to make all the changes I wanted to make. Lose weight, stop eating fast food, slow down on drinking, repair my marriage, and fix the family dynamics that were tearing my family apart. This was a huge undertaking and the weight of it all seemed unbearable and unrealistic. My thoughts soon turned motivational. I understood that the mind is a powerful tool and I needed to use it for positive growth. I said to myself that I do really desire to make these changes. I really didn't have a choice. I was failing and soon would not be able to repair what I was destroying. I also knew that I have been extremely motivated in the past – my degree from the University of Michigan is a perfect example. I dropped out twice and still managed to pull myself up and get my Engineering Degree from a very prestigious engineering school. It dawned on me that as long as you have those two things working for you – Achieving… Just… Happens!!!

13 comments:

  1. These are the posts that make blogging worth it. The posts that give the reader the inside look of the author. We read and we know what they are doing. But often we don't get a good read on why they are doing it. I mean really why; what got them going on their mission. It is clear in your post why you decided on your mission. It reads of passion and purpose, and not always do those two things come together. Just as not always do we put desire & motivation together.

    Very cool to read of your optimism that you expect to hit your goal at the end of the week. Look forward to that post where you officially declare victory.

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  2. Patrick - It was a long time ago that you first made a comment about my blog. I went through your friend list and looked at a few blogs that looked interesting. Your blog as well as Rapunzels caught my eye and I have been dialing in ever since. The others lack substance and purpose. The couple comments I do get are due to you so thanks for your time in reading my posts. It is a good feeling where I am at - I just wish there were more that could benefit from my insight and struggles I have went through. 3 followers are better than none and really I have two people that have substance so I think I made out O.K.

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  3. Well, I took Patrick's advice and read all your posts. What a transformation! You should be proud. Changing the outside of you is only the beginning and you've come so far. Congrats.

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  4. Great post, as always. I can't help but feel "special" that you'll likely be reaching your goal on my birthday. ;) Wish I were there to celebrate with you!

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  5. I too took Patrick's advice and read your entire blog, from beginning to present, this morning. Quite an inspiring transformation, both in your weight and in your attitudes and thought processes! Congratulations!

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  6. Congratulations on already achieving the goals that you set out for yourself, in terms of changing your mind and your life around. I wish you lots of luck in achieving that last pound of weight loss!
    Christine
    www.phoenixrevolution.net

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  7. WOW… Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read about me and my struggles, pains, accomplishments, and joys!!!

    Patrick – Thank you for your words. I do have purpose and passion coupled with desire and motivation… I may be close to creating a new quote. You opened up my blog, thoughts, and goals to the world. I hope that through what everyone has read that they can draw some inspiration from it and get that transformation they desire.

    Dr. Fat – Thank you – I do feel proud. It was a hard long road and I am there! I know while you were reading the blog (as I have done from time to time) I see a lot more than weight loss being address and maybe in the end my goal was all the other stuff and weight loss was just the vehicle to get there… hmmm…

    Rapunzel Rapunzel – I have been hard on you at times to get your but on that treadmill and sweat. I am glad to see that the walks are becoming a habit because good habits multiple just like the bad ones. I am guessing that I will make it to 190 tomorrow or Friday morning. There is nothing stopping that. Not sure which day is your birthday but I will have you and Patrick in mind as I celebrate.

    Vickie – thank you for the kind words. It has been hard that is for sure. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

    Christine – yes the last pound is now my nemesis… We will be doing battle for the next couple days until it loses!!! Literally!!!

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  8. I found u through Patrick. Awesome job. this post makes me think...I am perpetually headed toward my goal weight. I never set a goal 'date' to get there. I wonder if it would help...hmm, thanks for the thought to ponder.

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  9. Even though my blog would have been one of the ones that lacked substance I think its awesome what you have achieved and am now going to read yours from beginning to end. Congrats!!!!!!

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  10. to darwinstable and all of Patricks friends. I meant no disrespect with my comment. Maybe I should have said that I could just not connect with any other blog. Thanks for reading in on my life.

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  11. Don't worry about it. Totally not offended, and have added you to my feed now so I can continue to watch you progress, and maintenance is progress!!!!

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  12. I think we all connect with who we connect with. Congrats on your great success. Hope you and the family have a great vacation.

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