Six Months

That’s how long I have been on this weight loss adventure. The time has gone by so fast. During the last six months, I have had lots of ups and downs. I’ve had some gains, some losses, and some break-evens. I’ve experienced plenty of blood, sweat, and tears, and even more thrills. Here are a few reflections on the things I’ve learned so far:

1. Food doesn’t control or define me. I control it.

2. I can eat pretty much what I want and still lose weight. I just have to know how when to stop.

3. Losing weight is more about diet than exercise. I have seen people at the gym over and over and over for the last 6 months. Overweight people. After 6 months, many of them are still the same size. It doesn’t matter how hard you work in the gym – if you eat more calories than you burn, you will not lose weight.

4. Exercise is hard. The elliptical is a beast.

5. I am not on a diet. I eat what I choose, and usually I choose to eat a reasonable amount for my body and my goals. I do have days where I eat more than I planned. On those days, I’m not cheating – I’m choosing. I know I will have to work extra hard to burn the excess calories, but it’s a choice I’m making. Nobody likes a cheater.

6. Running is fun now that I can actually do it.

7. I am inspired by the same people that tell me I inspire them.

8. The next six months are going to pass no matter what I do today. But what I do today affects where I’ll be at the end of that time.

9. I bike, run, lift weights, skate, hike, and swim. . . with my family. Getting in shape doubles as great family time.  I am spending time with my wife. I am building memories with my son. I am being an example to them both. My son SEES that being healthy is important, instead of just hearing about it. I practice what I preach.

10. Going solo isn’t going to get my weight so low. (I know, that was cheestastic.) Accountability is super important. If no one knows I am choosing a healthy lifestyle, no one will know when I fail. That makes it easier to fail. The more people who know I am losing weight, the more successful I will be.

11. Sometimes it’s okay to skip a work out. I just can’t make it a habit.

12. Sometimes I work out even when I don’t feel like it. A friend told me once that if I have to think about whether or not I should work out, I should just do it. When I look back, I would much rather say, “Man, I’m glad I decided to work out!” than, “Man, I wish I had worked out.”  The best workouts tend to be the ones I had to force myself to do.

13. I don’t feel great after every workout. Some workouts feel like punching a time card. I just go, do my time and get out. Those are okay, too.

14. There is nothing more fun than watching my body shrink.

15. There is nothing more fun than having to buy new (smaller) clothes.

16. There is nothing more fun than hearing, “You are looking good! How much have you lost so far?”

17. There is nothing more fun than making love at 80+ pounds lighter.

18. There is nothing more fun than playing on the playground with my son.

20. There is nothing more fun than hugging my wife and feeling her arms go all the way around me.

21. Six months ago, I didn’t know what discipline really was.

22. Saggy skin isn’t much fun, but it’s a heck of a lot better than the fat.

23. Nip Guards and Body Glide. I love them.

24. I don’t worry about what people are thinking about me nearly as often as I used to.

25. I only sit in booths now. Sitting in booths at restaurants is fun.

26. My wife is the best editor in the world. She takes my ramblings and turns them into things that make sense.

27. It’s so much more fun to write this list than it was to write this one.

Tagged as: family, food, gym, life, other exercise, running, signs of progress, things I've learned