One Year Weight Loss

This is my official state of the weight loss program annual report. It's a long post, so please bare with me. There's a lot to say and a lot to share. Part of the value of writing these posts is working through thoughts and feelings that are both past and present...in hope of encouraging myself to continue to work my way to better health and encouraging others that are overweight to begin their own journey to better health through weight loss.

This first picture of the many you'll see posted here today was taken in April of 2006. Several months before I started getting serious about weight loss. I hate this picture. I hate seeing it. I hate that I let my self go that far. I hate that I allowed myself to get that fat. I'm glad that I'm no longer that big and that I won't ever be that big again.

I start with that picture because I believe that was probably the biggest I ever was...at least the biggest I was that there is a record in form of a picture. I would guess at the point this picture was taken I was 335 or more. I know I was more than the 320 pounds I weighed when I officially started my weight loss program.

I remember the trip that picture was taken. We were visiting my parents in April before our planned move to Iowa from Georgia. The mood was good. And the visit one of the better visits we have had with my parents. I remember really enjoying that particular visit. I just wish I didn't look so fat in the pictures that were taken that day.

When I started my weight loss program one year ago today, I had already lost some weight. I just don't know how much. I remember taking a physical earlier in the year (2006) and weighing 305 pounds. And promising myself I would get down below 300 pounds and I would not get that high again. Do you know how I did? I did great...as long as I didn't step on a scale.

I realized in late 2006 that I needed to lose weight. I realized this because my clothes were getting too tight and I was wearing size 48 pants with elastic...so they would grow as I grew. And my shirts (the extra long and 3xl size) wouldn't stay tucked in. So I started eating less during the day and being somewhat moderate. And a few people made comments that I had looked like I had lost some weight. So something was working. But I didn't feel I would make lasting progress without doing something more focused.

That's when I talked with my friend Troy. Troy owns a GNC store and is very knowledgeable about protein programs and vitamins. He set me up on my program of two protein shakes a day, Mega Man Sport vitamins and Hoodia Blast. The only thing different about the program he started me on and what I'm doing now is the brand of Hoodia. For anyone in Northwest Iowa, the GNC Troy owns is in the mall in Spencer. He can get you set in the right direction. And he'll ship anywhere in the country.

Anyway...I posted early in this blog a list of reasons why I was doing this program and what the motivation that was behind my decision. Those same reasons are why I'm continuing the program.

Since starting I have learned these things about myself...

1. I'm happier when I'm carrying less weight;

2. I have more stamina;

3. I enjoy wearing ties again;

4. It's nice when people notice how nice I look;

5. I want to continue losing weight;

6. I have more mental energy;

7. I like being able to run and play with my kids;

8. I can safely ride rides that I was once too heavy to ride;

9. My clothes fit and look better;

10.And...I don't mind having my picture taken.

This next picture was taken in July, 2006. You can notice that I was having trouble keeping my shirt tucked in. That's probably because I was too fat to wear my pants properly. That shirt is now too big for me. And in this picture it is too small. That's one of the things I enjoy about losing weight. While I don't like seeing myself that fat, I can look back and see what I once was and know I'm doing something right.

I remember when I moved from Iowa to South Carolina in May of this year. I was 280. Down 40 pounds from my starting point. And as of today I'm 260. And I have been down to 252 (250 after being sick) and I know that 240 is going to be a reality one day and I'm going to also reach 220. That will be 100 pounds lost. And I hope to be reporting on that at this time next year.

This last picture was taken in October this year and I weighed 262 that day. I can tell that I'm happier and I notice the weight. And that's nice for me to notice as much as I do. I look forward to comparing photos in the future to this picture.

Thanks for the support and please tell your friends and family about this blog. I would like to encourage others in similar situations to share their struggles and their success stories.