6 Months

Weigh In - November 22, 2006: 354 pounds
Weigh In - May 22, 2006: 293.5 pounds
Six Months Total Weight Lost: 60.5 pounds

Today's Weigh In: 294.0

I didn't realize it until today, but yesterday marked 6 months for me on this Fourth and 100 mission. It's hard to believe that it's half of a year already, and it's even harder to believe that I've stuck through this, and not only am I doing well, I'm gaining steam.

I look back six months, and it was just another attempted weight loss try. I tried so many times in the past, and as my wife would say, I failed so many times because I didn't take it seriously enough, and she doubted that I could succeed. Honestly, I couldn't see myself losing the weight either.

"I'm going to lose 100 pounds" I said.

I didn't believe it myself. As I said as I was nearing the 300 barrier, I couldn't picture myself in the 200's. I didn't have a visual in mind what that would be like. It's kind of like trying to picture 100 million dollars sitting in front of you, in $100 bills. I mean, you can visualize the number, but could you actually SEE it in front of you? Can you imagine what it's like to see it come to fruition?

Not only did I never expect to be down 60 pounds in only 6 months, but I never expected to have the connections with people that are struggling with the same thing. I never thought that I would be one of the people that others looked to for support. To hear someone tell me that I motivate them - that I INSPIRE them.. it's hard to put into words what that means to me.

From my Blogspot blog, then to the Calorie-Count.com blog, and then into my personal life, I've seen others around me change their mentality when it comes to the whole weight loss thing.. it's pretty damn amazing. I mean, my cousin quit smoking. He works out with me, and he's doing a HELL of a job. My boy Jim is working out and walking 4-8 miles a day, and he's training for the Race for the Cure.. that's 60 miles in 3 days. That's incredible to me. My other buddy Zogie has been in the gym, pushing hard. People at work have seen my successes and have started going to the gym, eating right, and doing what they need to do to transform themselves.

I've been told that I've 'inspired' each one of them. Seeing what I have accomplished has pushed others to do the same.

There are no words to tell you how that feels to me.

So now, I'm in my second 6 month period of my first year of a healthy lifestyle. Things are so much different now. As I said before, my workout is just part of my day - I've integrated it into my lifestyle. I eat better, and the foods that I used as comfort in the past - the cheeseburgers from McDonalds.. the Pizza Hut pizzas, the nights of beer binging, they're all gone. I don't long for them anymore - if anything, it disgusts me. That part of my life is so far gone that it's hard to imagine that it was my life. Waking up thinking about my meals, and that feeling of uncontrollable binging - they're not gone, I can't even pretend that they are.

But I feel like I'm in control.

So, here's to everyone that is doing this. As much as I've been told that I am their inspiration or motivation, the same thing rings true the other way. For Kevin and Becky, you guys were the ones to inspire me to do this. Guys like Billy, who are machines and have made unbelievable tranformations. Guys like Zogie and Jim, my boys for years.. doing their thing. Everyone on calorie-count.com.

As much as you couldn't "do it without me", that comes full circle.

I wouldn't be sitting here, in the 200's, without the motivation that you guys have provided me. The good examples, the determination, the creativity and the thought process that binds us together.

I feel great about this second half of the year. Thanks for taking the ride with me.