On weight loss…

I was embarrassed!

It was a warm June day. My family and I were on our annual summer trip to Branson and this was the first year my oldest daughter, Sarah would be “big” enough to go on the large roller-coasters! Finally – someone to go on all the rides with me! What was even better was that Silver Dollar City was introducing a new roller-coaster, The PowderKeg, and we both wanted to ride it. As soon as the park opened, we went directly to the ride. Obviously, other people had the same idea as there was about an hour wait to get on the ride. Finally, we were allowed to board the car that would take us on an adventure that we had waited over an hour to ride. Sarah got in her seat and I got in one right next to her. The seat was a little tight but I’m used to chairs being a little small. When the attendant came around to lower the seat restraints, he couldn’t lock mine in place. He pushed and pushed and pushed. He used his feet to push to no avail. Finally, it was obvious that the restraint wasn’t going to lock. I was too large for the ride. I turned to my daughter and had to tell her the most embarrassing thing I think I have ever had to admit – I’m too big to fit on this ride. She was crushed. Everyone in line was watching as my daughter and I slowly walked out the exit – without being able to ride the roller coaster. She was crying – I was embarrassed. Life was not good.

The rest of the day was pretty much the same. I went from one ride to the next – not being able to fit in the seats. I was too fat! How did I let myself get like this? How could I be too big?!

A year after that incident, I still denied that I could lose weight. I didn’t want to discipline myself. There was already too much stress in my life – I didn’t want to stress about what I could or could not eat. Finally, in January of this year, I decided that I was tired of being too fat. It had taken me 13 years – but I had gained about 150 lbs. (Not good!) Now, I am on a mission to lose it. I had to go through an Extreme fat loss process to be able to have fun and enjoy life again.

My first goal is to be able to take my daughter on the roller coasters this year. We go in June and I promised her that I would do what I had to do to lose enough weight to get on the rides. I’m building her hopes up – I better not fail.

Second – I just want to have fun again. It’s not fun being fat. EVERYTHING is an effort when you have to move 350 lbs. I got to the point where I couldn’t even support my weight on ice skates! I want to start enjoying life.

Third – I want to develop a healthy lifestyle so I will be around longer to enjoy my family. The way I look at it, every pound I lose is a day or week or year longer I get to spend with the people I love.

Fourth – I want to be an example to my kids. I want to show them that if you set your mind to do something – you can do it. Ultimately I want to lose about 160 lbs. That is a big number. With God giving me strength, I’m doing it one pound at a time.

Fifth – I want to be attractive to my wife again. When she married me, I was in the Marine Corp and had a pretty buff body. Now I look like a buffalo! I told her last night that I’m bringing the sexy back!

Sixth – I would like to fit into my dress blues again. One of the reasons I joined the Marine Corp in the first place is that I loved the uniform. The Marine Corp Dress Blue uniform is one of the most recognizable uniforms in the world. I have mine still hanging in my closet. I want to be able to fit into it again!

Someone once told me that you have a 80% chance of achieving your goal if you write it down. The percentage is much worse if you don’t. So – here it is. I’m accountable to all of you that read this.

OK – so I know some of you are wondering how I’m doing! I started Weight Watchers on January 9, 2007. At my initial weigh-in, I weighed 349 lbs. As of today – I have lost 36.6 lbs. I’m still not below 300 lbs but it’s getting closer and closer everyday! So you can also learn more about dieting at Shapebloom.com