Perfect, I am not

I am the best me yet, but in no way am I perfect. Beyond my journey to a healthier, fitter lifestyle. I am confronted with every day life and all of it's nuances. I choose to document my journey publicly, however, I do keep my private life, private.  With my name in the spotlight lately, my private life seems to not be so private. I guess, that's just part of it. I will continue sharing my motivation, passion, and zest for healthy living with you. I want to help, encourage, and inspire you. I will continue to do my best to be a better person, but, perfect I am not.

Entitlements

I've mentioned before how I love surrounding myself with positive, encouraging folks -- losing 175 lbs. is too hard without a support system. Well, I met a guy about six months ago at the gym who totally inspires and encourages me. I've come to admire and adore him. I've written about him before "Do What You Can" fella.

Yesterday, I received a beautiful, insightful email from him on the topic of motivation. I would like to share it with you as it piggybacks off of yesterday's post, "Don't give up on yourself."

So here it is: from Stephen Nelson aka "Do What You Can" fella

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I have been told by many that we can not motivate others – and I agree.  But, we can discuss what tools we use to keep ourselves where we want to be, and hope others find something that works.

And so, this is a random meander through my thoughts on motivation as I stretched this morning.

OK then, let’s start with motivation for stretching:  I feel better when I get done.

Really short term.  And effective.

When I was in college I made a rule – I didn’t have to study evenings on days that I took a test.  OK – made it pretty important to get homework done ahead of time, but being able to go visit my lady friend (who was at another university some 35 miles away) was a strong motivator.  And, with time, I came to look forward to taking tests.  See – “test” equaled “quality time with my lady friend”.  Coming to view tests as a positive thing has served me extremely well – it is amazing how much better one does when one is not nervous about a test – is in fact excited about the test.

 So, while my first example reflects being honest with oneself (you really will feel better if you start your day with stretches) my second involves a bit of prevarication – overall it was sometimes a real challenge to make my test night off rule work – but it made me look forward to taking tests.  And resulted in better grades.

I call this my lying to myself rule.  Or maybe just misleading myself.  It leads to my next example – I told myself, when I was doing the 8 to 5 routine (30 years as an engineer) that working out was what I did everyday for me.  Every day.  For me – not for someone else.  And, whilst true, the corollary was the import thing – No one was going to take it away from me.  Everyday I worked out at lunch.  Which meant I missed a lot of the noon group sessions with people who’s waist lines grew every year.  Don’t get me wrong, I was not a body builder or anything like that – I was just a skinny engineer who was reasonably fit.  And who had a reputation for not “doing lunch”.  Hurt my career – likely.  Hurt my fitness – like NO!

And today – when I retired 3 years ago, I gave myself a couple of presents.  One was the right to work out 2 hours each day (OK – I take the weekends off to recover) and the other was getting to play the hammered dulcimer.  If one looks at such things as a right – as something we entitle ourselves to do – an entitlement – and then we treat them as rights or entitlements (as in not letting silly things get in their way) – at least for me, I have a better chance of keeping them going.  

And, hey, if one does in fact keep them going, one can actually do a really great job of improving ones strength and physique, as well as making beautiful music.

Funny that, when I feel frustrated by something, I often find myself reflecting on how much I have improved my bod, or how much I love the music I now play, and feel pretty darned good about myself.  These two “entitlements” have become two significant sources of satisfaction in my life.  People need to realize – satisfaction, happiness, they come from doing – not from sitting on ones backside.  I suspect satisfaction is going to be a recurring theme in my writing – I suspect you have heard the expression “curiosity killed the cat”.  Interestingly this in only the first part of an important truism – the second part is “satisfaction brought he/she/it (politically correct equivalent of “him) back”.

Lying to oneself – hmmm – if it means convincing oneself that working out and practicing a musical instrument are what we are going to do – I’m all for it.

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There you have it folks. I hope you enjoyed his words and perhaps even feel motivated.  He's contemplating starting his own blog. He so gets my vote to go for it!

Great People

Mark Twain was right, “Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” I've been fortunate enough to have some really great people surrounding and encouraging me throughout this amazing journey - through life in general. I'm currently working with a guy, Steve Schorr, who shares his greatness and his enthusiasm for fitness with me. He constantly reminds me that I too am great. He's the one person who stepped in and has really helped me dial in on the most important factor my diet. He doesn't stop there - at the gym, he gives me that extra push that I need. This morning, I was just about tapped out on the row machine and there he was reminding me of my goal, my greatness. Reminding me to stay strong, stay focused. He also reminded me to slow down some -- for goodness sakes, I am rehabbing a fractured leg. Not to get ahead of myself, in "due time" he said. No doubt, internal motivation is most important, but there's something to be said for external motivation. Somedays we just need that extra push. Today, my push came from Steve. Thanks homie and coach -- to the top!

Hello 2011… Goodbye 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, I’d like to thank God for giving me the courage, strength, and love for myself to fight this battle against obesity. When I set out walking back late in December ’09 I never imagined exactly where my feet would carry me. And, oh where and how they have carried me. I started walking merely to clear my head, but eventually I really started to enjoy the walks. One day while walking I had an epiphany – it was this day that has forever changed my life. 

I won’t bore you with a recap of my triumphs and struggles in 2010. Those of you who have followed and supported me know the stories. I will say this -- this is the last year that I’ll be fat. This time next year you won’t even recognize me. There, I said it, it’s in writing. My word is my bond.

My personal goal for 2011 is to continue to lose weight, strengthen my body – especially my core, and build my physical endurance. I pray for the continued mental strength and toughness I need to defeat obesity. This is the HARDEST thing I’ve ever done in my life and now that I’m closing in on defeating it for good, it only gets HARDER.  

As we begin a new year, blessings and peace to you all. For any of you struggling with weight issues and longing for a better, healthier lifestyle I hope that my story will inspire and support the internal motivation necessary to make it happen. Remember, YOU can do anything you set your mind to.

For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

                                

        Since January '10 I've lost 54 lbs... But, gained so much more.



12/10

 

8/10

10/09

                                                               
                                   150 lbs. ago ... MISERABLE

7/04