Unbelievable! I am somewhat stunned. After years of attempting to eat right, exercise, and drink more water… and failing to lose much beyond the initial five or ten pounds, I am actually down 30 pounds since April 4th. That’s seven short weeks ago.
Here is my weigh in photo taken just about 6;45 am this morning. You may recall my blog post on April 4th with my scale reading 230! My goal weight remains 40 pounds of weight loss or to reach 190 pounds. Nevertheless, to break the 200 mark is a major milestone for me. I can’t remember the last time I weighed under 200. Certainly, when I was playing lots of competitive tennis at age 35 – some 18 years ago – I was in much better shape. Playing in the Men’s 35 Nationals Clay Courts I hurt my knee and laid off for 13 years until a modest three-year return to courts. I haven’t play for nearly two years now. I would have to guess my weight has been above 200 since 1990. I just can’t believe I let it slide like this for so long.
The picture that’s the header of my blog shows me in late October, 2007. I probably weighed 235 at the time of the photo shoot. Now, in addition to new clothes, I’ll soon need new photos taken for my web site and speaker kit. This is what one calls a good problem.
Something very satisfying along the way here has been the friends and family members who have also been inspired to take control of their health. When I began I had my family’s encouragement and Lori and Dr. Wayne Andersen, my health coaches from Take Shape For Life. Now I’m surrounded by my friends and family members in a circle of mutual support and participation. We’re all learning how to be "losers" and winners.
I’ve learned a lot about myself in this journey . The last quarter leg of my goal remains – weigh 190 – so I’m a bit premature in gushing over here. But 190 will be here soon. I have no doubt. After Phase 1, I go into the transition phase and then the maintenance phase. I’ll post more entries along the way, but here’s a solid take-away for you about what I’ve learned.
Bad System: Bad Result
When it came to weight loss, I thought I knew the deal: eat right, exercise, and drink water. I did that from time to time. I would lose a few pounds and then my weight would push back up after a week or two. I felt like such a weak willed, undisciplined person. I felt a failure in my fat suit. Intellectually, I knew differently, but this weight thing gnawed at me. TSFL provided a system, ready help through Lori and Wayne, and a simple to use portion-controlled process. I’ve actually grown to like the taste of enough of the foods that I have lots of variety to choose from daily. What I’ve discovered is I’m not the failure – it was my flawed approach to weight loss that was the failure. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
Thanks to much smarter, better trained medical and nutritional professional at Johns Hopkins Medical and good people like the Andersen’s, I can use their system. All I have to do is show up and do my part. And have I. I’m following this lifestyle change, I’m exercising in moderation every day, and the weight is coming off. More importantly, I’m making a change that will help my take shape for life – the rest of my life.
We see the same when it comes to life or business management. It isn’t that the people or business person doesn’t know what to do, it is that the system isn’t in place to make it happen effectively and efficiently. On-Purpose® is to life, what TSFL is to optimal health. You know time management technique, you know about values, you know about making smart choices, but you don’t have a fully integrated systems to help you get to your true sense of yourself.
If you’re beating yourself up over weight gain – STOP. Like me, it is probably your "system," not your character. Connect with Lori. I’ve attached her email signature below. Please tell her you want to "Be Slim On-Purpose." She’ll probably laugh and her sweet voice will gently get you into the system that will simply and powerfully transform your life.
If you want to see the history of my journey so far… click here for my health and fitness posts.
