Memoirs of a Soon-to-Be Former Fat Guy

I got a number today.

No, not a phone number.

Not a cash balance.

Not a tax rate.

I got the number six.

Six… it’s one more than five. One less than seven. It’s 2+4. Or 3+3, or even 2×3. It could be the square root of 36.

For me, it represented a minor victory over the scale.

See, I lost six pounds.

Now, I realize six pounds isn’t a lot to most people. It’s a bit more than a bag of flour. Or maybe it’s about three quarts of water. For me it was finally the scale moving in the right direction. All the time I’ve spent in the gym, on the treadmill, even walking the parking lot at the office.

I know I don’t have anyone to blame but myself for the slow progress. I usually manage to shoot myself in the foot when i attempt to lose weight. It’s the whole comfort factor of food. I’m not sure why it comforts me… it’s the cause of a lot of my issues and hangups. My other curse is that I’m a grazer. If there’s food, I’ll eventually find it and start munching. Next thing you know, I’m laying in a heap wearing an empty fried chicken bucket as a hat. It’s not pretty.

I was bound and determined to lose something for today’s appointment. I hit the gym extra hard, was careful with what I ate, and it actually showed on the scale for the first time since I started this whole process. It’s hard to describe how it made me feel, knowing that I finally succeeded. The journey isn’t over… I have to lose six more in two weeks. There will be a lot of gym time, a lot of salad, and very few pretzels and snack foods. It will be tough, but it will be worth it.

There were a couple things that lit a fire under my tubby butt, but the real clincher was going to support group last Thursday and hearing what the Patient of the Month had to say. First of all, in his before picture, he was at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Points in his favor, ya know? He was selected to make an appearance at the American Idol Experience, but he bailed because he was embarrassed by his size. I totally get that. I get the having to wedge myself in a ride vehicle where it actually hurts. I get the not going somewhere because I’m so self conscious of my size. It was nice to hear someone’s story that really parallels my own. It was like it finally hit home after months that I’m not the only one who feels like that.

Wow.

So, with that, I’m going to sign off for tonight. I have to be at the gym bright and early.

Thanks for all your support.