The journey to a healthy lifestyle

I had my first weigh-in at Weight Watchers on the 3rd of May, 2008. I knew I was worse off than I had been the previous year. I had no idea how bad it had gotten. I was 358.2 pounds, a full 33 pounds more than the previous year. My BMI, at just over 50, would be defined as super-obese. You know, like the people on TLC that have to be brought food and removed from their homes on forklifts. That is pretty frightening. I would say I am pretty serious about losing the weight this time. WW thinks I should be at MAX 179 pounds. That would put me at exactly half my starting weight and BMI. I hate to sound pessimistic, but I really don't see that happening. I've set my final goal at a slightly more reasonable 225 pounds. I feel that is probably closer to what would be considered "ideal" or "health" for my body type and height. We'll see.

Since starting the weight watchers program and finding my niche (primarily following the e-tools they provide), I've also added a workout via membership at 24hour fitness. I've already hit and pressed through 2 fattening grilling holidays (Independence and Memorial Days) and a plateau where I lost only 1.2 pounds over the course of 2 weeks. I've allowed myself enough freedom to enjoy myself from time to time, but kept the structure solid enough to maintain an average of 3 pounds of loss per week (in spite of actually gaining 3.6 over the Memorial Day bbq/alcohol-fest in Dallas).

I feel great about where I am and excited for where I am headed. I've already received a small token that represents my having lost 25 pounds so far (it's cheap, it's tiny, it's nothing amazing, and I couldn't be more proud). I'll most likely meet my 10% goal next weigh-in (meaning I've decreased my weight to 90% of what it used to be when I started). My next minigoal will be 299.9 pounds. It's been 5 or so years since I was at a weight that began with a 2. I am really looking forward to that one. I'll also have lost over 50 pounds by then, and received another trinket for doing so. I look forward to sharing my experiences as I press on toward a lifetime of healthy eating and fitness. I look forward to being that healthy, fit man that I wasn't in my youth. I look forward to getting a load off my chest.

Progress so far: 31.2 pounds.