Helping others have what I now have

I met with a man last evening who wanted to hear about my weight loss and how I did it. We talked for an hour and a half with great passion and excitement about the enormous positive changes in my life from simply focusing on better nutrition.

This caused me to reflect on what a privilege it is to share in the struggles others are facing with weight issues and all the health concerns that come from being overweight. I am confident that the experience I have and the path I have taken has equipped me to help others feel better physically and emotionally, achieve better health, enhance the quality and enjoyment of life and even save money.

Since I have lost weight I feel incredible! I can walk up my stairs again. Go for walks with my wife and kids. Stand and have a conversation with someone without having to lean on something. Clean the house. Take out the trash. Carry my sleeping child up the stairs to bed. Enjoy the beautiful weather outside. Go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. I fit in an airline seat.

I no longer take medication for diabetes, no testing my blood 4 times a day, no injections in my tummy several times a day, no pills to take all day...nothing! I have held off the terrible consequences that we hear about with diabetes that we think or hope never happens to us but does (even though I flirted with the wort consequences). My mind is sharper, my thinking is more clear. My energy is through the roof! I sleep better. I snore much less which makes it nicer for my wife.

I spend less on food but eat better quality, better tasting food. I spend less by not taking all those pharmaceuticals. I spend less on doctors appointments. I spend less on clothes.

My wife doesn't constantly worry that she will be left to raise our kids alone. My kids are confident that dad will be their dad for a long time. My family does not constantly worry about what to do to help raise my kids if I were to suddenly pass away. Classmates no longer tease my kids about their dad's size.

I am on a mission to help others share in the euphoria of a new and more joyful life. Tell someone you know and love to contact me and I will do all I can to encourage, counsel and coach them. It has to come from within the individual but there is someone out here that cares about their life.

Make you meals memorable!

Tonight I was struggling, craving things that were not in my plan for the day. It was not hunger, more anxiety than anything else. We got pizza for Elizabeth and the girls and Zack and I needed something else. I was finding myself getting weaker and weaker for some pizza but thankfully our plan involved in a delicious meal that not only fit our goals but satisfied all my needs and the pizza no longer called my name.

If we didn't plan something that really satisfied everything, taste, texture, color, etc., my mind would have wondered toward the kitchen all night and that would be too difficult to overcome time after time. I would have eventually stumbled and strayed into eating outside of my plan. The result is i am standing firm yet again, another victory in the win column. I get stronger with every day that ends in the win column.

Spend the money on GOOD food. This can be the most important thing in your life if you are like me. the junk and cheep stuff simply does not satisfy.

Before and After Pictures

Helping other people have what I have

A day does not go by that I do not enjoy the pleasure of people encouraging me for the weight I have lost. Sometimes there are a few people, sometimes crowds. Often complete strangers overhear the conversations and invite themselves in. I will never get tired of being asked how I did it and I will never grow weary hearing their excitement!

Usually the conversation turns to them telling me they or someone they care for have struggled for years, sometimes with losing a handful of pounds, sometimes a great deal of weight like I did. I was hesitant to be too bold helping others, I thought others might feel I am being pushy or disingenuous.

I have been selfish. I have decided that I will not keep this treasure to myself, I need to share how my life has changed. I am going to help anyone who asks how to have what I now have. The changes in my life, my wife's life and my kids lives are too precious to be stingy. If you come across this blog and want what I have stumbled upon or you care for someone who needs what I have now, contact me. Don't wait, why wait another day for a fuller, happier and healthier life? You can email me at herbalife.rich@gmail.com or even call my cell phone at 571-405-1328. Weather it be 5 or 200 pounds, no amount is too little or too great to truly feel great. It is worth it, take the first step.

Benefits of the weight loss - 2nd edition

What do you think of when you see someone really overweight? I have always had to overcome negative first impressions, assumptions people make when they see someone really heavy. Honestly ask yourself when you see someone overweight, what are my assumptions? Lazy, unorganized, slow, undisciplined, maybe even worse?

Professionally I have always had to overcome those perceptions (right or wrong in their assumptions) before I could sell myself or my message. That is a pretty tough place to start from. Now I find that people who do not know me are not distracted from my message by my appearance. Those that do know me have greater confidence in what I have to say or contribute.

More companies want to hire me now, more people want to buy from me now and more people listen to my ideas without distraction now. It is a powerful new position to be in. If you are struggling with the negative perceptions of being overweight, you can overcome them. Your ideas can be heard. Your individualism can be recognized. Your unique value can be realized. Don't give up or give in, if you are having trouble overcoming struggles with your weight, contact me and I will help you overcome your obstacles the way I overcame mine.

It is amazing when people see who you are, opportunities reveal themselves professionally and personally. It feels wonderful to be heard.

Benefits of the weight loss - 1st edition

Tonight we did something as a family that would have been virtually impossible and certainly unpleasant prior to my losing significant weight.

After a long day, we decided to go to downtown Manassas, VA (a tiny little 'old town' setting with shops and restaurants) for dinner at City Tavern and then just walked the area visiting some little shops and enjoying the night out. This NEVER would have happened before, not only would it have been torture but I just physically would not have been able to walk that far and for that long.

I LOVED it, what a great night! This is the first of many more to come, we will finally get to know our local community.

Making eating a formal affair

My brilliant nutritionist gave me some very good advise and opened my eyes to something that I never noticed.

I would eat in front of the TV or while looking at the computer and inhale my food. Shortly thereafter I would "forget" that I ate and go to eat again. Mary pointed out that when you don't pay attention to the act of eating, it sometimes does not register in your mind that you have eaten.

How did I solve this? I made a deliberate effort to make eating dinner an event. We turned off the TV and computer, sat at the table as a family and used old fashioned good manners. I used a fork and knife even to cut a green bean in half to eat it, I payed attention to the meal. I enjoyed each bite. I have not "forgotten" that I have eaten since and it has helped me to maintain my disciplines and move forward toward my gaols.