One of the most difficult things I had to adjust to was to throw away the food that my kids were not able to eat at dinner. I have 4 kids and my 3 girls would take a bite or two out of a fantastic burger that I grilled that night leaving most of it in pristine condition sitting on their plates. I used to eat my burger, all of their remaining burgers and maybe an extra one, just for good luck :-).
I grew up with 7 kids in my family and we always had plenty to eat but I developed a competitive attitude regarding food. Not that we were forced to 'eat everything' but if you liked something you hurried to get an extra portion before it was gone. Soon I became good at it.
When I started eating right I talked with Elizabeth and the kids and told them if they had food left on the plate after dinner they were to run water on it and put it down the disposal right away so I would not be tempted. It was really difficult for a bunch of reasons but it proved to be vital early on while I was breaking old habits.
So, don't be afraid to put 'good money' down the drain, it may be the best money you spent.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Random ways my life has changed
I can sit anywhere at a restaurant, I do not have to ask specifically for a table with chairs because I do not fit in a booth.
I can go for a walk with my kids without it being painful and difficult.
I can buy a suit at Brooks Brothers instead of a polyester one from the Big & Tall store.
I can wear clothes I picked up at Old Navy or Costco instead of the ONE Big & Tall clothing chain in the region.
Seat belts in any car can fit me now. I had gotten tickets for my seat belts not being able to latch in the past. The police would tell me to custom make an extension so it would reach.
I can fly in an airplane without the person sitting next to me dreading the flight when they see who they are going to sit next to.
I no longer need to ask a flight attendant for a seat belt extension.
I won't break the seats in my car or van any more. I have broken a few car seats from the back falling off to the mechanism not longer being able to adjust the seat position.
Folding chairs at church or school no longer worry me, I have had more than 1 collapse on me.
I can sit in a lawn chair now.
My boss no longer makes me sit ONLY in the "special" reinforced office chair that was purchased just for me.
I can cross my legs.
I can go for a walk with my kids without it being painful and difficult.
I can buy a suit at Brooks Brothers instead of a polyester one from the Big & Tall store.
I can wear clothes I picked up at Old Navy or Costco instead of the ONE Big & Tall clothing chain in the region.
Seat belts in any car can fit me now. I had gotten tickets for my seat belts not being able to latch in the past. The police would tell me to custom make an extension so it would reach.
I can fly in an airplane without the person sitting next to me dreading the flight when they see who they are going to sit next to.
I no longer need to ask a flight attendant for a seat belt extension.
I won't break the seats in my car or van any more. I have broken a few car seats from the back falling off to the mechanism not longer being able to adjust the seat position.
Folding chairs at church or school no longer worry me, I have had more than 1 collapse on me.
I can sit in a lawn chair now.
My boss no longer makes me sit ONLY in the "special" reinforced office chair that was purchased just for me.
I can cross my legs.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The rewards so far.
A walk with my wife is romantic, not something that is difficult, uncomfortable, hard work or a distraction from connecting with the one I love so dearly.
No more hurtful words from my kids classmates about their dad, a renewed and stronger pride in their father.
The energy to go as a family to the zoo, the monuments, museums, fairs, amusement parks, fishing, school activities, community events.....the sky is the limit.
No more physical pain at the end of the day, or the beginning of the day for that matter.
Much more energy to do my job and maintain the confidence of my employers and peers.
More confidence.
Being able to provide my son with guidance and encouragement he needs to achieve the same freedoms.
The ability to buy a beautiful suit from Brooks Brothers for the same cost as a not so beautiful polyester suit from the Big & Tall shop. I always wanted to dress much nicer than I could.
My wife can shop at Old Navy for fun clothes as gifts. It is great that she gets so much joy from something so simple.
No more hurtful words from my kids classmates about their dad, a renewed and stronger pride in their father.
The energy to go as a family to the zoo, the monuments, museums, fairs, amusement parks, fishing, school activities, community events.....the sky is the limit.
No more physical pain at the end of the day, or the beginning of the day for that matter.
Much more energy to do my job and maintain the confidence of my employers and peers.
More confidence.
Being able to provide my son with guidance and encouragement he needs to achieve the same freedoms.
The ability to buy a beautiful suit from Brooks Brothers for the same cost as a not so beautiful polyester suit from the Big & Tall shop. I always wanted to dress much nicer than I could.
My wife can shop at Old Navy for fun clothes as gifts. It is great that she gets so much joy from something so simple.
I came to love the idea of being defiant.
I had reached a point where I truly wanted no more of it and I would not compromise or negotiate these things.
No more not being able to ride a roller coaster with my kids because I couldn't fit on the rides.
No more being identified by my size or weight instead of; my love for my wife and children, my passion for what I believe in, the depth of my faith, my unique personality, my abilities, my intellect, my creativity, my belief in serving others.....I am so much more than the big guy.
No more passing on Redskins tickets because the walk from the parking lot is just too much to think about. (Go Skins!)
No more seeing the pain in my children's hearts when they hear their schoolmates say hateful things about their dad's weight.
No more having to overcome a negative first impression in business dealings.
No more having my wife, kids, parents, brothers, sisters aunts or uncles having to constantly worry for my health, which ultimately became worry for my life.
No more missing out on simple joys in life because it is too hard or too uncomfortable.
No more giving up when I stumbled and accepting less in life.
No more missing out on serving or helping others.
No more leading my son down the same wrong path I took!!!!!
No more settling on a life that will last shorter than it could be with those I love so dearly.
No more, no more, NO MORE!
No more not being able to ride a roller coaster with my kids because I couldn't fit on the rides.
No more being identified by my size or weight instead of; my love for my wife and children, my passion for what I believe in, the depth of my faith, my unique personality, my abilities, my intellect, my creativity, my belief in serving others.....I am so much more than the big guy.
No more passing on Redskins tickets because the walk from the parking lot is just too much to think about. (Go Skins!)
No more seeing the pain in my children's hearts when they hear their schoolmates say hateful things about their dad's weight.
No more having to overcome a negative first impression in business dealings.
No more having my wife, kids, parents, brothers, sisters aunts or uncles having to constantly worry for my health, which ultimately became worry for my life.
No more missing out on simple joys in life because it is too hard or too uncomfortable.
No more giving up when I stumbled and accepting less in life.
No more missing out on serving or helping others.
No more leading my son down the same wrong path I took!!!!!
No more settling on a life that will last shorter than it could be with those I love so dearly.
No more, no more, NO MORE!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Get Help From Those Who Care About You
Improving my health was not just about me, it affected my wife and my 4 kids in virtually every way. How could I take such a huge step in life without their involvement and how could I succeed without their help? I couldn't!
The first step was to be of the same mind with Elizabeth. We then invited our children to know what our goals were and asked them for prayer and help. It is a tough thing to do, asking your kids to help you overcome something that has been out of control in your life for so long. It could change relationships in the wrong way if you let it. We set ground rules, daddy was still daddy, there had to be the proper respect and love in every attempt to support or question my efforts to lose weight.
We gave the kids permission to ask, "daddy, is what you are eating in your plan?" was OK but things like "hey, should you be eating that?" was not. It sounds like the same thing but one is said out of loving support, the other changes the parent-child relationship. My kids honored that relationship and provided me with immeasurable support and motivation.
The first step was to be of the same mind with Elizabeth. We then invited our children to know what our goals were and asked them for prayer and help. It is a tough thing to do, asking your kids to help you overcome something that has been out of control in your life for so long. It could change relationships in the wrong way if you let it. We set ground rules, daddy was still daddy, there had to be the proper respect and love in every attempt to support or question my efforts to lose weight.
We gave the kids permission to ask, "daddy, is what you are eating in your plan?" was OK but things like "hey, should you be eating that?" was not. It sounds like the same thing but one is said out of loving support, the other changes the parent-child relationship. My kids honored that relationship and provided me with immeasurable support and motivation.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Newer me.
When I started this journey I could not imagine that I would ever get to where I needed to be or get to where I felt decent and strong on a regular basis. It is February 2009 and I can see where I want to be in the distance. I couldn't even dream of that when I started!
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