Academy-ish Awards
In the last 12 months, I’ve lost 30 pounds or so.
I went from the mid 220’s to the mid 190’s.
I bought an entire new wardrobe just a couple weeks ago.
And I’ve worn those new clothes all over the world.
It’s pretty close to a mid life crisis with the obsession I have now to walk every day, eat differently, and look differently.
It’s a desperate desire to fend off aging and to extend my life (assuming something unexpected doesn’t happen).
Of course, my mid life crisis has not yet led to buying a 2-seat sports car or getting a new wife! Sorry sweetie!
So I’d like to do an Academy-ish Awards type speech in appreciation for all those who have helped me get to where I am today:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
First, I’d like to thank the Academy for drilling into me the importance of forced marches to build discipline! They also showed me how I could eat lots of food if I just walked a significant number of miles every day!
I’d also like to thank my doctor for scaring the heck out of me by wanting to put me on a slew of meds to make my life better!
I’d like to thank my many good friends who put on their athletic shoes or flip flops and joined me on those 4 mile walks around the lake. Those walks were in there own way forced marches, but oh what great dialogue and dreaming occurred during those discussions!
I’d like to thank my wonderful and beautiful wife who joined me on those countless 3.6 mile walks even though she had a bum foot and incredibly painful knee. She typically only called me “butthead” a couple of times per walk, and that was when I would say, “Just one more hill to go!”
I’d like to thank my dad who showed me through his example the discipline it takes to loose large amounts of weight by walking long distances. He also left me in his dust when I couldn’t keep up with him on his own walks!
I’d like to thank my friends who have also lost weight and shown through their examples the improvement in quality of life and mental attitude when the pounds are dropped.
And finally, I’d like to thank all those who put up with me when I suffered from the attitude and afflictions that came from the 30 extra pounds I carried.
Life is good today, and it’s because of all of you!
And for that I’m thankful!
2 Responses to “Academy-ish Awards”
realdeal42 on 18 Aug 2010 at 9:54 am #
Congrats, Stan! We’re pretty close to parallel there. I was in the 220’s when I started too, and now I’m 180! It’s been very encouraging and helpful to share the journey with friends, so keep on sharing!
stf6992 on 22 Aug 2010 at 7:44 am #
It’s a great inspiration to see others so compulsively focused on wellness! Jerry and Chris are also on the wellness kick, so we’re both in great company! I’m listening to Ray Boltz’ “Through It All” this morning. “I’ve been to lots of places, seen a lot of faces, there’ve been times I felt so all alone; but in my lonely hours, yes those precious lonely hours, Jesus let me know I was his own.” During those long walks, in lots of different places, I too worship, and I get affirmation that “through it all” He’s smiling!