My Lazy-Ass Lost 40 Pounds

A few days ago, someone once again said to me, "I wish I could just be naturally skinny like you".  So here comes the rant...

I've shared this with you before, but few things piss me off more than when a lazy, unmotivated, out of shape cupcake pounder blames their fat-ass on everyone else's perceived good fortune and good genes.  They're such a victim.   I know there are some folks who work incredibly hard in the weight loss battle and just can't make any headway because of a lot of factors out of their control ... and I'm not talking about them in this post.  I ABSOLUTELY have compassion for those who struggle with weight loss ... however, not much for someone who just wants to sit back and criticize those who take care their bodies ... donut after donut after donut -  LIKE I USED TO DO!!!  It's true that some are blessed with faster metabolisms and great genes, but most of us have to work hard at shedding pounds.   And at times, it's almost impossible.  It's the bi-product of our fast-food, highly immobile, everything fried in fat, sugar, and flour society.

About 6 years ago ... headed the wrong way on the scales

Here's something I've never shared on my blog before.  And I don't in anyway mean to minimize those who have accomplished REAL weight loss in their lives.  I was fortunately never obese or out of control, and never really even considered myself overweight.  But up until about 6 years ago, I carried 215 lbs on a daily basis.  (I think 225 was my high-water mark)  I wore 38-42" waist jeans.  Again, I know that's not huge for some, and there are those who would love to be 215 lbs.  But even though I'm about 6'2",  I have a pretty small frame and I noticed the extra weight beginning to take its toll.

I had always been athletic, but over the years I became lazier and lazier.  And most of all, I kept having a ton of lower back pain.  I was tired all the time and stairs would absolutely kick my butt.  I hit bottom in 2005 when I was literally taking 10-12 headache and sinus pills everyday because of migraine headaches.  (Turns out the pills were actually perpetuating the symptoms instead of helping them)  I noticed over the past few months I had become weaker and weaker, and was passing a little blood in my stool.  The night before my son's 16th birthday, I got up to use the bathroom, got dizzy, and nearly passed out.  That's when Michael took me to the hospital where I stayed for the next 3 days for a bleeding ulcer.  All of the pills had literally eaten through the lining of my stomach and I had lost a ton of blood.  And there I was ... my stupid, selfish, self-consumed ass ...  on my back in the hospital on my son's 16th birthday.  The day was supposed to be about him, but my poor health choices and laziness had made it about me.  It was a pretty big wake-up call.

I had ran a little here and there, but had never been serious about it.  So I started running ... and running ... and running.  And the more I ran, the better I felt and the extra weight began to fall off.  But it wasn't just running alone.  I also began quite a bit of core work and tried to eat healthier (although that's still my weakness).  Most importantly I stopped pretty much all medication.  About the only thing I'll take today is occasion ibuprofen for inflammation after a tough run.  Before I knew it I felt better than I had my whole life, and I could do things athletically that I could never do before.

2011 Boston Marathon ... in the best shape of my life

Fast forward to today ... 40 lost pounds later, I'm now about 175-178 on a daily basis.  I feel healthier, stronger, and have more energy than ever.  I get teased here and there at work and with friends about being a tooth-pick, but it's okay.  (I work in the construction industry where you're expected to be built like a linebacker or a snowman - it's just the culture.)  I can tell that I'm 43 years old and don't feel a day over 25!  I just reached the point where enough was enough.  I was going in the wrong direction and decided to do something about it.  I reached a point where making excuses for not being in bad shape just didn't work anymore.

So there's my little story.  It wasn't "good fortune", or "good genes", or "four leaf clover worthy", it was just a commitment to wanting something healthier for myself.  Most of us have it in us ... but it's not found there on the couch.  I'm proof of that.  So the next time you call me "lucky", or "naturally thin", or "fortunate to have good genes" ... you can kiss my ass!  Oh wait, I friggin' worked it off!  Seacrest Out!
... be great today!