Lose weight the fun way.

Posted on September 10, 2016

Wow What a Difference a year makes! Always a good statement when losing weight. However...

Okay, to start off I did GREAT from 3/9/15 @ 304.5 lbs to 11/11/15 @ 206.4 lbs. I felt like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, "I'm the King of the World!" I had a very successful run in losing weight with Dietbet with only one "Runner-up" finish to a challenge. And I was almost to my Life Goal of 200 lbs, which had shifted to 190 lbs. 8 months and I dropped almost 100 lbs. Not bad!

Then the holidays happened, and I got lax in my exercise. And after 11/11/15 I became very good at being a "Runner-up". So much so that I went rogue and didn't care anymore.

Then starting in February of 2016, my worst year ever started (yeah, I know it isn't even over yet, and I hate to challenge Murphy...) My father has been in the Hospital 3 times and the last time we almost lost him. Mother in the hospital once for a month. My parents now require 24 hour care. One of my secretaries had a stroke. My mother-in-law passed away in June after complications from cancer treatment years ago. So my time was demanded of me in many different ways. None of which allowed me to even think about exercise. No this isn't a pitty party, it is just life.

All the while my pants have gotten tighter and tighter (shirts too). I have resorted to pulling out all the clothes I was going to give away once I met my life goal.

I've tried to exercise during the run up, but have gotten side tracked too many times. Even signed up for a Transformer on June 21, 2016 of which I have successfully been a Runner-up the first 2 months and am on target to be a Runner-up in the 3rd month.

Now I find myself 10 months later, almost back up to where I started this journey.

Discouraged? Yep. Embarassing? Very much so. I didn't even like looking at my profile page anymore. But, if I am ever going to tackle this weight issue I have then I must face up to it. Put back on my Big Boy Pants (or my cycling shorts and my swim suit) and Get 'er Done! Time to quit worrying about the past and get busy living for the future!

So I am back in the games. I signed up for another Transformer and a Kickstart on Sept 6, pulled out scale and dusted it off, and weighed in. I'm back to exercising and progressing back down the scale again.

I locked all my photos and scales pictures from the past except My Start 3/9/15, Almost There 11/11/15, and My ReStart 9/5/16. Go ahead, look at them. It is the truth, no matter how Embarassing it might be. Sometimes life happens and we get bucked off the horse. Falling off the horse does not define us. What defines us is are we willing to get back on the horse and ride again?

Comment Now!

Carolyn K.

05/18/2017 7:53AM

You are an inspiration Thomas! I met you a couple of years ago doing a dietbet on here. Hope you are doing well. Keep up the good work :)

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Lynda D.

04/05/2017 9:12AM

I thought a year ago I would never do this again. Here I am doing it again. Just read your blog and that pretty much echoes my feelings as well. Glad to see you've been on track this year!!! Thanks for sharing.

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Aimes

01/08/2017 11:14AM

Hey Thomas! I'm in the same boat. It's hard not to be bummed out after 2015 was such a great weight loss / health year and then to encounter 2016 (curse Murphy) and the abysmal number on my scale, but the good news is we've done this before and we can do it again (we don't have to learn from scratch). As cheesy as it may sound, I keep hearing a quote from the new Beyoncé album: "I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up." Thanks to your advice from 2015 Kickstarters, I started swimming 2 miles 3-4x per week. That fell off in 2016, but I'm ramping back up and not letting anything get in my way. You were and are inspirational and knowledgeable, Thomas. You've got what it takes to pull yourself back up and succeed this year!

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Thomas

Thanks Aimes. I started exercising at 1 miles swims right off the bat in 2017. Easy once you know how to pace yourself, but still a good workout! Keep up the good work!

11/02/2016 3:20AM

Welcome back, brother! Looks like we've been on the exact same rollercoaster. I was at 193.6 on my 40th birthday, August 2015. Today I weighed in at 303.6. Back at it, no excuses.

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Bea L

10/14/2016 4:07PM

I feel you! I lost my fiancé in March of this year. Started two(2) transformers Jan. & Feb. this year won every month but one in the 5th month of the second one. Since it ended August 2nd, I can count on my hands how many times I've ran. I met him in Nov. 2014, I started working out AGAIN Nov. 2014. He's what kept me on my toes. I've put back on 20lbs. since 8/2. Believe me I feel your pain. Jillian Michaels has a challenge that starts 10/18, I'm really considering joining it. I need that push to get me up and out every morning again. I have a cruise in February next year, and I purchased a New wardrobe which I was only a few pounds from getting in perfect, but now I'm like 25-30lbs for them to look nice. I was pushing for you in our last transformer we were in. I saw when you fell off. It's time for us both to get back on that horse!!! Good Luck and God bless you and your.

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Soolcat

09/29/2016 4:00AM

Wishing the best for you

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Kelly D

09/13/2016 11:51AM

Hang in there! It's a process. You first need to be kind to yourself. Continue on the path and good things will start to happen. We're all rooting for you!

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Les

09/12/2016 11:49AM

Rough year for you - remember that part of taking care of others is taking care of yourself too! I have faith in you! Get back on that horse!

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bcd

09/12/2016 7:41AM

Hi Thomas. No need to be embarrassed. Life happens. You've shown yourself what you are capable of and you can do it again. It's a journey! I had a similar experience which I blogged at https://www.dietbet.com/community/posts/general/13512-life-happens Lost 34 pounds, had a very bad streak of events and gained 22 of them back in just 11 weeks. I started again on January 5th of this year and this morning I'm at my lowest weight since 2000. Best wishes in your journey!

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Biking Syl

09/11/2016 8:34AM

Same here. Life happens, add some health issues and it can really set you back. But you haven't lost, until you stop trying. Let's be stubborn and keep running against that wall, until we wear it down. You can't control what life throws at you but you can set your mind on auto pilot and KEEP GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. That's what I decided for myself and it looks like you came to the same conclusion. Let's do this!!!

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