Another Weight Loss Journey

I've struggled with my weight my entire life. I was a fat sixth-grader. I trimmed down in the eigth and ninth grades thanks to an amazing growth spurt (I probably grew a foot in a year). Thanks to that growth spurt, I started playing basketball on a very regular basis. I stayed at a trim 180 lbs. throughout high school. College happened and I gained my freshman 15.... well, make that my freshman 40. Spending all day at the student union provided easy access to Wendy's and Burger King and I took full advantage. During my second year of college, I stayed out of the student union and started playing basketball every single day after class. I lost 55 lbs. and made it down to 165. Crazy what a little physical activity will do for you, eh? I was scrawny and athletic. I had never felt better physically!


The real world was hard on my weight, though. I graduated in 2001 and by 2004, I was 208 pounds! I worked in a mall for 2 years and next to a seafood restaurant for another 3. What was I supposed to do? Heheh... I know, have willpower! I started running every night after work and made it down to my high school weight of 180. And now, on June 2, 2009, my weight has krept up to an embarrassing 235 lbs. I'm fatter than I've ever been! I eat out too much. I drink too much home brew. I overeat whenever I get the chance and I've allowed a sedentary lifestyle to get the best of me. I've lost the weight before and it's high time I started the process of losing it again.

That brings me to my point. I've enlisted the help of a little program called Nutrisystem. 5 days a week I have my meals planned out for me. That means no overeating, no eating high calorie meals and no drinking beer! I've lost a significant amount of weight twice in my lifetime and it's time to start the third. If Dan Marino, Mike Golic and Chris Berman can be successful with this program, so can I! Obviously it doesn't take a lot of brains if a Pitt grad, a Notre Dame grad and a lifetime asshole can do it.

A lot of weight loss specialists sound so cliche' when they say, "It isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change." They sound silly, but they're absolutely right. I've dieted before and it worked. However, I've never been able to keep the weight off. That's what I hope I learn from using the Nutrisystem plan... portion control and long term discipline.

I'm at the point in my life where being healthy has become important. If I continue down the path I'm headed, I'll be in trouble. It's time to nip this weight problem in the bud. By the end of August, I want to be 200 pounds and on my way to a conistently healthy lifestyle. 200 pounds isn't my goal weight, but it's a solid start.

I'll keep you updated.