Update: Hit my goal weight!
Wow. So I’ve hit my goal weight. One pound away from it! 181! I’m basically “there”.
One on hand it doesn’t seem real, at all. On the other hand; I’m here, I’ve got more goals, and I gotta keep going!
“Take care of your body and it will take care of you”, I think I’ve heard that somewhere. Or maybe it’s an old-timer quote. Anyways, it’s the whole truth! By taking care of our bodies, we want and need for less.
Walk with me on this journey..
I WAS 370lbs at my heaviest. Doing the math, I was over 300lbs for most of my life. So many times I’ve said “I’d be so happy to be 180lbs”. 180 was always my goal weight in all the apps, on paper, and in my head.
Since I’ve started the Mindset Journey, I was so focused on “getting the weight off”. But with all that weight, was so much more.
First and foremost, before I could even get the weight off.. The one thing that would keep me from going on a “diet” was my drinking problem. “I don’t drink every day”, so I’m not an “alcoholic”. That’s what I’d tell myself. I worked six days a week, my bills were paid, and “I deserve it”.
But, I drank 3 or 4 days a week. And it was a whole party, every single time. I could not have “fun” without alcohol. If I had the day off, I’d start off at 10am with 5 or 6 shots, then make a long island or a hurricane. Then a simple mixed drink, then a couple of beers in the evening. Short day at work? Go home and relax! That was me.
On June 2, 2020; I had a very close call. I hit a deer on the interstate at 80mph. The air bags went off and my car was totaled. The door would only open about three inches, somehow I managed to squeeze out of the car. My BP was 235/110 (20 minutes after it had actually happened). A few scratches and bruises, but I had never been so distraught in my life. The deer was never found.
After that accident, I re-evaluated my life. I don’t need to make $2000 a week to survive. So, I cut down to 2 or 3 days a week.
Of course, more time home meant more time drinking. Summer of 2020 was a huge party. Stay home and drink pool drinks!
In September 2020, it was the first WVU football game of the year (remember covid? football was uncertain). We had friends over, and of course drinks were flowing! At the end of the day, I’m sitting in the hot tub. Talking to my partner. I said “how much did I even drink today?”.. Did a little math, 28 drinks?! And I wasn’t even drunk. Not even slightly buzzed.
A few days after that, I smoked weed. Now, let me tell you.. I’ve tried weed before. Maybe twice in my life prior. But.. Man! It made me laugh so much! I gave up the drink in one hand, and took the peace pipe in the other.
In April 2021, I hit my rock bottom. I was so tired of my job. I was tired at home. I was so tired of everything. All I wanted to do was sit down! I said “I’m about to get gastric bypass surgery, I can’t keep living like this”.
I filled out all the paperwork. Had the consultation. My mind was made up.. “I’m getting a gastric bypass”. I told some family and a few close friends. They all supported my decision. My mom said; “This is not an easy way out, you still have to put in the work”. I said; “I know how to lose weight, I just have to stick with it”..
Committed and ready, I decided I was gonna do it on my own ONE LAST TIME!
At first, yes.. I was hungry. All the time. But, I had to persevere and wait. I seriously almost quit about 3 months into it. I literally lost ZERO pounds between Halloween and Thanksgiving 2021. Then the day after Thanksgiving, BOOM! I was finally out of the 300s!
My new years resolutions were always “lose weight”. New years 2022, I had already lost 80lbs and I was gonna keep up the good work. My *new* New Years resolution was “Create more, buy less”. Somewhere along the way, I realized that happiness isn’t bought. It’s created.
And I’ll be honest.. I’ve had a few addictions other than food and drinking. Like, doom-scrolling FB, and buying “stuff” off Amazon (like $800+ each month). Being 100% devoted to work. Having nice “things”. Treating myself, because “I deserve it”. The need for acceptance, the need for validation. The need for what I thought was “love”.
In the Spring of 2022 the weather was getting better. In the whole “Create more, buy less”.. Weekends were not shopping excursions. To do something “fun”, we took up hiking!
January 2023, my new years resolution was “Reasons, not excuses”. I wanted to live responsibly. Be honest with myself and everyone around me. Walk in truth. I’ve struggled with so many things in life. But that struggle is something we can all talk about.
Connections form through communication.
Without communication, we have no connection.
Without connection, we’re broken in life.
I believe in God. I believe in perfect love. I believe in connection. And, all the beauty of creation; ground, trees, bodies of water, wind, light, darkness.
The Mindset Journey is a path of believing, striving, reaching, and accomplishing goals sought after.
Just like the seasons change. Life changes. Like a tree loses all it’s leaves in the Fall, and comes back to life in the Spring. It happens! That is God. Perfect connection.
It’ll happen! We must believe in order to achieve. Excuses get in the way of perfection. But, we’re all human. We can’t be perfect.
Live in peace and harmony with all your choices.
It’s only after we’ve overcome, that we can help others who are struggling.
Keep believing, striving, reaching, and accomplishing!
Give thanks, appreciate! Reflect on life. How things were, how things have become. The past is behind us (Thank God!). The time is now. The present is right here. We have so much to look forward to! Life’s a journey, take each step forward with gratitude!
Love others as you love yourself, and God loves you! ❤️
ACE Mindset Journey 
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