M/43/6’3″ [333 lbs >238 lbs. = 95 lbs.] (9 months) hit rock bottom on top of a rock

My transformation started on top of a mountain.

I went on vacation with the whole family: my wife, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, daughters and dogs. Everyone wanted to climb a mountain, and I didn’t want to be left alone, so I went. I made it to the top, but only just. At the summit there was an extension trail that about half of our group decided to do, including my nearly 70 year old mother. I couldn’t, so I started back down the hill with my brother (who was literally carrying his 4 year old daughter) and my father (on his replacement hip), and my wife (months after a surgery for an ankle break). Everyone is helping each other, talking, laughing. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. I was with the group, but I was definitely alone. I hated it. I had this intense fear that I was going to collapse and create a bad feeling for everyone. The truth was that we had accomplished something pretty cool getting to the top of the mountain, but I wasn’t in good enough shape to enjoy it.

The next week I bought a subscription to Noom, which got me started. I don’t use it anymore, but it taught me how to clearly define my goals and take small manageable steps toward changing my life. It taught me how to talk to myself and understand myself.

For me, the first step was to just log calories and weigh myself daily. I tracked everything I ate. I started to hit my calorie targets. Then, I started to replace foods that weren’t helping me meet my goals with foods that were. I replaced all drinks with water. No sweet beverages, even zero calories. A glass of wine maybe once a month. I didn’t do it all at once. Maybe some people can, but I couldn’t. Get rid of the foods that aren’t helping you. Eventually, my tastes changed. I don’t want the same foods I felt like I needed before.

I lost 30 or 40 lbs before I started to run. In November, I started running after work. In December, I did something radical and started running before work. The thing about running is that it’s free. No membership needed. I didn’t care about pace or distance or anything like that. I cared about elevating my heart rate for 20 minutes a day, no matter the weather. If the road was clear, I ran. I promise the weather in my town is as bad as anywhere in the country. I did it daily because I didn’t feel strong enough to skip a day. I didn’t trust myself to take a day off. Now, I’m a little more purposeful. I have running based goals, but that’s extra.

I don’t know which metaphorical mountain I’m going to have to climb this summer, but I do know that I’m ready.

For all of you that have posted progress pics and updates about your life changes, please know that you helped this guy change his life. Thank you.

If you are out there and you feel overwhelmed, please know that you aren’t alone. Take the time to figure out what you want to accomplish and why.

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