Did it Work?

I’m a reference for people considering weight loss surgery. Sometimes you can almost hear the desperation in their emails. I understand. I’ve been there. The questions are many and legitimate. Were you concerned? Was it painful? Did it work? Any regrets?

 My answer is yes to all; 102 pounds so far and still losing, although slowly.

 My regret; I wish I’d done it sooner.

 If you or someone you know struggle with weight issues, I understand. I’m available, anytime. I’d be happy to discuss my experience, my results or how weight loss surgery has changed my life.

Completely OK

Sometimes life is deeply satisfying.

This morning as I reflect on the weekend and the moment that is right now, I am fully content with the here and now. This is not like me. For years my life has been a series of journeys; searching for something. Sometimes with purpose; sometimes simply grasping for something more. It has been a long time since I simply rested in the moment and enjoyed the present.

Of all the great things that have come my way since weight loss surgery and significant weight loss, this is the greatest: to simply live in the moment; to accept myself, with all my imperfections and failures, as a work in process.  I’m not perfect, nor will I ever be. I am me, a wholly acceptable mess of humanity.

When I hear beautiful music, when I hold my infant grandson, when my granddaughter clings to me like she’ll never let go, when I hear my wife sleeping peacefully next to me in the night, what more could I want? What more could I need?

I am me, and that’s completely OK.

No Plan Is A Bad Plan

I got on the scale this morning. I’m down 101 pounds. 

The last time I was down to this weight was Tuesday, May 19^th 1992.  1992 was the year I ran the Skagit Flats Marathon. 1992 was the year I rode the Apple Cup Century Ride. 1992 I climbed Mt Pilchuck, 93 minutes up, 53 minutes down. Surprisingly, in spite of what my weight and fitness might indicate, 1992 wasn't a great year. I was driven, but for all the wrong reasons. Drive to achieve trumps drive to escape. As is typical, the road to escape rarely leads to where you want to be. It’s one thing to recognize a bad situation and make a deliberate change. It’s another to run without a plan or direction. In 1992, I simply ran. When I couldn't maintain the pace, I found escape through other avenues; mainly food.

No plan is a bad plan.

I have no desire to revisit 1992 or any other milestone in my life, good or bad. I firmly believe my best years are ahead of me. I no longer lament past glories and achievements as monuments of a life gone by. They are simply markers to measure current progress.

I have a plan.

My plan is body, soul and spirit. My plan is wife, family and friends. My plan is eat right, live right and selfish as it sounds, make time for me. Tomorrow my plan is to get up early and go running.

This is going to be a great year!

My Top Ten List

Here's my top ten list of reasons for weight loss surgery:

10. No more Big & Tall clothing stores

9. Getting up in the morning without pain is awesome

8. Not finishing all the food on your plate is not only possible, it’s satisfying

7. Sometimes I take the stairs just because I can

6. Every aspect of daily life is better

5. Donating bags of baggy clothes is good for society and your ego

4. Not being preoccupied with food twenty-four seven frees your mind

3. I don’t have to dream about it, I can live it

2. Being told you look great never gets old

1. Feeling twenty years younger is a very good feeling

True Freedom

True freedom is not the ability to do wrong. True freedom is the strength to do the right thing in the face of temptation.

We all face inner demons. I may not understand addiction to drugs or alcohol, but I know what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night because there's an open bag of chips in the house. I know what it's like to lie awake while arguing a loosing battle with myself. I know the shame and self condemnation of getting out of bed at two in the morning to finish a bag of chips, alone in a darkened kitchen. I may not struggle with your temptation, but I understand the despair of a loosing battle.  

I don't know your battle, but I want to encourage you. I want to encourage you to take control of your situation. I want to encourage to you that change is possible. I want to encourage you to find your freedom.

A Great Reward

I ran this afternoon. Each time I go out I get a little faster and a little stronger.

It is pure joy to be able to run again. Of all the changes and improvement to come my way after losing a hundred pounds, being physically active and able is the best. It is what I hoped for. It is what I worked for. It is the reward.

I'm a little sore tonight.

It's a great reward.

A Good Ride Nowhere

Today I'm going to revisit the importance of tunes to an effective and enjoyable workout.

This is brought on, of course, by the failure of the battery in my ancient (by technology standards) ipod to last the duration of my workout this afternoon. Sitting on a spin cycle for an hour without some thumpin' seventies rock to pass the time is roughly akin to a root canal without the happy gas and Novocaine; its just not that much fun. Normally I can pass the time like a machine, but when the music stops, time slows, my mind wanders, and then suddenly, my butt hurts.

It's hard to enjoy a good ride to nowhere when your butt hurts.





   

An Awesome Day

The week started with illness and inactivity and ended with the birth of grandson, Julian Charles. 

Last night was stormy, but this morning is a new day. 

This morning I woke up and started the new day with a new weight. I've lost 99.8 pounds since having weight loss surgery June 20th. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. I'm going to celebrate with an epic workout. 

I've come a long way from the morbidly obese man who hid from life, wrapped in insecurity and regret. 

It's raining again. I don't care. I'm going running.  

This is an awesome day.

Happy Birthday, Julian Charles

Grand baby eleven



Julian Charles Ogden

Born January 9, 2014 at 11:53 AM

5 pounds 2 ounces, 18.8 inches long

Perfect!

A Clear Head and Ambition

So far this year hasn't started with the bang I'd hoped for; more of a whimper actually. I caught a bug from my granddaughter, and have started the New Year feeling lousy. The other night I pressed my luck by standing in the cold with my camera for several hours with predicable results. The lighting was incredible, but freezing a head cold; not smart.

I'm hoping one more early night and I'll end up back in the gym.

Here's to waking up with a clear head and ambition.





    

Going Big, Living Large

Happy New Year!

I'm really looking forward to this year. This is the year I convert significant weight loss and long suppressed dreams and desires into a new reality; my reality. This year I will ski, run, ride and climb. This year I will focus less on weight loss and more on whole health; body, soul and spirit. This year I am going big. This year I am living large.

It's going to be awesome.