Side by side comparison

9/23/2010 vs 2/23/2011

335+ pounds vs 265.5 pounds

42 BMI vs 33.2 BMI

Photo evidence after the jump.

5 months

I started this journey 5 months ago today. In that time I've lost 70 pounds. The scale read 265.5 this morning. Not in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would lose that much weight in that amount of time. It was always wishful thinking but it was never anything I thought I could actually do. Do is the keyword. I'm doing life and people are witnessing it along with me.
I've never been this open with so many people about something but all of you are reasons for my success. Thank you to everyone for all of your words of encouragement whether it's in person, second-hand through someone else, comments on Facebook, etc. And a huge thanks to my family. I see you everyday and you get to see my journey on a daily basis.

New clothes

I've been gradually getting new clothes and also wearing clothes that have resided in the bottom of dresser drawers and back of the closet. Last night I wore a pair of cargo shorts that are size 46 in the waist. Now they fall off. That's never happened before. You can see said pants in the picture on the right. I got pants that big because I needed to make sure there was room for the extra junk I had going in the trunk.

I wore a new pair tonight that are size 40. I thought they were going to be too small but they fit great. Totally surprised at that.

Before I lost over 65 pounds, I would try to wear the loosest clothing I could find without it looking like I'm wearing a hockey jersey. Now, I don't mind if a shirt is a little more fitting. It can't be too tight yet as I still have a spare tire.

I'm much more willing to try new clothes now. Before, I hated trying on clothes because I looked like crap and clothes looked even worse.

BMI Then & Now

9/23/2010
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 335+ pounds
BMI: 42

2/18/2011
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 268 pounds
BMI: 33.5

According to BMI ranges, I'm still considered obese and would need to get just under 240 to fall in the overweight category. I've never really given much credence to BMI because it hasn't adapted or changed over time as we've adapted or changed. BMI has been around for well over a 100 years but roughly 30 in its current form.

I'm not sure how much more I want to lose. I'd like to get around 250, my high school weight, and I bet I could get under that because I was overweight at that time too.

It has been nice to not see my stomach hanging over my pants. It hasn't gone completely away. I have a compact car spare tire now instead of a SUV spare tire.

Get Fit Wamego

I signed up for Get Fit Wamego today. If you need a lifestyle change, lose weight, learn to eat better, whatever it might be and need the support of others, this a great way to do it. I signed up last year and didn't do a darn thing. I let an awesome opportunity go to waste because I was lazy and not ready to change. It was only after the program was over that I decided to do something. It's $35 to participate and you get a lot for that. Check out the site. I can't wait!

Not a good weekend

It was not a good weekend. Saturday evening at dinner with friends where the restaurant is known for bringing more and more food out until you can't eat another bite and then tonight at home with some spinach and artichoke dip that my wife made.

Breakfast and lunch was fine. My downfall took place after 5 pm.

Back on track tomorrow. Also, need to start running again so I'm ready for St. Patricks' Day Race on March 19th.

P.S. I highly recommend the Brookville Hotel in Abilene. An old-fashioned fried chicken dinner with all the sides where you eat one piece or like Jake Blues, eat 4 whole fried chickens and still pay one price.

Signed up for a couple races

As a way to get back into running, I've registered for a couple races - a 2-mile race in March and a 5k in April.

I'm going to run in the 33rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Road Race on March 19th in Manhattan. I've been a spectator for several of them but this will be my first time as a participant.

Then on April 16th, it's the Luke Nihart Memorial Run. I came across this race while looking for local races on Active.com and I encourage everyone to take part in it.

So I've "invested" $40 in these two races so I have to do them. I'm looking forward to getting back into running since I've lost over 30 pounds since the last time I did.