Monday, December 28, 2015

December 28th, 2015 Just Start

December 28th, 2015 Just Start

Over the next several days, a lot of people will be arriving at a mental and emotional place where they decide to make some serious changes. I don't know why September 15th, 2008 was my day. But it was. I found an excerpt from a year in, over six years ago, that describes what I found when I arrived at that place.

From September 2009:

 I arrived at this place as a 505 pound man with raging high blood pressure, deadly sleep apnea, and swelling so bad in my right leg that painful open sores would develop when the skin refused to stretch any further. 
I arrived at this place with a wife and two daughters that would often sit and cry together because they were scared to death that I would leave them too soon. 
I arrived at this place with a mother that would stay up all night worrying about me, sometimes calling just to ask through the tears, “When are you really going to get busy?” 
I arrived at this place scared to death of myself, my habits, my behaviors that had me cornered, beating me into submission with zero hope for survival. 

 The more my family cried for me, the more scared I became. I can't do this, I thought. But I must---But I don't really know how---

 On and on the mental battle within me raged. Was this it? 

 Did I reach a point of wanting to give up the fight? Yes I did. 

 However, a couple of problems, let's call them character traits, stood in the way of me giving up: 

 I'm a survivor and I'm a dreamer. 

 A dream can't survive forever without positive action, so action had to start, even if I hadn't a clue where to begin.

 If you're arriving at your place in the next several days, I encourage you to make it this important. I encourage you to keep it as simple as you can. I encourage you to just start. Even if you don't have a clue where to begin.

I started with a calorie budget I vowed to maintain come what may. I didn't put any restrictions on it at all. Whatever I could fit in that budget, worked. It was the simplest way for me to just start.

If you're a regular reader, you know my trek is very different now. I still maintain the integrity of my calorie budget but I also maintain abstinence from refined sugar. I also have a much more advanced accountability and support system in place. My daily logging in MyFitnessPal, the Live Twitter feed of everything that goes in my mouth and a constant connection with like minded friends in support, all make a powerful difference for me all these years later.

The adjustments to my plan was a necessary response in order to find recovery from a relapse/regain that resulted in 164 pounds of weight gain and all of my hopes and dreams fading fast.

Start simple. Just start. It's important. I'm important. You're important.

This transformation you're about to start is a big deal, spiritually-mentally-emotionally and physically. It's an exploration. It's an education. It's life changing and dream making. Are you ready to just start?

It's been a really long day. I promised myself I would be in bed by 9pm and it looks like I'm going to make it. I'm very happy about this.

Letting the Tweets take it the rest of the way...

My Tweets Today:




























Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
at

11 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 9:14 PM

    A very important post tonight Sean. For those who are starting and for those who have fallen off for a bit. Just start. Love it. Just what I did again today. Started. Baby steps.
    Spot on Sean! Glad to be back in the saddle again... good post.. :)
    Rosie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean AndersonDecember 29, 2015 at 11:45 PM

      Rosie, I'm so glad you're back in the saddle!!! baby steps--exactly.

      Delete
  2. NancyDecember 29, 2015 at 1:38 AM

    Keeping it simple hit me as what I need to get back on the wagon. Also needing to find something I can live with the rest of my life - as otherwise it will just be a "diet" and we know diets don't work!
    N~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean AndersonDecember 29, 2015 at 11:47 PM

      Nancy--you hit it spot on. Ditching the diet mentality is critically for our long term success. You want to LIVE it, not DIEt!

      Delete
  3. NatalieDecember 29, 2015 at 1:51 AM

    Just finished day two! I decided not to wait for 1st January.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean AndersonDecember 29, 2015 at 11:48 PM

      Natalie--I LOVE your enthusiasm!!!! Yes! Congrats on day two behind you! You're wrapping up day 3 as I write this...That's the attitude and non-diet mentality that will do wonders for you.

      Delete
  4. UnknownDecember 29, 2015 at 3:24 AM

    Trying.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. LEEDecember 29, 2015 at 8:47 PM

    I went to 2008 and day 88 was the oldest post that I could see. What's wrong?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean AndersonDecember 29, 2015 at 11:51 PM

      I just checked the archives. They're all there! The drop down menu on the left hand side bar should take you to any year, month and day you select... Drop down the year and all of the months show---drop down the month in the year, and all of the days show---then select the day you're after. Let me know how that works for you!

      Delete
  6. LEEDecember 30, 2015 at 7:28 AM

    The month drop-down wouldn't work for me until I collapsed the month drop-down for the current year.
    Got it now, thanks!

    ReplyDelete

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Thank you for your support!