I’m 47, 6” with a small frame. I went from 192 March 1st, to today July 9 at 154. From 38” waist to 31” (30+ actually). I had so much going on that it is incredible I have come this far. I’m going to tell you my story so that it might help one person. We all have things going on and I want you to know that doesn’t matter when it comes to improving yourself. You want it, or you wouldn’t be here. Read what happened to me and decide if what stops you is greater than your desire for yourself. The time is going to pass anyway, so why not find yourself closer to your goal next month, or 4 months from now as it happened to me. I am the last person who could have transformed themselves, trust me, after the brick that hit me. I came through it, and so can you.

I know all about drama; I'm just coming out of a **** load of it myself. But, I became the most important thing in my life for a change. Not ready? Why not? Think you can’t do it? Then you probably can’t. So, in my quest to help with your motivation, I’m telling you what I have done and the overwhelming obstacles I was faced with.

There is no reason to wait for anything. What would you be waiting for? Reason being is that whenever whatever is going on now is over, there will be something to take its place. Also, I don't think eating right is really a diet and that word doesn't fly right with me. I simply make choices and there are some things I will never eat again, such as fast food. I don’t miss it. Look at the people in line to buy that crap. Do you want to be in that group, or mine?

Let me tell you what I just came out of. I got a second mortgage on my house and pulled out all the equity to pay for my partner's credit cards and new car. Imagine sleeping with someone for 5 years, trusting them, saying you love them everyday and then one day you’re driving home after work, thinking on the ride home about dinner and what we’re going to do. I pull in the driveway wondering why they aren’t home. Open the door and find basically nothing, the car is gone, the pets are gone and I’m clueless. Days go by and I realize that this is real and I’ll never see them again and have no idea why they left; no note, no calls. Remember, 5 years...

A searing depression and unending curiosity overcomes me and I just can’t figure it out. I take a couple weeks, get drunk every day, eat all kinds of junk and attempt suicide. Wake up in the hospital and deal with all that. Knowing I had risked my soul for someone else’s actions, I decided I needed to be in control; no one else. I was alone. I had no post to read about someone having a hard time so I thought my situation was hopeless. It was, but I changed that.

Without the second income I couldn't afford to keep the house. Since I had pulled out all that cash for them, I couldn't sell it for what I owed. I had no choice but to simply walk out, lock the door and off to my new room I went. So, I went from a nice 4 bedroom home to renting a room in someone else’s. Think that's depressing? Yep, and top it off with a dose of devastation, shock, hurt and anger. How's that for drama?

During all of this, I managed to focus on me, since no one else could. I decided enough is enough. I started eating right and going to the gym. I took my depressed ass and did the exercises that I needed to do. I stopped eating junk. Days I don't workout, I bike or throw boomerangs. Eating right is a no brainer. Gotta eat something, might as well have something healthy and not a lot of anything. Everyone has time for the gym or exercise, even if they don't realize it. It would have been easier to drown myself in my problems, but I wanted more for myself. I just made a decision that I was going to be in control. Now I make sure I get my workout before I enjoy my drinks. If I let anyone or anything stop me, then I would be where I was before I started. I would not know how good I would feel and look, but I knew it had to be better than the status quo.

I have become to look forward to my workouts because I'm not doing it for anyone else. It feels good and it makes me look good too. I don't always want to go to the gym, but that doesn't mean I can skip it. I go anyway and feel great when I leave. There are great advantages to now being in good shape. I have a new lover and get all the sex I can possibly handle. That wouldn't have happened if I was still carrying the 40 pounds I lost. And, we met in the gym of all places. If you've seen my gallery photos, you've seen my fat belly photo taken on March 1st and it is gross. I didn't want anyone to see it, but when people do, it shows my dedication and hard work. You, my friends and CC members are allowed to see it because you need to see what can be done. My profile photo was taken a few weeks ago and I'm down another inch and 10 pounds since that time. There is another advantage, but I don't think I should mention that one right now. Men would be aware of it, if they have lost substantial weight.

So, you have drama? My God I hope not like I did. Feel free to share... You need not say that you are sorry what happened to me. If it took that to wake me up, then so be it. I’m now trim (and still working on it) and have a great relationship with a very special person. I’d do it all again to have what I have now. I’m broke, but I look good, feel great and I’m much happier.

Below was, and is exactly what I did. I did not follow any diet or book. I did what I felt was right. This is a response I sent another fitness chum. The guy said he “hadn’t got around to it”. He said he had a big gut that made him look pregnant. He did not have the information about me that I told you about. I would be embarrassed to tell him. I wanted to share my response to him with you:

You must burn more calories than you take in, it's that simple. I had the same thing, but I didn't care. Then, I decided to do something about it. I went from 192 to 154 in 4 months. From a 38 waist to 31. Started with 50 pounds on the pec machine, now I do 150.

How? Determination. If I can do it, so can you. Wasn't easy at first for a fat disgusting alcoholic, but I did it. There is no quick fix, but the time is going to pass anyhow, so make the best of it. Make the decision that you are going to lose that gut. You think about it every day as it is, so think about your future without it. This is something you must do for yourself. People will be amazed at your accomplishment. I got called "skinny" just today. Do you know how that made me feel? Take on this challenge and you will.

Try finding a workout buddy. People in shape (like me) love to help others. People not in shape need a buddy too. There is no substitution for exercise. You cannot do this by food choices alone. You also can't exercise and eat everything in sight. It takes both. Once you lose the weight, then you can eat differently because you'll need to fuel your muscles. My workouts are fun. I like seeing the same people in the gym, plus many of them are simply nice to look at. We're all there for the same reason.

Don't see this as a diet; it isn't. It's a learned behavior; it's a change you must stick with. If you do, you will lose 10 pounds a month. When you go to the store, make choices to buy healthy. You don't need to read the label on a package of brownies to know they won't help you. You know that an orange will. You aren't giving anything up, but that gut that you hate.

This worked (and still is) for me:

No fast food (hamburgers & fries) - EVER
Exercise
No deserts - NONE
Exercise
No regular sodas - EVER (ones with high frutcose corn syrup)
Exercise
No potatoes, pasta, rice or bread until 20 pounds drop, then not much
Exercise
If it comes in a can, double the nutritional values - there are 2 servings in there
Exercise
Order a to go box at restaurants first thing, put half in the box, close lid and take home
Exercise
Eat frequently, but not a lot
Exercise
Read the label - low fat, low calorie, low carb and number of servings
Exercise
Drink lots of water and keep it with you at all times
Exercise

Once you lose the weight you want, you're not done. You have to maintain your new body and you'll have a blast doing it. Trust me, it can be done.....

I think of my days on the couch watching TV. I don't do that anymore because I don't have time for it. I don't miss it either. Thing is, people think that they are going to miss something by focusing on themselves. Not so. You forget your old habits and develop new ones. My 4 hour a day TV is now about 1 hour a week, if that. I don't miss it. I don't miss sweets or huge plates of pasta. I liked it then, but I just don't want it now. Things are different. I think one big fact is that you will not miss things that you think you will. You are not giving up anything but the weight that you want to loose.

Best to all...

Jon