Saturday, December 5, 2009

Day of Reckoning

Welcome to "Same Old Sh*t" Saturday, where I reheat and rehash old posts in order to pry myself away from the computer at least one day a week. This well-recieved post surprised me by inspiring a lot of readers to comment on their own special day when they flipped a switch and really... and I mean, really and truly... began their weight-loss journey. I can't remember a batch of comments I enjoyed reading more.


“When a defining moment comes along,
you define the moment... or the moment defines you.”

–Roy 'Tin Cup' McAvoy


My friend Sandy over at 45+ and Aspiring recently had her “Day of Reckoning,” the moment where she drew a line in the sand and said “This is it. This stops right here and goes no farther.” I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

If you’ve stopped by today looking for a couple of yuks, I encourage you to either back-track through the archives or check back tomorrow. Today is about that day of reckoning. Sandy’s, my own, maybe even your’s.

My DoR came on Easter Sunday of this past year. While you were busy scarfing down jelly beans and biting the heads off chocolate bunnies, I was home alone (my family was on a trip out of town). What I did with my holiday solitude was something that was long overdue: I finally took a good hard look at myself in the mirror. Truth to tell, I didn’t like the obese son-on-a-b*tch staring back at me one bit. I knew it was time… maybe my last chance… to take a stand.

I know that sounds overly dramatic, but this is a life-and-death situation we’re talking about, you know. Obesity and all its assorted running buddies are things that will just shut you down for good. So maybe I’m being overly dramatic or maybe I’m simply opening my eyes to what’s really going on.

Here’s the situation (and now I’m talking about you, too): we’re getting older every day, and this weight loss journey will never, ever be any easier than it is today. I don’t know where you are on life’s great golf course, but I’m on the back nine, where time and metabolism tag-team to make you want to give in and learn to love the love handles. A lot of people do give in, apparently. They either give in or make such a half-hearted fight of it that they might as well surrender.

But guess what? We’re not most people. I’m certainly not, and I suspect that you aren’t either. We’re putting our stories–our lives–out there for the whole world to see, to be a part of, to judge. For God sakes, we’re putting how much we weigh out there. Granted, we may have too much of a paunch, but nobody can say we don’t have guts.

Which brings me back to that whole “Day of Reckoning” business. When I decided it was honestly and truly gut-check time, positive things started happening in my life. Sure it was hard to get going and sure there were times when I questioned if I had what it takes to do this. But I kept at it, and (almost 50 lbs lighter) I’m keeping on keeping at it.

I can feel the changes taking place in my body, and I know I’m doing good work. I take all the compliments and comments I can get, but the real satisfaction is in knowing that I’m fighting the good fight, winning most days and at least holding my own on the rest.

I seriously doubt there’s a single person reading this that doesn’t know exactly what he or she has to do to lose weight. But unless you’ve had that day of reckoning, that moment when you know in your head and in your heart that it’s time to make it happen, I’m just not certain it will happen. This is an undertaking that not only takes it off of you, it takes it out of you.

I read a lot of weight loss blogs, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than discovering those true success stories and backtracking through their entire chronicle. In just about every case, you can see their spirit through their words, feel the steel in their voice. Even if you didn’t already know they’d lost 100 lbs. or more, you get a sense that they were going to, that nothing was going to stop them.

I am on a journey. I post a lot of non-stop nonsense, but make no mistake that I am on an adventure in which failure simply is not a consideration. I’m losing, and I’ll keep losing. I have no doubt in the world that my fat-to-fit trek will end in success.

I’ve had my day of reckoning, after all.

How about you?

x

17 comments:

  1. :) Well I'm glad you have had your day of reckoning because if you hadn't, a LOT of us wouldn't have the courage to keep with this battle. You inspire us, and by all means necessary, please keep it up.

    Thank you.

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  2. I find the Day of Reckoning really interesting too. What happens the hour before the decision, the day, the week? How does that affirmation finally come about? Does the how actually matter?

    Loving the blend of serious and pure fun.

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  3. I loved this post the first time! It took me nearly 20 years of failed diets, etc before my DOR! I finally realize what I have to do and am actually DOING it!

    Keep inspiring Jack!

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  4. I look at myself and my love handles every day and keep telling myself, I will get rid of them. But sometimes I cant't help but wonder if I ever will,,, but I keep on trying

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  5. Love it, Jack.

    And I must say something must be in the air today. Because I am working on my own day of reckoning post as we speak. (well, I'm actually hiding from all of the crazy Christmas cheer in the house, but my DoR post is coming)

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  6. I call that day the day I made "The Decision". Once the decision is made, the rest is simple.

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  7. I don't know that I am there yet, sadly. My "DECISION" was to be in a 35-mile cycling race, which just ended. I gained a lot of muscle in training, but not much weight loss. But I really need the weight loss. What/how do I make some solid break from my past habits when they pull at me so strongly?

    I would appreciate any feedback.
    (Thanks for the recent encouragement, Jack! It does help!)

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  8. Ah, I love this post. I loved it the first time around, too, and it inspired me to write a blog post of my own (which can now be found under "My Story" on my blog).

    Sometimes when you start to slip, it's good to be reminded of why you started doing this in the first place.

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  9. well, on my day of reckoning...20 minutes prior I was sipping a grande white mocha with extra whipped cream, watching the kids get their bears stuffd...the rest was epiphany.
    People, you never know when it's going to strike...lets all hope the epiphany isn't a heart attack.

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  10. I need a new day of reckoning. I have been in a bad place for way too long. I am hoping now that my life is settling down, I am seeking the help I need and back to blogging, maybe I can find the motivation and have a whole new DoR.

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  11. I am on a journey. I post a lot of non-stop nonsense, but make no mistake that I am on an adventure in which failure simply is not a consideration. I’m losing, and I’ll keep losing. I have no doubt in the world that my fat-to-fit trek will end in success.

    I’ve had my day of reckoning, after all.

    AND YOU DID IT & ARE STILL DOING IT JACK! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. I personally stood on the scales and watched it go over 300... it wasn't much, 300.2 but it was enough to get my fat ass to a WW meeting, cos there was no way in hell more could be added, in other words, I wanted my DoR (day of reckoning) to come before my DOA (dead on arrival)!

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  13. You are a real inspiration Jack! Keep up the good work and thank you for the many smiles you have given me over the past 6 months.

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  14. Ok my days of reckoning are as follows:
    1. In High school @ 300lbs, I saw my great aunt lose weight so I did Atkins and lost 50.
    2. I hated the way I looked in pictures at my cousins wedding. I didn't know what to do. I randomly went to the zoo and saw this overweight couple with overweight kids. I didn't want to be that. So I joined WW and lost about 80lbs
    3. After gaining about 35lbs back this year, due to binging, I remember thinking to myself..I will not gain any weight back. I think my third and final day of reckoning came today. I was getting ready for race and said to myself 'I am ready to transform this body'. It's not about losing weight this time. It's more about living a healthy lifestyle and kicking some ass in sculpting my body.

    I appreciate that you NEVER EVER allows failure to creep into your mind. Your confidence makes me think about my struggles and ability to stay sedintary in my own journey. When I think about this, it's because I am afraid of failing. Well, kids..I may fail one day..but not in the journey.

    Thank you for being you. ~M

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  15. Jack today I proved that I will never say "I can't" again.

    Thank you for being such an inspiration!

    Sorry but you didn't win the run time, given the circumstances I hope you and your "side" bets understand :-)

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  16. I recently posted a similar question... I have struggled on and off for years with my weight. This time around, it's about health, being fit and wanting to live a long and healthy life. I am enjoying the journey. I get so much pleasure from the new foods I am eating, the way I have recently pushed myself to jog...

    Just as Syl just said above... I will never ay "I can't" at least not without trying. I don't care how long it takes me to lose weight or run a marathon.

    I'm tired of having 3 different sized jeans in my closet and rotating them. Loved reading everone's comments.

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  17. I cheer them on, the people who are working the weight off!

    Secretia

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