Threshold/ Update

[It's hard to believe I have not written here for a week. Life does get busy. This isn't really writing in the sense of creation, but it is sharing something in which those who follow this blog might have interest.]

Here we have it- a classic, good news and bad news. The good news is that I've met another goal in my weight loss program. The bad (for me) is that I'm about to throw out some pretty embarrassing numbers.

I began a serious weight loss/conditioning/ better health program in mid-June of this year. At that time, I was nudging too close to 250 pounds. Scary. I was OOO-bese. The program has been going quite well, as I've commented about before in my blog, and I've enjoyed it thoroughly. This morning I passed another threshold and hit another goal. In my original goals, this was the one for Homecoming, which was last week. I was hovering, but didn't quite make it. So I'm a week late, but I'm there!! Today it's official. I'm in single digits- in other words- 2-0-something. I was actually 209. This is the first time in about 10 years that I have weighed in the 2-single digits category. VERY exciting. So in the 4 months since June 14th, I've lost 35-40 pounds.

In a few weeks to a month, I'll break through the MAJOR goal/threshold which is getting out of the 200's altogether. (And, I might add, KEEPING out!) I cannot wait for that, and honestly, don't know how long it's been since that has been the case. I suspect it's close to 20 years. (I'm 6'1" by the way, for those who are curiously calculating!)

I would like to thank all of you who have helped me in this program. And it has been quite a few. Even those who simply say, "Wow- have you lost weight? You look great!" And frankly, even the nay-sayers who ask suspiciously, "Are you keeping the weight off?" They certainly spur me on with greater determination! So many have helped, but I must express my deepest gratitude to my cherished companion in all things, Sharlet. For the past 6 weeks, she has been walking WITH me (She's lost quite a bit of weight as well.) and has been helping me with moral support. She's also become quite a phenomenal Smoothie maker!

Keep your cyber-calenders open, because in a month or so there's going to be a BIG (well- formerly BIG-) party. Under 200!! Thank you all.

Apple Cake

Our family has several close friends. (I know that might be surprising....) Certainly among, if not the, dearest, are the friends who brought us to our current job and town. Way back when, the father, with whom I share a birthday and a very close friendship, said, "Joe - we've just got to have you here." Twelve years later I'm still here, and we have loved it. They are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. What an amazing achievement in today's society! I've barely LIVED for 40 years, and they've lived together- married- happily --for that time. It's is truly awe inspiring to me.

Well, in honor of their anniversary and our friendship, we (Sharlet, my wife, did the lion's share, but I actually helped a bit- quite romantic, don't you think?) baked one of their favorite desserts- Apple Cake. (My friend doesn't eat chocolate. I know, I know- but we can still be friends....) We took it over to them last night and had a brief chat and just enjoyed being together as family and friends and doing a little good deed.

Now, here's the funny part. When we got back from doing that- we'd been gone maybe 40 minutes total-- on our doorstep was.... an apple cake.... from our wonderful friends who live two doors down. It was heavenly- a different recipe, but heavenly all the same. How did they know? And why apple cake instead of chocolate or white or yellow? I love the serendipitous moments of true friendship.

The circle of friendship is a tightly woven one, as our thoughts revolve around those who have come to own a piece of our hearts. Last evening this circle of friendship was evidenced by a synchronous circle of apple cake. And what a delicious and delightful circle it was. I do love small town life, and I especially love friends who know when a little apple cake is just what you need.

What Kind of a Question Was THAT??

So I'm sitting quietly in church yesterday, trying to mind my own business, as has been my habit of late, and a friend sidles up to me and asks, "So..... are you keeping the weight off?" I'll let the reader chew on that for a minute while I give some background. I began a serious weight loss campaign in mid June of this summer. Since then, in two and a half months, I've lost right around 30 pounds. I call the program, of my own creation, EBL/EBM for Eat Better and Less; Exercise Better and More. My ultimate goal is to lose another 20 or so pounds and then rebuild my body and keep it in shape. I've been very judicious about watching what I eat, minding portions, and I'm working out six days a week. So far things have gone quite well, and, while I've still got a bit of excess weight, I feel SO much better and, I hope, look better as well.

So this guy asks this question, and I guess my reaction was a bit obvious. He quickly added, "Or are you still losing?" To which I replied, perhaps a bit curtly- "Yes- still losing." He then kindly added, "You're an inspiration to my wife and I." But I could never get away from that first question! Why do people relish so much the failure of others, that they almost wish it upon them?

I AM still losing weight and I WILL meet my other goals, but questions like that just irritate me. It reminds me of the classic Don Henley song, "Dirty Laundry." "It's interesting when people die- give us dirty laundry."

It seems that so many in our populace now crave the failure-- no crave to to be a witness to the failure- of others. Reality shows flood the airwaves; tabloids scream at you from the checkout stands; and there's not a lot of local gossip about the GOOD deeds Mrs. Jones did last weekend. Why can't we savor the success of others rather than froth at the failure?

While I know not many people read this blog, I'd like to challenge those that do to congratulate someone today on a job well done. Give them a sense of encouragement and accomplishment and let me know, if you wouldn't mind, of the reaction you get. Perhaps we can begin to "pay it forward" and create at least a little ripple of encouragement and genuine esprit. Let's learn to encourage those around us and ask the NICE questions!

Friends

Monday was a rough day for me on many fronts. But the amazing thing was, these friends of ours called and asked us over for a Labor Day barbecue. Now that might not seem like much, but it was truly fantastic. They have a pool, so the kids swam and had a blast. We brought dessert, and some sides, but they provided the chicken and dogs and grill. We "men folk" went out to cook and just talk while the ladies stayed inside and did whatever they wanted. So here's the thing- my mind was occupied, but not by sad thoughts. My family was occupied, but not by sad thoughts. After cooking we went inside and the kids ate in one room, and we four good friends went to another just to talk. We reminisced about good times, laughed, joked, (didn't laugh sometimes) and yes even cried. But we did it within the supporting confines of true friendship, where no offense is given nor taken, and you can let your hair down and just say what's on your mind- well.... most of it. It was just the thing I needed to get through that day. How did they know? True friends just know. That's why we love them so much.