What A Difference A Year Makes

Well folks...It's officially been one year since my journey from Flab to Fab began and I have to say I am pretty proud of myself! I started this journey at said 237lbs...but in reality I was probably closer to 245-250lbs. I didn't officially weigh myself before I started. But I would say at my largest I was close to the 245-250 range. Today, I am at a healthier 195lbs...that's 55lbs that I shedded in just a year. I know it's not "biggest loser" numbers but it's a huge lost and I can totally feel the difference and to me that's an accomplishment on it's own.

The bigger lesson in this journey has been being conscious of my health and making sure that I am doing everything possible to stay healthy and fit. Thanks to the Chemical Balance Diet for jump starting my transformation. It's was a hard thing to do, but I stuck with it for four weeks and seeing a loss of 20+lbs in a month really motivated me to do more for myself. The CBT taught me me that I could do without many of the things I ate and drank before...more specific cutting sodas and other bad food options out of my diet...things that I swore I couldn't live without. Trust me I still indulge in sweets...but I do it in moderation. I haven't drank soda in a year, and before I started this journey I drank Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi as if it was necessary to sustain my life. I use to tell myself that if I cut out soda from my diet that it would give me headaches, etc, etc, It was all BS..that stuff is the worst! I don't miss it one bit.

In addition, this journey motivated me to get moving and active. I learned, thanks to Manny's Fitness Program, that I am capable of phsyically doing anything I set my mind to. Who would've thunk that this time last year that I would physically be doing 70+ regular pushups, 100+ situps, running 2-5 miles, and keeping up with 20-30 somethings 3 times a week! Not bad for a 42 year old. I am probably in the best physical shape I have every been...though I still have a ways to go. Physical activity and sweat really does make a difference in your weight loss regiment. If you think that you can just cut down what you eat and do nothing physically...YOU ARE FOOLING YOURSELF. All that trouble you are putting yourself through will not amount to anything, because physically you are not doing anything to create muscle to battle the fat! SO GET MOVING AND SWEAT...you won't regret it.

Here's the difference between the 1/17/11 Percy and the 1/17/12 Percy:

Before                                                                 After
245+ lbs                                                              195 lbs
40-42" waist                                                        34" waist
XL-XXL Shirt size                                               L Shirt size
no physical activity                                               works out 3-5 days a week

Looking at this it's a huge change and I am still continuing my journey. What I would like to do in this next year are the following:

Shed another 20lbs (I would like to be in the 175 range)
Increase my muscle tone especially in my upper body.
Cut the mid section fat even more. I eventually want to see a flat stomach and no love handles (unfortunately the love handles have been with me all my life)
Prepare to run a half marathon
Get down to a size 32" waist

I really appreciate all the support that I have gotten from my family and friends. I especially want to thank my MFP family for pushing me beyond my limits.

To all those who have read my blog and are going through their own journey from Flab to Fab remember one thing...YOU CAN DO. The only thing that comes between you and your goal is yourself. Take the chance to push yourself out of your comfort zone and always believe in yourself. YOU ARE YOUR OWN GREATEST MOTIVATOR!

Thanks again for all the support and for listening to my ramblings! Here's to an even better and healthier 2012!

-Percy