If I weigh myself the day before I get on a plane, then I’ll just have to accept that number. Sure I can feel a sense of pride or shame at the reading, but it won’t really matter that much. The only difference is the number that I tell people when I go home. And really, to most people, there isn’t a huge difference between “I lost 40 pounds and now weigh 260” and “I lost 50 pounds and now weight 250.” All they’ll hear is “I lost…” and then they’ll zone out, tell me I look good, and start talking about their annoying kids.
That’s the way the world works.
The scale is really not the be all, end all. I can throw up eight times a day for the next month and lose weight at an astonishing pace. But in the end, I won’t really be healthier, will I? I won’t be more attractive, will I? Probably not. I wrestled with the scale for the first months of this diet, then kind of realized that it is only a reflection of the work I have put into this. The scale doesn’t dictate my success. I do.
And I have been successful. I just haven’t been as successful as I’ve wanted. But I have plenty of time to fix that. I can’t deny that I have done good things over the last six months.
I had a mirror moment today. One of those times where you catch yourself in the mirror and realize that you actually do look good (at least to you). I never had those moments over 300 pounds. Now I see them as a measure of success much more important than the scale. I can look in the mirror and see an attractive face and know that I am not fooling myself this time. (I mean, I might totally do me if I was a chick. That’s how attracted I am to myself. Especially when I get a little stubble going and my hair is just right. It’s any wonder I can keep my hands off me. Actually, give me a second….)
Okay, back. Sorry about that. My animal urges got a little out of control. But the point of all this is that a fat person shouldn’t judge his worth on the scale. If I turn in three good weeks, then I go home happy. If I don’t, then I go home happy, but knowing I could have done more.
Article comments
1 - Kevin
I am absolutely FLOORED with the amount of money you say you spend (spent) on fast food within the confines of a week, Dan. Watch yourself with that-it'll take you back to the dark side if you aren't careful. That said...
My advice in these last 3 weeks is to think about how disappointed you'll be in yourself when you get here if you're over your psychological weight limit. Every time you want to pull in the old In and Out Burger, not pick your ass up and take a walk (what ever happened to the hiking idea?) or go to the gym before work you need to think about how much better you'll feel when you get here knowing you tried your hardest.
2 - Guy
I hate to pull out the bad stuff but I am shocked that you are still alive after indegsting $145 - $200 of fast food in a week. When you get home I'm going to need you to hold a Q&A where we break that down meal by meal.
You better nail these next 2+ weeks man - you'll be far more satisfied with yourself if you finish strong than if you mail it in. Elliptical machines and big salads buddy - that should be your now through July 15th.