Nutri-System...The One Month Mark

Okay....six pounds down after a month...my trainer is kicking my ass again giving me a great kick start....looks like I'm going to lose this bet folks...but you know I don't care...

I had my physical done today and my blood pressure was a magnificent 120/60 (and average/typical for a man is 130/90 which means I ROCK). I've got some revamped meds for the diabetes to assist with the diet. I'm learning more and more about what I can and should not (not cannot) eat.

There's still a long road to go but I'm definitely on the path

What Could Have Been...

Last week I was on the train platform heading down to a post-work kiss and schmooze event when I saw this woman.

Okay, let me be perfectly honest...she was a rather large gal. Maybe 5'5" but probably 220 pounds and a little unkempt. Now, I have nothing much that I can say myself since I know that I'm not exactly a small person myself but I think that I would have to be about 340 pounds to be equal to her size. I tried not to stare at her but I was really looking at what could have been me (although taller and heavier) if I had not really started exercising and takin care of myself by exercising and watching what I eat.

I think she caught me staring at her a few times as I really pondered the "what could have been" aspect of things. She didn't look exceptionally happy and given her size, I can imagine why not.

I'm grateful that I've taken a much stronger look at my health and my desire to get into better shape. I've accepted the fact that it is a process and the weight doesn't magically come off. It is work. It required dedication. I've slipped a few times here and there but I've stayed on track for well over a year now.

I've thought a lot about that woman in the past few days. I've thought a lot about what I would do if I was in her situation. If anything, it's reinforced my goal and desire to hit my targets even more.

Marketing Blunders

This is an actual item that you can find on the Macy's website with the following copy:

"Patriot perfection! Nineteen wins. Zero losses. Football history has been rewritten, and the New England Patriots have won it all! Commemorate every bone-crunching tackle and triumphant touchdown with this limited edition Waterford Crystal football."

Wow...that's gotta suck. I hope they didn't pre-order those....

"Don't you want to be happy?"

Tonight I saw A Chorus Line for the...I dunno...sixth(?), seventh(?), eighth(?) time...I know it may seem excessive to some but there's something about the story that always has given me hope and courage to know that practically anything is possible and that success isn't always measured in what you get, but in how far you've come and in how you handle the setbacks.

But tonight when one character (I believe Bobby) said, "Don't you want to be happy?" I realized that I was happy. I was pretty fucking happy. It wasn't the show or how it made me feel that made me happy...I was already happy and didn't realize that the strange feeling that I had wasn't the flu or my stomach reacting to the new diet...it was happiness.

Professionally, I am personally satisfied with what I am doing. I love what I do for a living. I love the challenge that I have every day when I walk into the office. I love the clients I work with on a daily basis. I love knowing that I get to create something that can have a positive impact on people.

Personally, while my romantic leanings aren't panning out, I can look back on the last year of trials, tribulations, and strife and know that I have come out a stronger person. I can handle more and deal with more than I ever knew possible. It's learning this about myself that's given me an extra oomph to push harder. Romance can wait. I'm loving myself right now...

Spiritually, I am still have the same relationship that I've had for years. I know I've said many times before that I believe more in God (or a Creator) than in religion and am rather adverse to organized religion but I do have conversations with God that are personal and mine alone. We discuss the decisions I've made, what's resulted from my decisions, and what's going to happen if I don't change some things.

So yeah....I can actually say I'm happy...happier than I have ever been in a long time. And it's nice a way to be....

(PS On a total aside, should anyone from the cast stumble across this...Maggie, whoever you are since I threw away the playbill, thanks for the chills on the "money note"...haven't had THOSE in a while...to the new Paul, you should have been cast first over Jason Tam...you're SO much better, and finally to the remarkable Mr. Berresse who I have seen perform for the past...wow...10 YEARS(!), truly the best I have ever seen you do this part and you're only getting better....)