"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." - David Frost
Well, didn't gain/lose any weight this month. But again I try not to gauge my success in this lifestyle change by the numbers on a scale. It's more than that. Success is being able to jog a little over a mile without stopping. Success is gathering $695 for a charity walk event, beating your previous year's donation goal.
A successful weightloss journey is much more. Being able to resist overeating or the urge to not get out of bed at 4:15am to jog in the dark, that is success.
Take some time today and think about some of the small successes you have enjoyed recently. How about putting on those pants you haven't worn for 5 years because they were too small? Or take that extra lap around the neighborhood that you wouldn't have even thought of doing a year ago.
"Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." - Author Unknown
Matty
Friday, June 30, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Identity...
"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." - Raymond Hull
Ever have an identity crisis? I am currently working my way through one. Actually I think I have been in one all my life. I've turned into a shapeshifter over the years to battle with fear and the need for acceptance from other people. I can get into a social situation and key in on what people are talking about and most of the time sound intelligent talking about it. To make friends I have found what others were interested in and then learned all I could about it so we had something to talk about.
I've been into comics, basketball cards, cars, computers, video games, hunting, guns, you name it. Now I have gotten to the point where I want to be accepted for who I am. But who am I? That's the $100,000 question.
Don't be pressured or try to revolve your life around what others think of you. If it takes things to impress people, then those aren't the people I want to spend time with.
How do you get through the identity crisis? Not sure. I take it day by day and trust that God will direct me. I am me. A guy that was determined to lose weight. I am a guy that has a passion to get his story out to inspire others. I am accepted by Christ...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
Ever have an identity crisis? I am currently working my way through one. Actually I think I have been in one all my life. I've turned into a shapeshifter over the years to battle with fear and the need for acceptance from other people. I can get into a social situation and key in on what people are talking about and most of the time sound intelligent talking about it. To make friends I have found what others were interested in and then learned all I could about it so we had something to talk about.
I've been into comics, basketball cards, cars, computers, video games, hunting, guns, you name it. Now I have gotten to the point where I want to be accepted for who I am. But who am I? That's the $100,000 question.
Don't be pressured or try to revolve your life around what others think of you. If it takes things to impress people, then those aren't the people I want to spend time with.
How do you get through the identity crisis? Not sure. I take it day by day and trust that God will direct me. I am me. A guy that was determined to lose weight. I am a guy that has a passion to get his story out to inspire others. I am accepted by Christ...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Pleasure...
"In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures." - Cicero
Food used to bring me satisfaction or at least temporary comfort. The key word in that last sentence is temporary. You can't eat your way, drink your way, or buy your happiness. The more I ponder on it, the more I begin to realize that the things of this world are temporary. The pleasure they bring are temporary, for example my Xbox. I used to play it all the time, enjoyed the challenges of the games. But now it's a rarity that I pick up the controller, I do on occasion to play with my son. You can have too much fun where it gets sickening after a while. Solomon wrote a book in the bible all about it. He was the richest man, EVER. He had everything he wanted, built many buildings and monuments, accomplished many things but after a while he became jaded. It just wasn't fun anymore. The thrill was in the chase, but since the chase was over - it wasn't fun anymore.
We need to think of that in our own lifestyle changes. We need to continue to set the bar a little higher, we need to reset goals and not rest on our laurels. If we don't, we too will become jaded and fall backwards. I think happiness closely follows contentment, so try to remember to be content with what you have now, but not with who you are. Strive to go the extra mile...
"Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth." - Thomas Carlyle
Matty
Food used to bring me satisfaction or at least temporary comfort. The key word in that last sentence is temporary. You can't eat your way, drink your way, or buy your happiness. The more I ponder on it, the more I begin to realize that the things of this world are temporary. The pleasure they bring are temporary, for example my Xbox. I used to play it all the time, enjoyed the challenges of the games. But now it's a rarity that I pick up the controller, I do on occasion to play with my son. You can have too much fun where it gets sickening after a while. Solomon wrote a book in the bible all about it. He was the richest man, EVER. He had everything he wanted, built many buildings and monuments, accomplished many things but after a while he became jaded. It just wasn't fun anymore. The thrill was in the chase, but since the chase was over - it wasn't fun anymore.
We need to think of that in our own lifestyle changes. We need to continue to set the bar a little higher, we need to reset goals and not rest on our laurels. If we don't, we too will become jaded and fall backwards. I think happiness closely follows contentment, so try to remember to be content with what you have now, but not with who you are. Strive to go the extra mile...
"Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth." - Thomas Carlyle
Matty
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Perspective, Pt. 2...
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." - Abraham Maslow
I thought I would continue a little more on perspective since I heard a song the other day that kind of clarifies what I was talking about:
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
I see you - the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through meI guess I was wrong
So what now? It's plain to see we're over,
And I hate when things are over -
When so much is left undone
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got.
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
- "Breakfast at Tiffany's" , Deep Blue Something
The guy could have just given up on the relationship when the girl said they had nothing in common. Instead he looked at it from a different perspective and found some common ground in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". So often we live our lives in terms of seeing the glass half-empty. Think of what we can accomplish if we perceive the glass as half-full instead! If something has got you down today, step back and try to look at it from a different perspective. You may surprise yourself and find an answer that you hadn't thought of!
"Retreat, hell! We're just advancing in another direction." - Oliver Prince Smith
Matty
I thought I would continue a little more on perspective since I heard a song the other day that kind of clarifies what I was talking about:
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
I see you - the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through meI guess I was wrong
So what now? It's plain to see we're over,
And I hate when things are over -
When so much is left undone
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got.
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
- "Breakfast at Tiffany's" , Deep Blue Something
The guy could have just given up on the relationship when the girl said they had nothing in common. Instead he looked at it from a different perspective and found some common ground in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". So often we live our lives in terms of seeing the glass half-empty. Think of what we can accomplish if we perceive the glass as half-full instead! If something has got you down today, step back and try to look at it from a different perspective. You may surprise yourself and find an answer that you hadn't thought of!
"Retreat, hell! We're just advancing in another direction." - Oliver Prince Smith
Matty
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Perspective
"It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall." - Mexican Proverb
It's all about perspective when it comes to failures. Sure we hold a pity-party and cry about the failures when they come. Or we can change our perspective and look at the situation from a different angle and try to gain some sort of insight or bright spot.
Dave Ramsey said something that made me think a little- he spoke about the old saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but he continued, "Or you will spend the rest of your life tasting it's bitter fruit." Or something to that effect. It's true, you can wallow and moan about your situation or you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make changes that will bring a positive result.
Take time today to think about a failure or some unfavorable situation and resolve to find something positive in it. You'll be surprised what a new frame of mind/different perspective will achieve...
"My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. " - Ashleigh Brilliant
Matty
It's all about perspective when it comes to failures. Sure we hold a pity-party and cry about the failures when they come. Or we can change our perspective and look at the situation from a different angle and try to gain some sort of insight or bright spot.
Dave Ramsey said something that made me think a little- he spoke about the old saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but he continued, "Or you will spend the rest of your life tasting it's bitter fruit." Or something to that effect. It's true, you can wallow and moan about your situation or you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make changes that will bring a positive result.
Take time today to think about a failure or some unfavorable situation and resolve to find something positive in it. You'll be surprised what a new frame of mind/different perspective will achieve...
"My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. " - Ashleigh Brilliant
Matty
Friday, June 09, 2006
Anxiety...
"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." - Author Unknown
My stomach is in knots. Is it worry? Is it anxiety? Why do we worry about stuff that we have no control over? Dr. Covey talks about changing your thinking to things within your circle of influence and things outside your circle of influence. The things inside the circle of influence are things that you can change yourself. Those outside the circle are things you cannot change.
The trick is to sort out what you can change and what you cannot change. I will do that today. Figure out what is within my circle of influence and that which is not a part of it. After those have been sorted, it comes down to figuring out how to change what can be changed -whether it be an attitude about something, positive mindset, a physical change. That will take time as well as you assess what can be done. But we all need to do that. You cannot go on and worry about things that you have no control over.
But I am struggling today. Problem with a co-worker that I cannot seem to shake. Life is never easy and I never expected it to be...
But I will resolve to figure out what I can do to change what is in my circle of influence.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." - Glenn Turner
Matty
My stomach is in knots. Is it worry? Is it anxiety? Why do we worry about stuff that we have no control over? Dr. Covey talks about changing your thinking to things within your circle of influence and things outside your circle of influence. The things inside the circle of influence are things that you can change yourself. Those outside the circle are things you cannot change.
The trick is to sort out what you can change and what you cannot change. I will do that today. Figure out what is within my circle of influence and that which is not a part of it. After those have been sorted, it comes down to figuring out how to change what can be changed -whether it be an attitude about something, positive mindset, a physical change. That will take time as well as you assess what can be done. But we all need to do that. You cannot go on and worry about things that you have no control over.
But I am struggling today. Problem with a co-worker that I cannot seem to shake. Life is never easy and I never expected it to be...
But I will resolve to figure out what I can do to change what is in my circle of influence.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." - Glenn Turner
Matty
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Jealousy...
"Envy is a waste of time." - Author Unknown
Sure we all struggle with jealousy and envy. We look around us everyday and see something that someone else is doing or has and wished that we had the same things or opportunities. But envy can lead us down some dark roads. Roads that lead to restlessness, discontentment, anger, and depression. This can eventually lead to poor food choices and lack of enthusiasm for exercise and cause us to lose our focus.
I am struggling with that a little bit today. But you know, I shouldn't be envious. Their situation is fraught with their own set of problems - some that I know of and I am sure there are many others that are just beneath the surface. Instead I will make sure to wish them well today and be thankful for what I have and for what God has allowed me to accomplish.
Don't get sucked into the mainstream that you aren't cool if you don't have the latest and greatest or are wearing or driving something cool. Be content and feel blessed with what you have and watch as God blesses you with more.
No sense in letting jealousy grab ahold of you, it will only lead to misery. Again, be content with what you have but not with who you are - you can always improve yourself.
"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." - Harold Coffin
Matty
Sure we all struggle with jealousy and envy. We look around us everyday and see something that someone else is doing or has and wished that we had the same things or opportunities. But envy can lead us down some dark roads. Roads that lead to restlessness, discontentment, anger, and depression. This can eventually lead to poor food choices and lack of enthusiasm for exercise and cause us to lose our focus.
I am struggling with that a little bit today. But you know, I shouldn't be envious. Their situation is fraught with their own set of problems - some that I know of and I am sure there are many others that are just beneath the surface. Instead I will make sure to wish them well today and be thankful for what I have and for what God has allowed me to accomplish.
Don't get sucked into the mainstream that you aren't cool if you don't have the latest and greatest or are wearing or driving something cool. Be content and feel blessed with what you have and watch as God blesses you with more.
No sense in letting jealousy grab ahold of you, it will only lead to misery. Again, be content with what you have but not with who you are - you can always improve yourself.
"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." - Harold Coffin
Matty
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Regression...
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." - Author Unknown
I was walking to church the other day and saw that someone had written years ago into the wet cement "regress". That odd word actually hit me with some meaning. This last month was a sort of regression in my weight loss journey. I had relapsed into some unhealthy stress coping and with not maintaining vigilance with measuring portions or staying within calories, I gained 4lbs. That was a wake-up to me. I also cleaned out my closet this past week and weeded out a lot of the clothes that I can no longer wear. Each shirt or pair of pants that I pulled out was a reminder of where I was and that it also was a vow that I would never fall back into those same habits again.
We all relapse sometimes, hey, but the difference has to be not to wallow in those relapses. Reflect on the past but don't long for it. I was watch Kathy Griffin last night and although she has some funny stories - she's a Democrat at heart. She was whining in one of her bits about the good old days of Clinton in the White House and the Monica situation. Although I have to admit that my faith in the President is wavering, I cannot say that the Clinton administration was better or worse than this one. That's all I have to say about that.
I remember in the movie, "Say Anything" the commencement speech that the character Diane had given to her classmates at graduation. One line caught my mind as I thought about the word regress - "I can say that I have glimpsed the future and all I have to say to you is... Go back..." Or something to that effect. Sure I admit for some things it would be cool to go back, but as the quote I found at the beginning of this entry states, all things have worked together to bring you to this moment...
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." - Oscar Wilde
Matty
I was walking to church the other day and saw that someone had written years ago into the wet cement "regress". That odd word actually hit me with some meaning. This last month was a sort of regression in my weight loss journey. I had relapsed into some unhealthy stress coping and with not maintaining vigilance with measuring portions or staying within calories, I gained 4lbs. That was a wake-up to me. I also cleaned out my closet this past week and weeded out a lot of the clothes that I can no longer wear. Each shirt or pair of pants that I pulled out was a reminder of where I was and that it also was a vow that I would never fall back into those same habits again.
We all relapse sometimes, hey, but the difference has to be not to wallow in those relapses. Reflect on the past but don't long for it. I was watch Kathy Griffin last night and although she has some funny stories - she's a Democrat at heart. She was whining in one of her bits about the good old days of Clinton in the White House and the Monica situation. Although I have to admit that my faith in the President is wavering, I cannot say that the Clinton administration was better or worse than this one. That's all I have to say about that.
I remember in the movie, "Say Anything" the commencement speech that the character Diane had given to her classmates at graduation. One line caught my mind as I thought about the word regress - "I can say that I have glimpsed the future and all I have to say to you is... Go back..." Or something to that effect. Sure I admit for some things it would be cool to go back, but as the quote I found at the beginning of this entry states, all things have worked together to bring you to this moment...
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." - Oscar Wilde
Matty
Friday, June 02, 2006
Regret...
"Regrets, Ive had a few
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption." - Frank Sinatra, "My Way"
We all have regrets, times where we wish we could go back and change that one decision or seize that one opportunity. "If onlys" seem to dominate many people's minds these days. But you have to look at the flipside - you wouldn't be who you are without those decisions. For example, if I had seriously studied in college and pursued the degree I was looking to get - I'd probably be in Hollywood as a part of some film crew. Sure it'd be an exciting life to make movies, but would I have come to know Christ? Would I be married? Would she have been as wonderful as Brenda? What if I didn't have the courage to ask my wife out on our first date? I think I would be living in Texas with my mother right now working at some rundown movie theater. Seriously.
Live in the now and learn from the past. It's not a crime or bad to wish for the times of your youth, but never ever for a second believe that those times were better than today. What we remember are the good times for the most part, like when I was in high school. I remember all the fun we had piling into my friend's mini-van and going to the local burger joint, grabbing a huge sack of burgers and making cat-calls at the girls in the parking lot. What I try to forget is the times I felt so alone because my friends all had girlfriends and the taunting I got from the jocks for being a fattie.
Would I trade away anything that has happened to me over my life? There may be one or two moments, but for the most part - no, I wouldn't. Everything that has happened to me has culminated and fused together to make me who I am today. Remember that...
Carpe Diem, my friends...
"Look, if you had one shot,
one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip? " - Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
Matty
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption." - Frank Sinatra, "My Way"
We all have regrets, times where we wish we could go back and change that one decision or seize that one opportunity. "If onlys" seem to dominate many people's minds these days. But you have to look at the flipside - you wouldn't be who you are without those decisions. For example, if I had seriously studied in college and pursued the degree I was looking to get - I'd probably be in Hollywood as a part of some film crew. Sure it'd be an exciting life to make movies, but would I have come to know Christ? Would I be married? Would she have been as wonderful as Brenda? What if I didn't have the courage to ask my wife out on our first date? I think I would be living in Texas with my mother right now working at some rundown movie theater. Seriously.
Live in the now and learn from the past. It's not a crime or bad to wish for the times of your youth, but never ever for a second believe that those times were better than today. What we remember are the good times for the most part, like when I was in high school. I remember all the fun we had piling into my friend's mini-van and going to the local burger joint, grabbing a huge sack of burgers and making cat-calls at the girls in the parking lot. What I try to forget is the times I felt so alone because my friends all had girlfriends and the taunting I got from the jocks for being a fattie.
Would I trade away anything that has happened to me over my life? There may be one or two moments, but for the most part - no, I wouldn't. Everything that has happened to me has culminated and fused together to make me who I am today. Remember that...
Carpe Diem, my friends...
"Look, if you had one shot,
one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip? " - Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
Matty
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Being Yourself...
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland
I have a problem with being myself around others sometimes. I always have the feeling like I need to be 'on' all the time in order to garner the acceptance of others. Self-esteem or having confidence in yourself needs to become a priority in your walk. You cannot plan a path based on what others might say, think, or feel. You cannot start your weightloss journey based on wanting to please others. Using this method of thinking will guarantee failure.
We all want to be liked. We all want to be a part of the 'cool' crowd. It feels good to be liked or to have people want to be around you. We, like junkies, sometimes makes decisions or do things to get that 'fix'. We don't look at the whole picture to see what consequences may come, only looking at the current moment.
My self-esteem has been in the toilet for over 20 years, it is one of the things that had caused my weight gain. Low self-esteem leads to depression, and for me, depression leads to eating, which in turn comes back to the viscious cycle all over again.
Slowly I am realizing that I shouldn't care what others think of me, their opinion of me has little bearing on my life. But it's hard, so hard sometimes to go against the grain or popular flow. Stay strong, stay the course...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
I have a problem with being myself around others sometimes. I always have the feeling like I need to be 'on' all the time in order to garner the acceptance of others. Self-esteem or having confidence in yourself needs to become a priority in your walk. You cannot plan a path based on what others might say, think, or feel. You cannot start your weightloss journey based on wanting to please others. Using this method of thinking will guarantee failure.
We all want to be liked. We all want to be a part of the 'cool' crowd. It feels good to be liked or to have people want to be around you. We, like junkies, sometimes makes decisions or do things to get that 'fix'. We don't look at the whole picture to see what consequences may come, only looking at the current moment.
My self-esteem has been in the toilet for over 20 years, it is one of the things that had caused my weight gain. Low self-esteem leads to depression, and for me, depression leads to eating, which in turn comes back to the viscious cycle all over again.
Slowly I am realizing that I shouldn't care what others think of me, their opinion of me has little bearing on my life. But it's hard, so hard sometimes to go against the grain or popular flow. Stay strong, stay the course...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
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