Where to begin...
This last month was filled with a plethora of good times and bad times. All were growing experiences and I have learned a lot about myself and my capabilities.
I try to use these monthly updates as an encouragement tool, something for people to read and gain some strength or inspiration. Sometimes I feel as though I am gloating in a way. That has not and is not my intention. I do apologize if these updates feel that way from time to time.
I am glad to report that another 2lbs are off! That brings my current weight to 252lbs and the total lost to 258lbs. I keep reminding myself that the last 50 or so pounds tend to be the hardest to lose. I miss the months of losing 10-12-14lbs...
Here are some other highlights from the month:
* Won 1st place in my Toastmasters Club's International Speech Contest. I will be competing at the area contest next Saturday. From there if I win I will move to the division contest and on to the international contest where I would compete against winners from all over the world.
One contest at a time, though...
* Ran my first 5k race a couple of Fridays ago. 39min 12sec was my time, a lot faster than I thought I would do. Had a lot of fun and am planning on doing it again in May with the "Run for Habitat" 5k.
* "The Fattening of America" is starting to blow up on YouTube. I have 19 subscribers that tune in to my show every week and many more that view the episodes without subscribing. Many of my episodes so far have had over 300 views! Very exciting!
* Stage one of my triathlon training is completed. I now run 4.91mi (or 7.9k) in about 70min (14min mile). Next is biking 22.8mi in one trip...
If you haven't been to my website in a while, check it out (www.iweighedmorethanjared.com). I have added a few things, including a new sample chapter of the book I am writing on my weight loss adventures...
Thank you all once again for being a big part of my weight loss journey. You guys keep me honest!
Matty (www.iweighedmorethanjared.com)
510/252/210
(starting weight/current weight/goal weight)
* mini goal achieved - jog 7k by 03/31/07
* mini goal - 300lbs total lost by 09/30/07
Friday, March 30, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Future
"The future is always beginning now." - Mark Strand
I was listening to a poem by Jim Morrison this morning called,
"The Movie" and a portion of it goes as follows:
"The movie will begin in five moments
The mindless voice announced
All those unseated will await the next show.
We filed slowly, languidly into the hall
The auditorium was vast and silent
As we seated and were darkened, the voice continued.
The program for this evening is not new
You've seen this entertainment through and through
You've seen your birth your life and death
You might recall all of the rest
Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?"
Make today a call to action. Is there something you've always wanted to do or see or experience? Have you been procrastinating over quitting smoking, getting on the health program, finding a new job? Don't wait one more minute, as the quote above states - the future is now. Step out onto that ledge, throw those arms in the air, and jump. Today is your day. Today is a day to shine. A new day, a new beginning. Make today count for something...
"And in today already walks tomorrow." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Matty
http://www.iweighedmorethanjared.com/
I was listening to a poem by Jim Morrison this morning called,
"The Movie" and a portion of it goes as follows:
"The movie will begin in five moments
The mindless voice announced
All those unseated will await the next show.
We filed slowly, languidly into the hall
The auditorium was vast and silent
As we seated and were darkened, the voice continued.
The program for this evening is not new
You've seen this entertainment through and through
You've seen your birth your life and death
You might recall all of the rest
Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?"
Make today a call to action. Is there something you've always wanted to do or see or experience? Have you been procrastinating over quitting smoking, getting on the health program, finding a new job? Don't wait one more minute, as the quote above states - the future is now. Step out onto that ledge, throw those arms in the air, and jump. Today is your day. Today is a day to shine. A new day, a new beginning. Make today count for something...
"And in today already walks tomorrow." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Matty
http://www.iweighedmorethanjared.com/
Friday, March 16, 2007
Ignorance...
"A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad." - Bob Edwards
Was out for a walk yesterday around noontime. I had walked all the way from downtown to my old high school (which is about 1.5mi) enjoying the sunshine and the warmth. It was time for the kids to head back to class as I passed groups of kids walking toward the school. I was crossing the street across from a group of guys, they were smiling and laughing while looking in my direction. I passed them and one of them said, "Hey there big fella", with the rest of the guys giggling like little school girls.
I acted like I didn't hear it and kept walking. Ignorance. I could have turned around and mentioned something to the effect that I am now actually half the man I once was. But it would have been lost on these kids. Sometimes I tend to believe Ron White when he says, "You can't fix stupid," but I was like those kids growing up.
We used to tease this one old guy that rode around on a rusted bike with the side baskets on the back, the ones that looked like wire saddlebags. Everytime we saw him we would shout out, "Hey Marvin Levineeeee!!!!!!!" Had no idea what the guy's name was, one of my friends just came up with the name. Everytime we would see him, we would shout that out. He would act all disgusted and shout back, "That's not my name!!!!!" Turned out the guy lived at a halfway house (or group home) and would travel around all day on his bike looking for returnables to get money for smokes.
Even as we get older we tend to get snarky or make snide comments about someone that is different from us or has something we envy. Reminds me of that car commercial where the little girl gets into the back of her mom's SUV after a birthday party and asks, "What does spoiled mean?" and the mom says, "Who called you that?" to which the little girl replied, "Nobody - they were calling you that." Or something to that effect.
Words hurt. Be careful how you use them...
"A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance." Saul Bellow
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Was out for a walk yesterday around noontime. I had walked all the way from downtown to my old high school (which is about 1.5mi) enjoying the sunshine and the warmth. It was time for the kids to head back to class as I passed groups of kids walking toward the school. I was crossing the street across from a group of guys, they were smiling and laughing while looking in my direction. I passed them and one of them said, "Hey there big fella", with the rest of the guys giggling like little school girls.
I acted like I didn't hear it and kept walking. Ignorance. I could have turned around and mentioned something to the effect that I am now actually half the man I once was. But it would have been lost on these kids. Sometimes I tend to believe Ron White when he says, "You can't fix stupid," but I was like those kids growing up.
We used to tease this one old guy that rode around on a rusted bike with the side baskets on the back, the ones that looked like wire saddlebags. Everytime we saw him we would shout out, "Hey Marvin Levineeeee!!!!!!!" Had no idea what the guy's name was, one of my friends just came up with the name. Everytime we would see him, we would shout that out. He would act all disgusted and shout back, "That's not my name!!!!!" Turned out the guy lived at a halfway house (or group home) and would travel around all day on his bike looking for returnables to get money for smokes.
Even as we get older we tend to get snarky or make snide comments about someone that is different from us or has something we envy. Reminds me of that car commercial where the little girl gets into the back of her mom's SUV after a birthday party and asks, "What does spoiled mean?" and the mom says, "Who called you that?" to which the little girl replied, "Nobody - they were calling you that." Or something to that effect.
Words hurt. Be careful how you use them...
"A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance." Saul Bellow
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, March 09, 2007
Nervousness...
"Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick." - Steve Bull
I blog from time to time about things that strike me that may apply not only to my own journey but also hopefully to you as well. A song popped into my head as a good thing to blog about today...
Michigan native Eminem has had a reputation as a loudmouth, pottymouth, bigmouth rapper. His songs are peppered with f-bombs, degredation towards women, scenes of abuse & neglect. But there is one song in his catalog that is worth checking out. Founded as the autobiography of his rise to stardom, "Lose Yourself" is filled with honesty, pain, excitement, regret, anger, power. He relays his nervousness in performing his first gig,
"His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgettin'
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin, how everybody's jokin now
The clock's run out, time's up over, bloah!
Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't give up that easy, no..."
It goes on to his determination to make it out of the trailerpark and provide a better life for his family. The chorus is powerful:
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo..."
One shot. One chance. He grabbed with both hands and ran with it. Something to think about when we are faced with a nervous situation. I used to find myself eating to assuage the butterflies. Now I am finding reflection and meditation to be the thing to calm me down. I had to use that technique last week when I spoke in front of the largest crowd I had to date. I was shaking on the inside, my palms were sweaty, I just kept reflecting on how far I had come and those people were there to hear my story - me, they came to hear me.
Once I got in front of the crowd - I was on fire. The nervousness went away and confidence returned. I owned that stage...
Worry, nervousness, fretting - three things that get us nowhere but down in the dumps. Climb out of that pit of despair and realize that we are all human.
"Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is to small to be made into a burden."
- Corrie ten Boom, "Clippings from My Notebook"
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
I blog from time to time about things that strike me that may apply not only to my own journey but also hopefully to you as well. A song popped into my head as a good thing to blog about today...
Michigan native Eminem has had a reputation as a loudmouth, pottymouth, bigmouth rapper. His songs are peppered with f-bombs, degredation towards women, scenes of abuse & neglect. But there is one song in his catalog that is worth checking out. Founded as the autobiography of his rise to stardom, "Lose Yourself" is filled with honesty, pain, excitement, regret, anger, power. He relays his nervousness in performing his first gig,
"His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgettin'
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin, how everybody's jokin now
The clock's run out, time's up over, bloah!
Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't give up that easy, no..."
It goes on to his determination to make it out of the trailerpark and provide a better life for his family. The chorus is powerful:
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo..."
One shot. One chance. He grabbed with both hands and ran with it. Something to think about when we are faced with a nervous situation. I used to find myself eating to assuage the butterflies. Now I am finding reflection and meditation to be the thing to calm me down. I had to use that technique last week when I spoke in front of the largest crowd I had to date. I was shaking on the inside, my palms were sweaty, I just kept reflecting on how far I had come and those people were there to hear my story - me, they came to hear me.
Once I got in front of the crowd - I was on fire. The nervousness went away and confidence returned. I owned that stage...
Worry, nervousness, fretting - three things that get us nowhere but down in the dumps. Climb out of that pit of despair and realize that we are all human.
"Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is to small to be made into a burden."
- Corrie ten Boom, "Clippings from My Notebook"
Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
Friday, March 02, 2007
Matty's Monthly Update - February 2007
A new month awaits...
Outside the freezing snow is coming down, one of those days you wish you could just snuggle up at home under a warm blanket while sipping some hot coffee or tea.Sitting here at my desk I put together a "snowy day" mix of songs to listen to while working. Of course Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" is required as well as some moreobscure tunes from the likes Chuck Mangione (master of the flugelhorn) and The Smiths...
The past month has been a whirlwind of excitement and growth. Things are starting to happen at a fast pace and it is hard right now to get a grip on the wheel.Some highlights (if you hadn't heard about them before):
* First paying speaking engagement - Oakland CRC in Hamilton, MI. They heard me on JQ99fm and inquired about having me come out to speak.One of the comments I received was encouraging, "It wasn't just about your weight loss. Anyone in the audience could have taken something away from whatyou had to say and apply it to their own lives..."
* Featured on MacMedia Television's "Lakeshore Living" with Wendy Wigger - turns out the host of the program is the director of wellness at Priority Health.She is planning on contacting me in the future to come out and speak to their clients.
* Yet another article in the Holland Sentinel - promoting my speaking engagement at Herrick Library and also my fledgling business, 4:13 Fitness Concepts
* Featured on WZZM-13's "Real People" segment - promoting my speaking engagement at Herrick Library (www.wzzm13.com, click on "videos" and scroll down the list to find it)
* Speaking engagement at Herrick Library - around 127 people signed up to come in and hear me speak, about 80-90 showed up. The original venue was booked at leasta month prior and there was a waiting list. I spoke with the coordinator about it and she was able to get the auditorium at Herrick Library which can seat up to 200 people.I had a great response for a new venture I am starting called "Matty's Motivators", which is an email accountability program. 18 people have signed up so far, which I think is a great response!
* www.iweighedmorethanjared.com - the website is doing well, I am averaging about 30-50 visits a day and the contest for my book title continues on."Almost-Dead Man Walking: 4 Keys for Successful and Realistic Weight Loss" is the front-runner so far...
So many things, so many new opportunities to explore and expand.
I am truly happy to say that this month, despite some off days, I have ended a 2 month stall! I weighed in this morning at 254lbs, which is a 2lbs loss!
Continue to think of me as I solicit more speaking engagements from schools, businesses, civic groups, & churches. And don't forget tobookmark www.iweighedmorethanjared.com to keep track of more exciting stuff!
3 years and counting, with the rest of my life to go...
Matty V.
510/254/210
(starting weight/current weight/goal weight)
New Mini-Goals!Mini-Goal #1 - get my morning jog up 4.8mi by 03/31/07
Mini-Goal #2 - 300lbs total lost by 08/31/07
Outside the freezing snow is coming down, one of those days you wish you could just snuggle up at home under a warm blanket while sipping some hot coffee or tea.Sitting here at my desk I put together a "snowy day" mix of songs to listen to while working. Of course Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" is required as well as some moreobscure tunes from the likes Chuck Mangione (master of the flugelhorn) and The Smiths...
The past month has been a whirlwind of excitement and growth. Things are starting to happen at a fast pace and it is hard right now to get a grip on the wheel.Some highlights (if you hadn't heard about them before):
* First paying speaking engagement - Oakland CRC in Hamilton, MI. They heard me on JQ99fm and inquired about having me come out to speak.One of the comments I received was encouraging, "It wasn't just about your weight loss. Anyone in the audience could have taken something away from whatyou had to say and apply it to their own lives..."
* Featured on MacMedia Television's "Lakeshore Living" with Wendy Wigger - turns out the host of the program is the director of wellness at Priority Health.She is planning on contacting me in the future to come out and speak to their clients.
* Yet another article in the Holland Sentinel - promoting my speaking engagement at Herrick Library and also my fledgling business, 4:13 Fitness Concepts
* Featured on WZZM-13's "Real People" segment - promoting my speaking engagement at Herrick Library (www.wzzm13.com, click on "videos" and scroll down the list to find it)
* Speaking engagement at Herrick Library - around 127 people signed up to come in and hear me speak, about 80-90 showed up. The original venue was booked at leasta month prior and there was a waiting list. I spoke with the coordinator about it and she was able to get the auditorium at Herrick Library which can seat up to 200 people.I had a great response for a new venture I am starting called "Matty's Motivators", which is an email accountability program. 18 people have signed up so far, which I think is a great response!
* www.iweighedmorethanjared.com - the website is doing well, I am averaging about 30-50 visits a day and the contest for my book title continues on."Almost-Dead Man Walking: 4 Keys for Successful and Realistic Weight Loss" is the front-runner so far...
So many things, so many new opportunities to explore and expand.
I am truly happy to say that this month, despite some off days, I have ended a 2 month stall! I weighed in this morning at 254lbs, which is a 2lbs loss!
Continue to think of me as I solicit more speaking engagements from schools, businesses, civic groups, & churches. And don't forget tobookmark www.iweighedmorethanjared.com to keep track of more exciting stuff!
3 years and counting, with the rest of my life to go...
Matty V.
510/254/210
(starting weight/current weight/goal weight)
New Mini-Goals!Mini-Goal #1 - get my morning jog up 4.8mi by 03/31/07
Mini-Goal #2 - 300lbs total lost by 08/31/07
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