Vices...

"How like herrings and onions our vices are in the morning after we have committed them."
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Have your bad habits gotten the best of you? Have you given up on your lifestyle change (or New Year's resolution) because it became too difficult? Experts say that it takes 21 days to break a bad habit or form a good habit. I keep trying to pound this one truth home - falling off the wagon is not failure - failure is not even trying.

I have fallen time and time again, gone over in calories - refused to exercise or jog, and I have beaten myself up over it. Then I get right back onto the plan and start over again. Each day is a new day to start over. Why beat yourself up over past mistakes? Start with a clean slate and positive state of mind!

"It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations." - Walter Bagehot


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

Hope

"You've gotta have hope. Without hope life is meaningless. Without hope life is meaning less and less." - Author Unknown

Hope. It all comes down to hope. Hope is one of the things that drives us. Drives our passions, drives our motivation, drives our being. If we have no hope, depression & gloominess, despair & lonliness invades our very soul.

Sure things come into our lives that cause pain and depression - but we should all have that hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, a rope or ladder reaching down into the depths of our depression waiting to lift us out.

How is your hope today? Are you hoping for a better future? Set your eyes on the prize and Go For It!


"Hope is grief's best music." - Author Unknown

Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

Nowhere...

"Gotta get away from the day-to-day, everybody knows this is nowhere..." - Neil Young


So, how's the new lifestyle change coming for 2008? First full week is behind us with another 51 weeks ahead. Are you going to be in that 20% that sticks with it, or the 80% that gives up by January 31st? Dan Miller often talks about the definition of insanity being doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. Are you in a rut? Make a change, any change, however small, to get yourself out of that day-to-day grind.

So, come on. Are you gonna make this year the best ever? Or are you going to flounder in your rut, wishing and hoping?

"It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to." - Annie Gottlier


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

Self-Discovery...

"Every one of us has in him a continent of undiscovered character. Blessed is he who acts the Columbus to his own soul." - Author Unknown


http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/index.php?ntid=263791

A neat story of self-discovery. A pastor in Ohio challenged his congregation with the parable of the talents from the book of Matthew. Adults were given $50 each, children were given $10 each and had 7 weeks to double the money in some way.

Elderly people rediscovered old talents like woodworking & knitting, little kids used their creativity of origami, others were inventive by offering motorcycle & plane rides, one lady may end up parlaying her creative talent into a business (she decorated flip-flops & sold them).
Not only is this a story revolving around a biblical story with a purpose - it can be grasped by the non-religious as well. Discovering what you can offer the world through your talents, that each person has something unique about them.

I may not be the most talented singer or painter, but I like to write and produce audio/visual material. Go on your own road to self-discovery. Find out what you have to offer the world. You may be surprised at what you find!


"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." - Buddha


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

New Beginnings...

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other." - Author Unknown

So, the new year is almost upon us. New Year's resolutions are on everyone's lips, the newspapers and news programs are talking about how to accomplish those resolutions, radio DJs are cracking jokes about breaking them before the new year has started...

80-85% of Americans that make resolutions for the new year fall out of keeping them within the first 30 days. I think it may have something to do with the non-focus of the resolutions and the half-hearted promise that is made in keeping them.

Do something different this year, try something new. Make a "Lifestyle Change" resolution instead. Have a goal, make a plan to reach that goal. Track your progress on the way to that goal. Be one of the 20% that succeeds in the new year...


"New Year's Day is every man's birthday." - Charles Lamb


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

Childhood...

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons." - Author Unknown

Christmas eve is here. Can't wait for tomorrow morning, I am a little more excited than my son is for this time of year. Excited to see the looks on his and my wife's faces as they open presents. When I was younger, I anticipated anxiously to see what I had received from Santa - the joy of receiving was all my little heart could understand.

Now that I am older, I am understanding the other side of it - the giving side. I hope my gift to you over the past year has been encouragement, comfort, and maybe a little wisdom thrown in for good measure...

May you and yours have the merriest Christmas ever!


Happy Holidays from Matty, Brenda, Javan, & baby Vander Plow (no name yet)
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com

Progess...

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." - Raymond Hull


Sometimes we try to progress in ways that really cause us to regress. Like trying to fit into someone else's shoes or lifestyle, for example. We all run our own races and have our own lives. My problems and trials are different from your problems and trials. I have my own idea of what success is, and that may differ from what you perceive success as.

Wherever you are on your lifestyle journey, remember - the only person you are competing against is the person you used to be. If you can beat that person each and every day, that right there is progress.


"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland



Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Chances...

"If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance." - Andrea Boydston


Ever wish for a second chance at something? Guess what? Every day you wake up, you get a second chance. A chance to start over, a chance to begin anew. Fail today? Feel like a complete failure because you stumbled into that same trap you always fall into? Again, if you wake up breathing, you get another chance to try again.

Too many times we focus on the downside of life, the times we failed, the times when we were passed over, when we didn't catch a lucky break that we deserved or needed.

Buck up little camper, tomorrow's a new day filled with promise!


"Breath is Spirit. The act of breathing is living." - Author Unknown



Matty
http://www.iweighedmorethanjared.com/
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Hiding...

"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." - Clint Eastwood

Here's the deal:

The other night my son and I were in the van coming up to a red light, the vehicle next to us decided to run the light. Just so happened that a sheriff was on the opposite road and witnessed the whole ordeal. The light turned green and he made his turn, I was thinking that he was going to let it go. Next thing I see is bright flashing lights as he pulled the car over. Busted.

I relay that story to the fact that you always get found out, lies fall apart, falsities are brought to light. Sometimes people weave so many lies that they begin to believe them - I can look around at other overweight people and wonder that myself. Did these people just give up on life, believing the lie that they are trapped and doomed to be overweight the rest of their lives? Who gave them that Kool-Aid to drink?

I myself need to come clean, through secret snacking and intentional over-eating I have gained 25lbs over the past year. My pattern of nervous eating, frustration eating, stress eating has crept back into my life. I admit that, and that is the first step. It came to light for me when I had to go out to the used clothing stores to purchase some larger-in-the-waist pants (went from a 42 to a 44) but I didn't want to face it. The ordeal with the sheriff rang as an alarm bell in my head.

Self-respect and honesty are important to living a life of freedom, freedom from criticism and ridicule. Being forthright is more virtuous that anything else. So here I am.

Be honest with yourself, you won't regret it...

"Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when e suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth we have spoken it." - Whitney Griswold


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
(more honesty - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy my e-Book! It's on sale for $9.95!)

Limits...

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." - Dr. Benjamin Spock

Limits. We all know our limits, we know how far we can go in pretty much any situation. But do we really? Dan Miller (www.48days.com) mentioned in one of his books a story about a high jumper. A high jumper never knows how good he/she is until they trip the bar. By tripping the bar, they know their limit at that point. They know what they need to work on to get past that barrier.

Have you tested your limits? Gone back to that restaurant that you used to go overboard at? Tasted that food that you previously couldn't get enough of? Have you stretched yourself in your exercise routine to see what your body can do?

If you fall and overeat or overexert yourself, you know your limit in that area and what you need to work on. Don't be afraid to test your limits, that's the only way you'll be able to grow...

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill


Matty V.
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Rest...

"We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart... and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together.... I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude." - Helen Hayes


Rest. That's what I think my body needed this week. I came down with a head cold that my loving son decided he needed to share with me. I started the week doing my usual routine, feeling a little rundown but in overall good spirits. Then the cold hit. I felt like I was bogged down, like suddenly I was in a groggy fog - not feeling like doing anything. Housework has suffered, my exercise has ceased, just an overwhelming need to sleep and rest.

Sometimes I think we need that - a time to just relax and regroup. A refreshment comes with rest, a time of reflection and possibly strategy for the future. But this is not the same rest that is talked about in Proverbs:

"A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." - Proverbs 6:10-11, NLT

The rest talked about above is that of laziness. The rest of recuperation and regeneration is different than that of lax laziness. Rest for a short time but then get back to the program. Rest is good for the body, mind, & soul in limited quantities. Any longer than that and it becomes a detriment to our spiritual, mental, & physical health...


"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir


Matty V.
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Mediocrity...

"Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world." - Lily Tomlin

I heard somewhere that a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. Do you hate the "daily grind", the "rat race", the "hum drum existence"? In our weight loss journey, this is called a "plateau" - no weight gain/no weight loss. I hate it and I am sure those that experience it hate it as well.

We need to use this time, this feeling of mediocrity as a staging for daring to change - do something great, something challenging, something out of the ordinary. If we are not comfortable or like where we are in life, then we need to make a change. Dare to dream, dare to excel, dare to fly in the face of conformity and comfort.

I rally today to plan out a break from the mediocre. You and I were destined for more than that!



"Mediocrity is a hand-rail." - Charles Louis de Secondat


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Halloween...

"There is nothing that gives more assurance than a mask." - Colette

The above statement is true, we tend to be more confident hiding our "true" selves behind a mask or illusion for fear of being ridiculed. I've hidden behind many masks and illusions over the years, portraying myself as the "funny fat guy" or the "trusted 3rd wheel".

We all could benefit from taking off our masks, tear down our illusions, and just contemplate our own person for a while. Get to know our "true" selves, learn to like our inadequacies, our quirks, the things that make us unique instead of trying to fit in with the world.

I feel the need to do this myself. I've been putting on heirs and have been trying to be something/someone I am not to try and fit in. But I can no longer deny who I am and if others cannot connect with me because of it - so be it.

We are all beautiful people on the inside and I have faith in knowing that if we truly believe that, the beauty on the inside will begin to emerge on the outside...


"When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,May luck be yours on Halloween." - Author Unknown


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Vanity...

"Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired: even I who write this, and you who read this." - Blaise Pascal


Struggling with this myself. Vanity. Who would have thought that me, myself, I would be struggling with vanity? I guess I never had anything to be vain about appearance-wise. I was a 500+lb guy with a limited wardrobe and no real sense of style.

Now with losing almost half my bodyweight, I am seeking out the "hip" clothing from "cool" designers and clothing stores. I drool over getting deals on Polo, Nautica, American Eagle, & Hollister clothing. Sometimes I feel like a kid in a candy store when I see clothes in MY size.

I need to rein things in a bit. I am on this lifestyle journey for one reason - to get healthy and inspire others to do the same. I did not choose this change to be able to flaunt it, but rather to be a beacon to others that they too can change their lives for the better.

I need to teach myself this lesson, it's not just about me - it's about others as well...


"The surest cure for vanity is loneliness." - Thomas Wolfe

Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now on sale!

Persistence...

"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream." - Author Unknown

I ran my first 8k race this past weekend. I have entered a few 5k races, I jog 5k 4 days a week, and I have even pushed my self a couple of times to hit 7k. 8k was a stretch for me, I was nervous and scared. They had different starting positions for those that could run a mile in 2min all the way to 10min. I run a mile in about 12min, which is better than last year.

By mile 3 my body wanted to quit. People were passing me, most of them were already on their way back to the finish line. Then the hill came. A steep hill down, cut across a few streets, a steep hill back up. My mind was screaming at me to stop. But my spirit persisted. My legs felt like jelly, but I persisted. People were passing me, but I persisted.

I ran 8k (5mi) in 63min 42sec, the fastest I have ever run before. My 7k jaunts took 70min, I smashed that to hell. I ended up 8th for my age group, and my family was there rooting for me at the end of the race. It was great.

I passed people along the way that quit running and walked. "Desperate house-moms", the "Macho-I-Was-In-The-Military-Back-In-The-Day-I-Can-Handle-8k" older guys, even teenagers. I passed teenagers that had given up. A 270lb fat guy passed teenagers in an 8k race???

Persistence is important, but it is good to know when to stop. The old adage "Winners never quit" is untrue. "Winners KNOW when to quit..."


"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday." - Author Unknown



Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is now available!

Moving On...

"You can't unscramble eggs..." - Joel Osteen

I heard this while on my jog this morning, I was listening to Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen. The point he was making with the above quote is that you need to move through whatever pain, guilt, or whatever is holding you back. You can't continue to live in the past, remembering each and every time you fell down on your journey. You need to move on and start fresh, the past is the past.

Sometimes we find ourselves dwelling a little too long on things that have gotten us off track. We need to remember that each day is a new day, a time to start fresh. The chains of the past are broken, the future is ahead of us - full of promise and excitement.

I've been struggling with this for a little while now, not letting go of somethings that have been chaining me to the past. Today is different. I am choosing to move on and look forward to the excitement that awaits me and my family.

Tonight I am participating in the annual chili cook off here in town, my third year. I've used it to promote my speaking business and website. Now that my book is available, I will promote that as well. Hope I make an impression...


"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Journey" e-Book is on sale now!

Anniversaries...

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that." - Michael Leunig

My dearest Brenda,

11 years ago today you and I became husband and wife. It's been a strange and wonderful trip. We have had our share of good times and bad times over the years. I am thankful each day for you. I am thankful for finding someone that was able to look past the exterior and see into my heart.

Both of us have matured and our love for eachother has grown exponentially, founded in our faith in Jesus Christ.

I know this may sound odd, but sometimes secular musicians get some sentiments right in their music. I heard this lyric and it reminded me so much of us:

"Trust I seek and I find in you,
Each day for us something new,
Open minds for a different view,
And nothing else matters..."

I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I don't want to experience any of it without you.

I can't offer you much in the way of gifts this year for our anniversary, but what I can offer is my undying love and the culmination of my efforts to live a healthier lifestyle.

Today is the day that I chose to release my book to the world. A book that without your love, support, & encouragement would never have been written. I dedicate it to you and my prayer is that others would be touched and inspired through it.

Thank you for loving me no matter what...

Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
"Dead Man Walking: A Weight Loss Story" e-Book is now available!

Pity...

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - M. Kathleen Casey


Ever been in a pity spiral? I can tell you that it can be a scary place. Sometimes you feel good about the "woe is me", but then you find it creeps into every fiber of your being. That's when the depression starts, thoughts of failure cloud over your mind. Sometimes it gets so intense that the only way out (at least the only way you can see through the cloud) is suicide.

I've been down that road a few times, and let me tell you - it is not a fun place to be. We all get down on ourselves, thinking that we aren't good enough or living up to our true potential. Sure we can trip up and fall into the pity pool and wallow in it for a bit. But we need to climb out as soon as possible, otherwise that pity pool will turn into a spiral and it will get harder and harder to get out.

When you feel like you've failed or given up, remind yourself that you are human - and that humans make mistakes. Think of the positive things that you have accomplished. Set new goals for a new day. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that this is a minor set-back, the race is not over. The journey has just begun...

"It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line." - Ashleigh Brilliant

Defeat...

"No one ever excused his way to success." - Dave Del Dotto


I was thinking about this the past couple of days. I guess it has become a theme this week, my audio podcast & video show also deal with this topic. Those thoughts that tend to creep into our minds, telling us that we are worthless or try to get us off task really can be pursuasive. I fought like hell this week with thoughts of sleeping in and not jogging or exercising, thoughts of defeat because I was unable to get out to walk before work because of traffic. Worries about personal & family problems, that voice telling me to just splurge and eat to make myself feel better.

If anything it would make things worse. Sometimes we fall into that self-defeat pit and quickly need to get out of it. The longer we wallow in it, the harder it is to see daylight and hope. We start believing these thoughts and that only pulls us down deeper.

If you get a negative thought, you need to replace it right away with a positive one. Have a bad experience? Train yourself to look for a positive in that negative. Life is a learning experience...


"Pessimism is an excuse for not trying and a guarantee to a personal failure." - Bill Clinton


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
A free sample chapter of my new book is available for download!

Contentment

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." - Mohandas K. Gandhi


This week's episode of "The Fattening of America" deals with contentment. This is a really tough issue to deal with in today's society. I often find myself wishing and dreaming for a new car, new house, new video game hardware and the like. I know deep down that none of that stuff will satisfy me. We tend to compensate for poor self-image by acquiring things to make us look more important or to garner some feeling of envy from others.

Contentment is something that I struggle with daily. I need to keep telling myself that I need to be content with who I am first. I need to come to grips with my strengths, weaknesses, talents, & skills and tell myself that I am valuable.

Be content with WHO you are but never WHERE you are... There's a difference...


"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy." - Eric Hoffer


Matty
www.iweighedmorethanjared.com
A sample chapter of my book is available for download!