Determined To Succeed

I know it is nowhere near Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but I woke up on this Monday morning thinking about his beautiful August 28, 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. And while weight loss is nowhere near the fight for civil rights, equality and justice, the speech and its words can ring true for many things including our weight loss journey.

When I started out losing weight it was never my goal to drop 175 lbs. It was only to drop ten or so pounds so my knee would stop hurting when I went to go see a freaking movie, my favorite hobby in the world. That was it. I never dared to dream I’d be able to lose the weight of a grown person, nor did I dream of being able to do some of the things I am enjoying now (everything from martial arts classes to shopping off-the-rack in “normal” stores).  Then when more and more weight came off I began to wonder “how far can this go? I don’t want surgery so I will try my best and see.”

I knew it would take hard work, passion and time but that’s when I began to dream.

When I lost that weight finally I realized I had reached “the promised land.” I dared to dream and I got to that dream and it was beautiful. Now I may have put on twenty pounds and am this/close to being back to just having to re-lose ten, which is awesome, but I am holding on here and will for the rest of my life. Although something has come up and I now have a new dream to achieve…

…my Calvin Klein suit pants.

As much as I love movies I love clothes shopping. I know, I know. A guy who loves shopping? Yes, and I am not ashamed of it, dammit. Last year I took a trip to a local outlet mall and visited the Calvin Klein store (when I dream I dream BIG, figuratively speaking). This store was having an INCREDIBLE sale (and since dropping all this weight I NEVER buy retail anymore) so I browsed and found something I thought I’d never find – a beautiful designer suit IN MY SIZE! Well, almost my size.

Calvin likes his clothes to have an athletic fit and this ain’t no athletic body, but I was absolutely lucky to find both the pants and suit jacket to match in my size and for so cheap a price (I think I paid $70 for a $525 suit). So I snatched it up and took it home. But when I tried on the pants they were a smidge too tight. I then hung the suit in my closet and dreamed again that one day I would reach that promised land, too.

With my martial arts classes I am doing much better in my workouts and my eating overall. But the pants I bought are still a bit too tight (no on should be able to see what month I was born because pants are too tight). But I will not fear, for I will get there. This is the most beautiful suit I have owned to date and I will not (NOT!) let it sit in my closet with its tags still on never worn in public.

I will get there. I do have a dream.

It may be cliche to have a pair of pants I want to fit into but it is part of a physical goal. I also know once I get to that goal I can’t stop or the pants will go back to being a smidge too tight. I certainly don’t want that and I want to wear that freaking suit! And I will.

If you have an item of clothing in which you want to fit, dare to dream. We are all on a journey to reach these goals. The actual number, size or item may be different for each and every person but our goal is the same. To lose weight. And we will get there and be free at last from these extra, stubborn pounds. So do not ever give up on your weight loss dreams…

…so you can one day share with me your dreams and feelings having reached the promised land.