Thursday, August 28, 2008

Just Twelve Pounds

Just twelve pounds, in the past that would be an immediate excuse for me to go on a binge. Let me explain. In the past when I was “dieting” and trying to lose weight, I was a slave to the scale. I would weigh myself in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I would weigh myself before a shower and then of course after a shower (hey dirt has weight too). I would take a drink of water, weigh the glass of water, weigh myself before drinking it and then after I drank it, just to see how much weight I gained. Yes, I was compulsive and obsessed with that scale.

Then numbers were a big part of this “weigh” of life. I wanted to see how much weight I lost in a day, a week, a month. Not only was I interested in these numbers but it seemed like many of my family, friends were too. As a matter of fact the whole world seemed interested. A common greeting to me, would be “Hi Mike, how much weight did you lose this week”? Believe me if that number was not high (in the double digits) many of them did not hesitate to say, “Oh, you had a bad week”? Some people might think nine pounds in a week was not bad but for Mike Hebranko it was not good enough. Not even for my own standards.

This is a “heavy” burden to put on oneself, a lot of pressure to be under. This way of life I truly believe was part of (not totally) but part of my overall unhealthy way of losing my weight in the past. Probably contributed to me gaining so many times, my weight back.

Part of my “new outlook”, my new “weigh” of life, what I like to call, my "journey down the road of recovery” is …
I do not have a scale in my home!!! I now weigh myself once every three months and that is at my doctor’s office, only because she requires it.

I do not care what I weigh. What I do care about is how I feel. Am I feeling well, am I able to do more things each day. Am I making progress and yes am I eating within my plan? If I can answer yes to these questions then I know I am getting better and better with each day.

To many times in the past, have I played the “number” games only to lose at the end, and I am not talking about losing weight. Yes, I would lose weight, only to gain it back and then some.

I knew that changes had to be made. I knew that with each experience, I had to learn something and I did. It may have taken a long time, it may have even almost cost me my life at times. I know that some people around me today may not exactly understand or even agree with me and my methods, attitudes or the way I do things. Yet I know, what is working for me. I know how I feel in my head. I have come to a point in my life (over the last few years) where I am achieving an inner peace and a certain co-existence with my own disease (my eating addiction). No longer am I in a race, no longer am I looking for the magic answers, no longer am I trying every new diet, gadget, and procedure out there to lose weight.

I have realized that food is here to stay, I will have to eat at least three meals a day for the rest of my life and if I want to have any length or quality to that life, I better find some way of life, that is going to work for me and hopefully forever.

My twenty years of serious searching and trying to win this battle, plus being in the rehabilitation center for the 36 months I have had a realization. What works for me, is not starvation, not depravation, not elimination, what works for me is simple. Exactly …simple. K.I..S.T. Keeping It Simple for Today! I will basically eat about 1200 to 1400 calories a day and simple ones. Tuna for lunch, Chicken for dinner, simply prepared, sometimes a mushroom omelet made with eggbeaters. There may be occasions where I may go to 1600 calories or a little more (a wedding, party, etc); otherwise, I try not to stimulate the taste buds to much. I am not talking about the taste buds on my tongue but the taste buds in my mind! The better it looks, the better it taste, then the more I want and boy, if I want more and if I cannot control that urge, I can eat a tremendous amount food. I know this because I have done so in the past, (remember 1,000 pounds).

Now in the old days if I was on 1200 calories, the weight would melt off and the numbers would drop on that scale like a “hot potato”. A fact, now due to all the years of yo-yo dieting, losing weight (body muscle) and then gaining it back (more body fat), and along with getting older has effected my metabolism greatly and the weight just does not come off like it use too.
That is okay, it is what it is. I am thankful that it is coming off at all.

Back to “Just Twelve Pounds”. Therefore, I am at the doctor’s office, I get on the scale with no anticipation in my body, the digital number begins to appear. I had lost another 12 pounds. That is 12 pounds in three months, a pound a week! Some may say “just a pound a week”, I say “are you kidding”? The thing is I am not gaining.

My body is slowly losing the weight and this is a good thing for me. I say, I have no goals (as far as weight numbers) this time. If I never reach that number goal then I do not have to worry about “then what”! I know I cannot lose forever and eventually I will have to deal with some kind of maintenance and I have an Idea of how to do that when the time comes. It will be a while.

Twelve pounds, when those people say, “That is not so good”; I think to myself “you are entitled to your opinion”. Some even come to the brilliant conclusion, “you must be eating”. “Guess what? I am eating. Three times a day, everyday”.

If I need to boost my ego, I could tell people or just remind myself that in the past three years I have lost over 320 pounds or that I have lost over 100 pounds since I am home from rehab. (14 months). The one I love the best for some reason is when I got on the doctors scale this week I was 380 pounds.

I love that because that means getting around better. It means having one of the best summers I had in many many years. It meant attending family weddings, christenings, going to Atlantic City for the day and even for the first time in over 15 years I was able to stand by my wife’s side when we recently had to say goodbye to her (our) dear Aunt Ruthie a lovely lady who past away. She will be missed dearly. I was able to be like any other husband and be with my wife and her family through this terribly sad time. Let me mention we traveled over 100 miles to get there and did it two days in a row. To put things in perspective, my dad past away in 1996 and the funeral was a ½ a block from my home and I could not attend.

Three hundred and eighty pounds means a little more freedom than 400 pounds and a lot more freedom than 700 pounds.
As long as I stay focused, stay positive; continue to love life, my family, friends and the good Lord himself things will be okay. I know I have to Keep It Simple, and as long as I can stay “light” in my head, smile as often as possible, my goals will be reached. None of those goals involve numbers (scale numbers).

I will share with you one new goal that has been popping up in my heart lately. When I was a teenager one of the happiest days of my life was the day I opened up the mail and there it was, my “drivers license”, wow what a feeling of joy. Well I had to give up my license and I have not driven now it has to be since about 1993. I am going to drive again, not sure when but I am going to do it! I feel it in my bones, I just have to get my legs to work a little better and be sure to be able to fit behind the wheel, and then…..I am off!

Who knows, maybe I be driving through your town one day and we can say hi!

My friends take it from me, do not play the number games, do not get crazy on what that scale says today, and do not let it rule your life. Better still, concentrate on “change” (do I sound like a politician)? The kind of change that will better the quality of your life.

Let me share something with all of you, even my friends that do not suffer from the “weight” struggles. Change is good (for the most part) especially if it will better your life. If you could smile a little more, feel better about yourself, be more comfortable within your surroundings and with the people around you then begin to make the changes necessary.

Twelve pounds does not drive me crazy, it makes me happy! I lost twelve pounds, I have had a steady loss for three years, and it is a trend and new life for me. More important I have not “binged” for three years. Now that is something I cannot believe I can say. So that twelve pounds represents a new life for me and at 55, a new life is pretty cool! I am a lucky guy!

Lucky to have the people around me that I have, lucky to be able to share my blog with you, lucky to be alive and living better each day!

Have a wonderful day, and appreciate what you have for there is someone out there who has a lot less.

Love
Mike

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael
Oh I love it! What you say about the scale and how you share your life and feelings. I am so crazy when it comes to those numbers and the scales but you are right. What is the different if I reach a goal of a number and two weeks later I am 10 pounds heavier.
Michael I can not wait for you to drive through my town, I willbe ther to greet you with bells!
I don't know you personally but I love you and not in a way your wife has to worry.
Thanks
Laura T

Anonymous said...

Well lets see i can give you the directions to North Carolina so you can drive by but you cant just drive by you know now you have to stop and visit.....I sat here and read your blog this week and thought wow 12 pounds that is awesome...so what if it is 3 months 3 years whatever its is 12 pounds less then had 3 months ago....its not the number on the scale but how you get there is the goal....i remember when i lost weight along time ago while i still lived in brooklyn and remember going to your house Mike and being so compulsive with the scale you had there....that it came to the point if i drank a coffee i weighed myself...well those days thank god are over becasue i dont even own a scale....i personally think you are doing great and cant wait to hear the day that you are driving and heading down south because my door will be open my arms spread open wide waiting for that great hug that i miss so much.......

hugggs and love
Carol

Lacy said...

MIKE!
12 pounds is awesome!
I like your way of thinking.These "guidelines" are simply textbook answers.We are not all text book people!

I think your steady loss is wonderful.Much better than roller coastering.........hmm is that even a word?

I too tend to not live a textbook life.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike
I love your views and outlook. I am not sure I agree with Lacy, I have never seen your point of view in a Text Book but whatever works.

Keep up the great work and inspiring us
Regards
Tom

Anonymous said...

Mike
You are so right!
I have do what you say, the scale and numbers can not run my daily life.
Whether I enjoy my day should not depend on what I see on the scale.
Once again Mike you have hit it on the head.
Can others maybe write if they are slaves to the scale?
Also Mike can you write more about the KISS method.
Thank You
Vera

Anonymous said...

My Friend Michael
I truly mean my friend, I have to tell you that you have helped me in so many ways since I have read your blog for the past four months. I am a new man. I try to follow your kist method and it seems to help. I have lost 32 pounds and your attitude amazes me. My name is Michael also and I live in Indiana. I have been inspired by your desire to not give up over the years. There are those of us who might have quit a long time ago, how do you keep going.
Well thank you from one Michael to another
Michael

Lacy said...

Tom,
I think maybe you misunderstood what I was saying.LOL I tend to do that to people.
I meant that Micheals outlook is perfect! 12 pounds is great.

I was trying to say that I think it is great he doesnt follow textbook guidelines........but yet his own.We are all individuals .Hope I cleared taht up and didnt make it even more confusing

Anonymous said...

Dear Lacy
No problem, sorry if I misunderstood you.
As Mike would say have a Great day
Tom

Anonymous said...

Dear Mike
I think your 12 pounds is great and what is more is your attitude. I want to get to that point how did you get there.
Don't you worry if you are gaining weight?
Please tell me how to relax and just live my life.
Yours truly
Marie

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael
Thank you, thank you this is a great blog and I love what you have to say. You have inspired me to begin to change my life. I have learned, yes learned from you, even though I am 52 years old. What can I say I was at my worst end and now I feel recharged.
Will you be writing more?
I hope so
Ellen NH

Anonymous said...

Michael
How many years are you married? Why would your wife stay with you all these years? You were never there for her, what did she get out of the relationship?
She has to be a strong woman but does she stay with you out of pity or love?
I am sorry if I ask these questions, I love your blog and get so much from what you say but my wife left me 10 years ago and I hate my life.
Carl J.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Hi Carl,

You ask a very interesting question why am I still here, with Michael? Well let me try to explain. This goes back over forty years. Mike and I have been friends for almost 45 years. We as youngsters “hung out" on the same corner and the same "Stoops". We shared the same friends, laughs and a lot of the same ideas. Mike had a weight problem then and it did not put a damper on our friendship or fun. We both went to different high schools and were friends but not friends that were always together. We later entered college and found each other once again. I at the time had a boyfriend and Michael had a girlfriend then but Michael and I still enjoyed each others company and friendship. We both had so much in common and enjoyed being with each other more and more as time went on. Neither of us were showing much attention to our boyfriend and girlfriend. We had little time to go out with them. Eventually the two of us realized how we both felt about each other and just knew we wanted to get engaged, that was without ever going out on a date. We both knew that we loved each other, wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We married in 1976 and in 1977 I gave birth to a wonderful son.
Our life together at times has been bumpy but we stayed strong and together. You ask why? Well it is love not just the physical love but as people that care about each other, people who enjoy each other, who have fun together and think alike ...most of the times. I am not an angel but I am so happy to be with my husband and our marriage will continue to grow and our love deepen. No matter what difficulties we may come up against. You do not run when the going gets tough. A sweet physical therapist from Brookhaven use to say all the time "Love is Love" and that is true, with love the two of us can get through it all.
Michael's positive attitude and gentle touch is something you would not want to leave, I know I do not want to...ever.

Thanks for asking

Mike Hebranko said...

Hi Laura
I too would be honored to meet you. I maybe I will drive through your town firs!
What you say about losing only to again is so true. It drains us, physically and emotionally. Our spirits get low as do our energy levels.
What we need is not the quick fixes but the long term (forever kind of) answers to our problem.
I truly believe (through many years of trying, losing and gaining and loads of experiences)that the answer is sensibility. Individual programs for each of us based on basic healthy principles.
Laura my dear, good luck, take it easy. The numbers came on one at a time and that is the way they need to be taken off...one at a time.
Keep in touch
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Carol
You know I will find your house!
Yes 12 pounds is better taken off than put on. The most important reason for that is because if I gained 12 pounds and found out about it two weeks ago it would now be 22 pounds and by next week 30 etc at least in the old days.
My new outlook is if by some way I did gain 12 pounds well I would take a look at what I was doing and if need be make adjustments. Basically, keep my cool and not sabotage myself.
Carol be well and we will talk
Love you and please take care of yourself!
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear sweet Lacy,
I totally understood what you were saying and I am glad that you and Tom communicated between each other.
Thanks for the kind words and as for me Math and Science was my favorite subjects so "roller coastering" sound good to me. Beside I love roller coasters.

Text books are for learning from not to live from!
You are so right!
Lacy have a great day you sound like a wonderful person and please keep posting, I love what you have to say and so do 6 people who emailed me appreciating your comments.
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Tom
Thank you for posting and exchanging thoughts with Lacy, especially the part when you apologized. I think being able to say your sorry is so important. Most of us do not mean to hurt any one or their feelings. I also think it is a great sign of intelligence when someone is secure enough in themselves to say "Hey, I was wrong and I apologize"!
Tom I hope all is well and keep in touch
Special Regards
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Vera
You know what you have to do and I believe you can do it!
Keep in touch and I will help as long as I can.
Good Luck and keep in touch
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Michael
I feel like I am in therapy and I am writing a letter to myself, "Dear Michael".
Well Dear Michael, 32 pounds sounds like you are on your way and now is the time for you to take your time, appreciate what you have done and acknowledge that it is you. You are important and you have to realize that your life is important every day in every way. Even on those rough days, living and life is wonderful. The theologians talk about the after life and I truly believe in Heaven and eternal life ....but I am in no rush to get there yet. I have plenty of time to enjoy that, right now I want to smell the flowers, look at the sun, enjoy the air, hold my wife, have fun with her and my son and his family. Enjoy my family and friends and try to help others and hope to leave this world (when that time comes, I hope not for awhile), I hope to leave this world a little better than I found it. If all of us can try to help others in some way I think the world would be a better place. Besides "We help ourselves when we help each other"!
So Michael that is how I carry on. I look at the glass for the most part as half full
and life is for the most part a great thing
Keep in touch
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Marie
Easy question, tell you how to live your life....emmmmmm! Live it!
Seriously that is in my book (that is not published yet) but in short Marie. I can not tell you how to live your life, I can tell you how I lived my life ...with the ups and downs. I try to maximize the ups and minimize the downs.
I don't and we shouldn't linger on the "low" times because that feeds those times and then they never go away.
So Marie more love especially self-love, that is my tip for today!
Hang in there, go easy on yourself, you are a special person, I know it, I feel it!
Keep in touch
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Ellen
Just call me the energizer bunny (re-charged your life ...so I am not a comedian).
Ellen I will be writing more.
I am glad to hear you are making changes in your life. I am 55 and we can make changes at any age. When we see the need then we do what needs to be done.
I personally hope I have the power and wisdom to make a change on my dying bed if necessary.
Ellen good luck to you my dear sweet friend and if you need me, write hear or email me at .. michaelhebranko@yahoo.com
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Carl
Well I guess my wife answered you before I could. Besides who e many better could answer those questions than her.
I have to tell you I would add another thing to that list of reasons why we are together.
I know one of the many things I love and adore her for is that she is always full of surprises and never ceases to amaze me. Boring you can not use her name and that word in the same sentence.
Keep in touch Carl
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Boot
Love you, thanks
Boot

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael
I am not sure if you are aware of how you help people? I started reading your blog about five months ago. I was 58 pounds overweight and worse felt there was no hope. You, yes you made me realize that at age 51 years old there was still hope and things could change. I now enjoy life and yes I am now only 29 pounds overweight.
Thank you
Love
Lynn WV

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael
Once again your wife has proven to me that she is an unbelievable woman. I am inspired by your life and attitude but she is the real hero.
The way she answered that guy Carl shows how classy she really is, you are a lucky man to have such a woman.
I think she is the best
Thanks for this blog
Jane

Anonymous said...

Michael
I just read your blog for the first time, what can I say. I am going to spend the next two days reading all your postings including the responses you make to those of us who write to you. What I have read so far is deep, inspiring, true to soul, wise, intelligent and makes someone want to be a better person and to help themselves.
I know you have touched me and more important sparked something inside of me.
You are a wonderful guy
My name is Guy and I live in Indiana

Anonymous said...

Dear Mike
it is so beautiful to see a relationship like you and your wife have. She must be really a special woman. I almost envy you. I see why you can be so positive. I for one am almost 500 pounds and have no one to love me. It is not easy to take care of yourself when there is no reason to do it.
Any words for me
Joe Tx

Anonymous said...

Dear Mike
Congratulations not only on your weight loss but on your attitude and the help you indirectly give to many of us. I read your blog two times a day and each time find something more to hang on too. I am inspired by your writings and that you are still here with us. I also love the dedication you and your wife have for each other, you two must really be in love.
Well thank you and please keep writing ....
Tonya CT.

Mrs. R said...

Michael, here is to many, many more happy years for you. I hope that your procedure went okay - I read through your blog, perhaps not carefully, and didn't read how it came out. I assume okay!

I am so terrified for my sister. She is morbidly obese and seems to have given up on losing weight. She has a great job and many friends, but I know her weight makes her very unhappy. She is currently in therapy but I wonder if she is even dealing with her weight much. I pray she has your motivation soon. To keep going as you have is a tremendous thing.

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael
you have done so much for me and I am sure for so many others! I have followed your story for years. Your ability to put yourself out there no matter what weight you were helps us all.
Thank you for sharing and o very bestowing some very wise thoughts and feelings with us.
I have lost 17 pounds in the past 5 weeks and your blog has helped me though it. I am looking forward to the newsletter and Will be on the mailing list.
Pamela CA

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike
Your blog is great, love it! I get so much from it! By the way I love the relationship you and your wife have she must be a wonderful woman.
Please keep blogging
Dana CO.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

What a great blog just 12 pounds I too am in the just 12 pounds only going up not down. You put some much into what you do what is your driver? I read your blog once in a while but I think I need to come back here more often, when I first read you blog I got motivated and was losing than I got lost hope to get back on track.

Thanks for being here

chubby

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Lynn,
I believe that if each of us could help just one person in life, make a difference is just one persons life, even if it is for one day, then we have made a nice contribution to the world.
Now as with you, please remember there is always hope!! Always! As long as we have breath then there is hope (for this life). Even when things seem to be at their worse, there is hope. We may have to look hard, work at hit, survive through the storm but clear days are always ahead!
I am thrilled that you are a regular visitor to the blog and even more that you are taking care of yourself.
At 29 pounds you are half way there but remember when you get there you still have to take care of that very special person ..... that is you.
Lynn keep in touch, good luck and always keep your eye on the light
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Jane
You have it so right. My wife is a hero, she certainly is my hero and classy, oh yes, Madelaine is a classy lady.
She has this hard exterior but has the warmest, softest heart and is one of the smartest people I have ever met (and I have met many people). In my book she would make a great President of the USA. Emm maybe I will start a movement. Madelaine for president! It would be interesting, she wouldn't take any of this rhetoric. It would be the facts, the issues and what was good for the people. She would make it simple, why all the complexity to get something done, that is my wife. The "Good Ole' Boys" would not like her but is would be their loss. She is one heck of a lady better still a human being.
Thanks Jane for recognizing that. I hope you are well and taking good care of you
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Guy
I hope you enjoy your little journey through the blog pages. I am glad that you will be reading the comments and responses to them, I believe a lot of good stuff is exchanged in that area.
Guy I hope that you are in great spirits and at all time keep in mind what a great gift we have as human beings and that is life itself. I have lived to believe that every day that I am alive and get the privilege to play in the game of life (even the not such great days) I am personally blessed, I am the luckiest person in the world and I am thankful for it!
Guy you be well and keep in touch with all respect and love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Joe
Yes I am lucky and hit a home run when it came to my wife (that isn't bad considering I can not play baseball).
You ask me if I have any words for you, well you may not like them because they are simple.
You talk about how difficult it is when we have no one to love us. Well Joe you have someone to love you ......YOU! Yes, you and until you begin to love yourself (no matter what you weigh. You can always change the packaging, You have to love the ingredients) and I bet there is a lot to love inside of you. You need to just begin to love yourself, I bet you once you start loving yourself you will attract people around you to love you. There is a lot of love out there in the world just looking for a place to settle down, love wants to settle in your life. Joe I was over 400 pounds when I got married. Easy? Not at all but there had to be not only a lot of love for my mate but enough self love that made me want to get through all my (fears and hang ups) and make the right steps for the rest of my life! It was well worth the inner battle!
Joe, you be well and take a deep breath and say to yourself "self, I am not such a bad person and I deserve a better life because I AM WORTH IT!!"
LOVE
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Congratulations not only on your weight loss but on your attitude and the help you indirectly give to many of us. I read your blog two times a day and each time find something more to hang on too. I am inspired by your writings and that you are still here with us. I also love the dedication you and your wife have for each other, you two must really be in love.
Well thank you and please keep writing ....
Tonya CT.

Dear Tonya,
Thank you, I have to be honest, I too am inspired to be here with you and everybody also.
It is nice that you read the blog and especially that you get something from it. I am sure your contribution will also touch someone we "help ourselves when we help each other". I hope you continue to visit the blog and also contribute to the blog. Be well Tonya and take good care of You!
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Mrs. R
I am so sorry I thought I mentioned it in one of my postings but my procedure went great! I almost recommend a re-start for anyone over Fifty (only kidding). Truthfully, the end of June beginning of July I thought this was it for sure. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I was getting weaker with each breath I took. I have to say I wasn't scared, what I was is a little sad. Only because I am enjoying my life so much now and my little Grandson is such a big part of that. Yet although sad I felt that if this was God's plan well I have so much to be thankful for.
I guess God was not ready for me (and that's is okay with me) so here I am feeling great!
So thank you
Now for your sweet sister
It is a very difficult life to be so loved and active and somewhat successful and realize you have no control over this one part of your life ...your "eating disorder". Believe me she knows and she is scared. She may not want to face it or admit it because she feels that she is helpless when it comes to it.
It has to be even harder for a loved one to sit back and watch this happen. What do you do? Do you hop on her.....NO! The best thing is to love (a I am sure you do). Maybe write her a letter telling her you love her and that you will support her in anything she wants to try in helping herself. The key factor is she has to want to do it herself.
If you want give her my email address and if she emails me I will call her or you can email me her phone number but she has to know I will be calling her. No surprises that will just turn her off. My email address is michaelhebranko@yahoo.com
Mrs R
keep in touch you are a beautiful woman
Love Ya
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike Hebranko said...

Hi Pamela
Thanks for those sweet thoughts and I hope by sharing my story it may have someone say to them self, "well if he does not give up then why should I".
Seventeen pounds that is great and never underestimate yourself.
The first newsletter probably won't be until November it takes a while for the first but you will be on the mailing list. Just remember to email me your email address my email is michaelhebranko@yahoo.com
Take care Pamela and let's keep in touch
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Dana
On behalf of my wife and myself, Thank you.
I hope all is well with you and let's keep in touch.
Take care and keep smiling that is so important
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Chubby
My driver is life, my family, friends, and things I believe in!
Having people by me who love me makes it that much easier but not always is it enough. I have to love myself more... more than that extra sandwich, or piece of cake or extra pasta. I have to love myself enough to fight each battle a hopefully win enough of them to make a significant difference in my health and lifestyle.
Chubby the 12 pounds you have gone up is okay that was yesterday, Today is a new day a new chance. You can begin to change that upward curve, you have the power, I am sure there are people who love you and support your decision but it has to be yours to make.
You can do it, because YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!
Now come on Chubby, lets go!!
Keep in touch I love hearing from you and so do many others
We believe in you
Love
Mike