The long road to success - 100 pounds lost

So, as of this morning, it's official - I've lost 100 pounds in 874 days. From 296 pounds as of May 9, 2010, to 195.6 pounds as of today, September 29, 2012. It's been 874 days, about 29 months, to get here. Despite setbacks (wedding, honeymoon, slacking), it still averages out to 3.5 pounds per month.

The reason I am posting this story is not for myself - to be just a bit arrogant, I know how far I've come, and how much work I put into this effort, and how much better I feel about myself. I'm probably getting a bit vain, but I'm sure my lovely and supporting wife will keep me in check.

I am posting this story for everyone else - it can be done, and it takes time. I went from 1,400 calorie lunches and three Coca-colas per day to 400 calorie lunches, and I have not bought a bottle of soda into my house for well over a year. I still have one occasionally, like anything, but thinking of what I was doing three years ago just, honestly, disgusts me - what I was doing to my body, to my life.

I am an attorney and I work in firm with many other attorneys. A few months ago I met with some clients who I had met with originally in early 2009. When I finished meeting with them, I gave them my business card, and they did a double-take - it had not registered with them that I was the same person (or, rather, 2/3 of the same person) that I had been two and a half years before. They did not recognize me at all.

My original goal was a 40" waist and 230 pounds. The last pair of jeans I bought were 36" waist, and my current weight goal is 180 ( or less) - I am vain enough to want a six pack, and that means getting my body fat percentage down another 6 or 8 points. The amusing thing is that I was in the best shape of my life at 230, and every day since then I just keep getting faster and stronger.

Today, when I touch my toes, I put my palms flat on the floor. I am on day 46 of P90x, and once that is finished I am going to start training (yes, me training - myself from three years ago stares into the future with incredulity) for the Chicago triathlon, Olympic distance.

To those folks out there who are struggling - I know how rough it is. I've been there, and it sucks. Success is out there - one day at a time, day after day. For me, today is day 874. It's a long road, but worth the trip.