The best sleeplessness and physical pain I have ever had.

51 years old, down from 478 to 383 in around 7 months. Have been a volunteer youth baseball umpire for about 17 years. For the first time in years, yesterday, I umped two games behind the plate back-to-back during a fundraising tournament. I haven't done back-to-backs behind the plate in years because my weight diminished my stamina and physical ability to do it. Finally, after 6-7 months of walking 3-5 miles per day, 4-5 days per week, I was able to do it.

It was a challenging set of games. I took one direct foul tip to the upper forearm (still swollen and bruised this morning), one to the shoulder, and one that glanced off my mask and caught the outside of my jaw.

By the time I had finished showering five hours later, I could barely hobble around my living room and the practice field where my son was trying out for a summer select baseball team. Last night, I had spasms in my feet and calves that were so bad, I watched 2 episodes of Shameless, 3 episodes of House of Lies, 2 Daily Shows and 2 Colberts when I should have been sleeping, but couldn't due to the discomfort.

But here's the weird part. It was the best painful feeling I have ever had. Yeah, you read that right. The best painful feeling I ever had. It was as though I had earned the pain through hard work and effort, and now it was my companion through the night. Each ache was a reminder of the effort I put in to helping raise money for the little league and towards regaining my physical fitness. And the best part is that by the time our summer tournament rolls around in July, I know I'll be down another 40-50 pounds. And when I do that tournament, while I'll still feel each and every foul tip and shot to the forearm, my feet and lower legs won't ache as much because I'll be more fit than I am right now.

Have a wonderful start to your Monday!

Scott R. in Houston, Tx.