The shrinking historian

I don't like to write about too much personnel stuff but I guess I feel relieved and proud and need to share it. In July 2007 my doctor put me on meds for blood pressure. I am borderline but with my weight she wanted to be sure. At this point I decided to get my act together if I could. I have never been fond of the word diet so I knew I needed a lifestyle change. You see for me, eating relieves stress, since I am a keep it all inside type of guy that is not a good thing. Being a very positive person, the overeating was something to take in stride. Of course the nagging issues crept up on me. Sore knees, backaches, sleep apnea all of the overweight symptoms together in one nice package, lucky me. In June a co-worker on my old job had a massive heart attack in the office. That same month Joel Segal passed away from a colon cancer battle. I was feeling ready, two people I really cared about suffer a possible fate with my name written on them. I got the message. By mid July I was changing my eating habits. By the end of July Leslie Sansone and I are walking ourselves fit in my bedroom with aerobic walking. I am almost up to 4 miles. On Sunday I finally broke down and went clothes shopping because things are, well falling off of me. I knew a change was on. First up shirts. In June I was basically between 3 and 4 xl. As I tried on a Champion sweat my wife said it looks too big, I wish I could have seen my own face because that was a 2 xl I had on. Sure enough the XL was perfect. In the end I decided on 2xl tall in my shirts so the length would work well but if I continue shortly I'll be in XL on most tops. Amazing. Pants, my scariest clothing area. Size in June 56 (OYE VEY) after trying a few styles for fit (The ladies know the woos of foreign sizes) I settled on two pairs of 50 except when I started wearing them they slip down with the belt. So I am at the crossroads of 48 pants and XL tall tops. I was pretty speechless. All I really did was stop soda and be careful of what I was eating. Trying to eat roasted instead of fried, more veggies, sensible eating. Lots of water and of course exercise. I am not over board about doing these things I tried to bring this into my life as a slow change. No more indigestion's, odd aches and pains, unexplained tiredness. My goal now is to get off these meds. I try to take baby steps and ease into a new way of thinking but now it's easier, because I feel good I see a difference in the mirror. No one has yet said wow you look smaller which is good because it makes me realize how bad it was and how far I have to go. But I know my success and you do too now. Small steps and small victories are leading me on the good path. I have amazed myself in this and some days I have to make my self eat meals because I know when I am trying to eat out of habit not hunger. This blog alone is a testament to my new fond confidence. Discussing my size is not a favorite thing for me so I needed to let it go and embrace a new me since it has been 3 months and I feel good about it all. Thanks for listening out there....