Welcome to Road to a Million, a blog about the real issues we face as we try to reach our goal of losing million pounds in Oklahoma City.  This first post will tell you a little about my journey and introduce you to some of the topics I'll discuss over the next several months.

 You may be wondering why you would want to read the postings of some stranger or wondering what makes me qualified to write this in the first place.  The answer to both questions is the same - because I am struggling with many of the same issues you face as I try to lose weight.  I know what it's like to fight off (and sometimes lose to) the temptations of juicy burgers or rich chocolate.  I know how hard it is to start and maintain an exercise routine.  I also know the feelings of great joy when the scale shows lower numbers and deep disappointment when the numbers keep rising.

Before I go further, I'll tell you about my journey.  My name is Jim Craig and I have been an OKC Million participant since January 2008.  My initial weight on the website was 291 pounds, although I really think I had reached 300. 

I couldn't believe I was that far above the optimum weight level for my age and height.  Actually, I shouldn't mince words here - I was fat, obese, huge!  Whatever you want to call it, it was time to change my life.  I knew I had to do something when I realized I was as fat as Homer Simpson...at his heaviest!

I wasn't always that big.  I was athletic and thin when I was in high school.  Some would even say I was too thin at 130 pounds.  However, I was a runner and runners are naturally thin.

That all changed in college.  I gained the typical "Freshman 15," of course, but it didn't stop there. I went on to gain a Sophomore 20, Junior 25, and Senior 35 (my senior year lasted 2 years).

My weight gain continued after college.  I would try to eat right and exercise every once in a while, but I never kept up with it.  The trend continued through my 20s and 30s to the point I weighed as much at 36 years old as a medium American Black Bear.

My heavy size had started taking its toll physically, emotionally, and socially. I dreaded going to any seated event, like a football game or concert, because I had to squeeze into the seats.  I hated crowds because I couldn’t maneuver through the people.  When I would take a flight, I would get a window seat and try to board early.  That way, I could force myself into the seat and no one would have to try to get around me.  The poor person next to me would have to deal with me spilling over into their seat for the entire flight.  In fact, I almost had to use a seatbelt extender.  You can imagine the looks I’d get from people hoping I wouldn’t sit next to them.
 
The slightest activity would leave me sweating profusely and winded.  Mowing my small lawn would take several hours because of all the breaks I had to take.  I had to take “sweat rags” everywhere I went.  Walking any distance at all would leave me dripping.  I would always arrive to important appointments at least 20 minutes early so I could dry off and cool down.  I had to keep my house at 67° or I would sweat while just watching TV.  I would even have to rest after tying my shoes.
 
All of that was bad enough, but my family history made my weight even more dangerous.  Diabetes and heart disease run rampant in my family.  I have already been treated for high blood pressure and had experienced an irregular heartbeat.  I was on my way down.

In late 2007, I had enough. I was fed up with being fat, tired of always being tired, over being obese, done with...well, you get the picture.  It was time to make major changes in my life.  Of course, I had tried this before and failed several times.  This time had to be different.

When I had tried to lose weight in the past, I had no plan. I would just decide I wanted to lose some weight, but had no specific goal.  I figured I could start that same day or the next day eating a little less and exercising some.  I assumed the pounds would just melt away. 

That never worked.  I wouldn't maintain the changes or I wouldn't even start in the first place.  I would quickly fall back into the same eating habits or get quickly discouraged. More often, I would rationalize my way into a burger or out of exercising by telling myself that I'd put in a harder workout later.  Within a few months each time, I had given up.

I knew this time had to be different.  I had to give myself time to plan my strategies and prepare myself mentally and emotionally for the changes to come.  Then, two different opportunities to help me on this journey arose.  My employer, OU Physicians, announced a weight loss competition for 2008 and Mayor Cornett introduced the OKC Million initiative.  When my boss and my mayor both offer weight loss programs, I figure something or someone is sending me a message.

At that point, I had one month to prepare for my target start date of January 1, 2008.  I spent that time reading about nutrition, exercise, and weight loss. I learned what I should and shouldn't be eating, along with how I should be exercising.  Many of the future topics in this blog will be about what I learned.

This time did turn out to be different.  I went into it with diligent planning, extra knowledge, and important information.  I had the support and encouragement of my family, friends and co-workers.  All of that helped me lose over 80 pounds in the first 6 months of 2008.  Bear in mind, that amount of weight loss in that period of time is not appropriate for everyone and can be unsafe.  In fact, I developed gall stones as a result and had to have my gall bladder removed.

That's not the end of the story, though; hence, why I've started this blog now.  I fell back into the same patterns of eating poorly, not exercising enough, and rationalizing.  That led to me regaining almost half of the weight I lost.  The difference this time is that I recognized those bad habits and recommitted myself to losing weight.  I have now lost 10 pounds since restarting.

We all get off track when losing weight, so I'll be posting ideas about how to prevent and overcome setbacks.  Future topics will also include exercise tips, ideas to improve your nutritional habits, utilizing accountability partners, surgery, weight loss medications, and more.  My goal will always be to help you learn from my experiences.

Good luck with your wellness goals.  I believe in you!