I was asked to write a blog by my mentor and good friend Calvin Bonds to chronicle a journey of weight loss. When I wrote the first draft, it sucked. It was so dang sad and depressing. The second draft was to cheerful. I started again after I received news of a mentor. I will get to that later for now...I just want to tell you a story.
I'm going to tell you a story about a man. This man was a 150 pound kick boxer. This man was pure muscle small framed and always short. Once upon a time he had a car wreck that should have killed him, went through a divorce that broke his heart and developed an addiction to pain killers that he hid. One day this man started lying so much that he lost himself. Eventually losing it all, the fancy house, the pretty girl, the cars, the cash accounts, and everything society says makes a man was gone. Finally, the doctor's said that he would never be able to fight again. His dreams were gone. So he picked up a new dream of food that comforts and is magical tonics towards pain.
Overtime blood pressure weakened a heart and lungs and he was sentenced to die. Doctors gave him 6months to live. If I told you that this man was me, would you believe it? Feel sorry? Cry? or rejoice? According to my mentor of 13 years that passed yesterday, one should rejoice. Mr. Bob Woodard stood in the face of cancer and said, " I will never cry or complain aloud ." He never did. He would reach out and ask how I was doing. This was amazing to me that someone going through so much could still see me. In essence, his spirit is why I have lost 62 pounds. I have lost these pounds in honor of so many that are counting on my to beat an addiction that ironically you can never run from. You have to eat. You have to eat food. Your body needs it so you have to honestly beat the demon. You can't run. You can't hide. You have to accept your flaws, your short comings, and decided to live. For me I found a reason, Asha. I want to be able to hold her at her wedding, smile at her graduation and run with her now. She needs me. It is a simple thing to feel needed but until you truly embrace that this world, your family, your friends, and even strangers who may read this or meet you need you. Then food will be your god. For me I have decided to love other things more. I suggest and urge you to find your reason that will force you to be honest with yourself. I pray you find peace and the courage to break your food addiction.