The Big Picture(s)

My New ID (edited to protect me from stalkers)
Recently, I was given a new ID at work.

When I looked at the picture it actually felt strange.  Even though its been over five years since I lost most of my weight, I still think I look the same.

So I keep writing this post (the fat guy picture post), adding some of my "big" pictures to it and then I delete  the whole thing.  

What's the point?

I mean, I don't like how I let myself go all those years.  I'm really the type of person that likes to focus on the present and the future.  I tend to stay away from reflecting on the past.

But the other day I was looking over my blog and realized a few things.

I write about how things are now.  I write about my family and what we just did or are about to do.  I write about my adventures, races and running partners I have today.  I write about this stuff because it's what makes me happy and keeps me going, but I don't write much about how things were.

And then I thought, what if someone who is looking to make a change in their life just happens to run across my blog (okay, I know they could find some better things to read).  But what if Google just happens to send them my way?

If all they see is some guy that runs a lot, I'm not sure that's going to help.  I don't think it's going to help anyone see the true value of what they have and can have if they just take the first few steps.

My wife, Jen, told me a while back that it might help for people to know that I first started walking to lose weight.  And that I was a complete ass (her words, not mine) for weeks when I started eating better (and less).  That there's no quick fix, no magic pill.  That it was tough, but it was worth it...

So I guess that's the point.

It's worth it.  I mean, I started to see that my body and my overall health had value.  It's not just something to be careless with or thrown away.

I also realized that it made no difference how I looked when I started, just that I started.

That doesn't mean that I was not self conscious as I walked/ran down the road or when I showed up for my first group run or when I went to get my first pair of running shoes.  It just means that at that point I knew that my health was worth the risk of starting.

So why share my fat guy pics?  This is where I usually stop and delete this post.

I guess, because it helps to see that you can start from just about anywhere.  That it's not too late.  That it is worth it!







So there they are.  I have a ton more (no pun intended - okay, it was), but its actually hard to do this.  It's hard to look back at where I was.

I try to remember the things that I really loved.  I loved my twenty minute walks around the neighborhood; I loved finding out that I liked new foods; and I really loved the feeling of my clothes getting loose.  

Man! I really hope someone gets jazzed up today and just gets out and starts walking!


Find more pics and other stuff on my Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/mooreonrunning or follow me on Twitter @mooreonrunning


11 comments:

  1. I loved this post, and I think it's great that you showed your old pictures and we can see the change. So many people ask me about getting healthy, starting a running program, and things like that. And I can give them answers from my experience and from reading, learning, scientific knowledge, etc. BUT... you have a personal experience to go with it- you're a walking testimony of what a lifestyle change can do, especially with weight loss (obviously my lifestyle changed too, but I was never overweight or obese). It's different to read something from a real person who made the changes an lost weight, than to hear or read it from someone who knows from books, education, etc.

    Also... are you monitoring what google brings your way? It's definitely very... interesting... sometimes for bloggers and web developers to look at!

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  2. Thanks Amy. It cracks me up when I see which key words lead people to my blog. I ran the Warrior Dash one time two years ago, but apparently I am the #1 site for reviewing the race :)


    Thanks again for reading my blog. Good luck on the Dirt Dash tomorrow morning!!!

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  3. Great post! Thanks for sharing - and you are right, people need to see "oh, he was like me one day, this didn't happen overnight, he wasn't just born an athlete..." everybody starts one step at a time, walking, then running...little daily decisions.

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  4. Thank you for this post, it's exactly what I needed today. Please keep posting about how you made it through your journey, I'm just beginning and have a long way to go. I don't know how I stumbled on your blog but it's been very inspiring. :)

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  5. Awesome post. This is perfect timing for me. I'm new to the blogging world, and I often struggle with telling folks about the real me, the one who used to be thin, then became overweight, then started walking. Then running. I'm by no means thin again, but am learning how to love what I have. And that's the ability to LOVE running, a dream of mine to start again. Your post inspires me to show folks where Ive come from. Thanks!

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  6. I am so glad you stopped by my blog. Leave me a message with your blog name so I can check it out!

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  7. Thanks Edi! By the way, great job on your race this past weekend!

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  8. I came across this post a little bit late, but thank you for sharing. Getting back into shape isn't easy and can seem like an impossible feat. Your story will definitely help get people moving in the right direction - got me inspired to be a bit better!

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  9. Thanks Chris and thanks for sharing on Twitter! Looking forward to checking out the launch of your new app this Fall by the way.

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  10. Kathy Bielecki has left a new comment on your post "The Big Picture(s)":

    Thank you for this post, it's exactly what I needed today. Please keep posting about how you made it through your journey, I'm just beginning and have a long way to go. I don't know how I stumbled on your blog but it's been very inspiring. :)

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  11. For some reason I could not respond to this on the site and had to repost it.


    Thanks Kathy. Glad you stumbled on my blog. Would love to hear about your journey too. Keep pushing, its so worth it!

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