10 Reasons to Lose Weight

We’re all losing weight for our own reasons.  These belong to me.

I’m going to be a daddy. It’s extremely selfish to live unhealthy if there are other people that care about you.  Not only care about you, but rely on you.  This didn’t sink in when it was just me and my wife, but my baby girl will be here in less than 3 weeks (due date is March 22).  I reckon she’ll appreciate her daddy being around for a little while longer.

I don’t want to die. Not only do other people count on me to stick around, I’d rather not die for my own selfish reasons.  Go figure.  If I have to have a few less egg rolls and french fries to live another 20 years, fine by me.  When I was 22 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure — today it’s plummeting and I’m almost back to normal levels.

Countless health benefits. I’ve lost 30 pounds — that’s comparable to two heavy bowling balls that I’m no longer carrying around with me everywhere.  In addition to lowering my blood pressure level, losing roughly 10% of my body weight has improved my posture, made me more agile, increased my mobility, and decreased my sleep apnea (which I had a HUGE problem with).

The biggest difference so far has been my energy levels.  They’ve exploded.

Be more confident and outspoken. I read a story where a pastor in Georgia, weighing 344 pounds, lost 160 pounds in a single year by simply eating better and exercising.  While I’m certainly not a shy person, nor one that hides from attention, I know losing this weight will make me much more confident.

One thing the pastor said:

It’s hard to tell folks to get their lives together when your stomach is hanging over your belt.

While I doubt you’re a pastor (unless I really don’t know my reader base), I’m sure you can apply his statement to some parts or situations of your life.

To use what I was given. We let ourselves become such slaves to technology and processed food — that’s why we’re all a bunch of tubbies.  But regardless of how you believe we came to be placed upon this world, you and I were granted a lease to some pretty incredible bodies.  I not only want to lose this weight, I want to test my body’s limits — I want to be powerful, I want to run marathons for charity, I want to be able to swim across a lake near my house…

I want to use my body to do some incredible things.

It’s hard buying nice clothes. Not only are larger sizes hard to find, but they are more expensive too.  If you do find a store with a big & tall section (Belk, JCPenneys), they normally don’t have a very good selection.

Look hot by the pool. I know I’m married,  but that doesn’t mean I have to look like a beached whale when I lay out by the pool/beach.  Even though I could have been happy looking 344 pounds, other people have to look at me too.

Increase my hang time. I’m playing basketball for at least an hour everyday in my driveway.  Today I played for about two hours.  I have a wicked shot, good dribbling skills, but my hang time for shots and layups could be longer.  Hey, I never said all these reasons would be deep or sincere.

I’m tired of hating cameras. Most people say a picture add 10 pounds;  I’d say that’s a slight underestimate. I’ve never looked good in photographs because of my weight and I’d like for that to change.

My last reason comes in the form of a quote from the movie American Beauty.  The main character, Lester Burnham (played by Kevin Spacey) is outside his house and starts talking to his neighbor who is donned in running apparel.

Lester: I figured you might be able to give me pointers. I need to shape up. Fast.
Neighbor: Are you just looking to lose weight, or do you want increased strength and flexibility as well?
Lester: I want to look good naked!

This is why I’m losing weight.  Why are you?