I’m near the beginning of a weight-loss undertaking. I’m not obese, but I’ve had the idea in my head that I wanted to lose some weight and get healthy for a while. In sharing my goal with my friends, I have cited the usual reasons for wanting to lose a few pounds. Look better, feel better, wearing a bikini when I go to Hawaii on a family trip next year… but this particular entry of yours struck the deeper issue that had me actually take action this time.

My father is obese. I know, he knows, and he hasn’t done anything about it. He suffers back problems and health concerns, as expected. Because of this, I worry about him and my greatest fear is that he won’t live to give me away at my wedding or meet his future grandchildren. I know that he worries about this too, and I know that there isn’t much I can do to change him or his choices.

What I can do is take care of myself while I am still young and break the habits that I already have. I may only be about 30 lbs overweight, but those are 30 lbs that I could get rid of now and be done with.

So first, my thanks to you for encouraging those of us who are grappling with our lives and ourselves to keep going. But I must give you a much larger and serious thank you for dealing with yourself so that you will be there for your daughter. That’s a fantastically generous gift.

I’m not slowing down or stopping exercise after I reach 244 pounds, either. I have a little while to go until I reach my goal weight… not really sure what it is right now.

Noooooooo please don’t!

Keep doing what you’re doing for whatever reason, it’s obviously working!
I’d like to live to see any potential grandchildren I may have…. and I want to PLAY with them, not just sit there like Jabba. I’d also like to go shopping for clothes and have it be fun again…. shallow? Maybe, but it motivates me.