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Revenge is sweet

Golf for Beginners

Polish Paramedics

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SAY IT SLOWLY…

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A Kodak Moment

How men screw up romance

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Parents can be so cruel

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The above was received in an email. Sorry but have no idea who the originator was.

I would see other fat people at the mall or at an all-you-can-eat buffet and realize they should not be there. As I would look around one of these buffets it would remind me that I was one of them. Regardless of the reminders this did little good.

I had hung both fat pictures and slim pictures of myself on the refrigerator. In these pictures I was always clothed and much of my body outline would be disguised. As embarrassing as it was, in January of 2001, I decided to have some photographs taken of my unclothed body. Views were taken from the front, back and both sides. What I saw in these photographs was utter vulgarity, not in a sexual sense for they did not show the small details, only the gigantic torso and head that I was carrying around minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day and year after year. I found my body downright sickening, in no way could I see how anyone could find fat beautiful. I selected one of these photographs in a large 8″. X 11″ size, not one of those tiny little snap shots. I hung this photo on my bathroom mirror where I would have to look at it every morning as I got ready for the day and every evening while getting ready for bed.

Looking at the photographs it was easy to see why my body was always hurting so much. I was carrying around this huge stomach that made me look like I was about do deliver quadruplets. On top of this gigantic stomach was this large floppy breast that made most women look fat. When I saw my self from the back, the extra fat reminded me of wings. It was easy to see why I did not fit comfortably in a theater or airplane seat as the fat pushed my arms out about 4 inches on either side. When I looked at my head, I did not see a double chin in fact I saw almost no chin and a huge neck. From the side my back appeared to stick out several inches, rounded with body fat and an obviously curved spine. My neck and head combined reminded me of volleyball sitting on my shoulders. I could see that my but, legs and arms all looked pretty normal.

Why would anyone let himself or herself get this way I wondered as I viewed the photographs? Why is it that I have failed to do anything about it? The truth is, I had been in denial. Why would I want to look this way? Why would anyone want to look this way? I don’t want to and doubt that few others do either. Some of us though must first prove to ourselves how we do look and the photographs will certainly do that.

It was embarrassing for me to even have my wife take these photographs. You need to get over the embarrassment and have a family member, friend or even a professional do yours. If the photographs work for you the way they did for me this will be one of the best things that you have done for yourself.

After month one, I decided to carry it a step forward and have photographs made monthly so that I could graphically see the changes. I used a series of tape measures with one around my gut, a second around my chest and a third around my neck. These photos allowed me to see the changes that were actually taking place.

1/26/2001