That's my new flatter stomach!
Most of you know my background:
- 30-year career in IT working for large corporate companies
- Starting my own online business 4 years ago
- 18 months ago left the corporate world to run my on-line business from home
- Last year, put on over 30 lbs in weight while working from home
That’s right…30 lbs.
Even though I danced ballroom and Latin twice a week, played badminton and went for daily walks.
I know I can’t believe it either!
It creeps up…the weight. You don’t really notice it – well I didn’t.
I knew some of my clothes no longer fitted me but it didn’t matter – I was in denial.
A few chocolate biscuits here, a hamburger there. You think, “Just one more…what can one more piece of cake do?”
Then I saw myself on video and boy, did I look overweight!
It wasn’t like looking in the mirror. The mirror stares back and you see what you want to see. It seemed different on video. In the mirror you seem just a face or a static body. In video, you see movement…you see how the shirt buttons are being stretched.
The video was the turning point.
I had to do something.
I had to take positive action.
I did.
I weighed myself and measured the size of my chest, stomach and arms.
I weighed 196 lbs.
My stomach was 39 inches.
My chest: 39 inches.
My arms/biceps: 15 inches.
For the past 12 weeks, I’ve been following an exercise plan.
Each day I exercise, I get up at 6am and drive to the gym. Complete the exercise, shower and back home by 8am – already for the working day ahead.
The first few days were exciting. Something new. Something different. The first week, I lost 4 lbs.
WOW!
That motivated me to go the second week.
The second week I lost 2 lbs.
By now, I had changed my eating habits as well. No more biscuits or cake. I was eating fruit for snacks and cooking with fresh ingredients.
My 12-week plan finished this weekend and overall I am pleased. I must admit, I did expect to lose more weight than I have but I did set some specific hard targets.
My current weight/measurements:
I weigh 175 lbs (lost 21 lbs).
Stomach: 35 inches (4 inches smaller).
Chest: 40 inches (1 inch bigger).
Arms/biceps: 16 inches (1 inch bigger).
Why am I telling you all this?
No matter what you want to change you have to take action…positive action.
Don’t get me wrong it has been hard work to get some shape and fitness back.
There have been many a time when I wanted to go back to sleep rather than get up at 6am.
There have been many times when I wanted ice cream or a big fat juicy hamburger.
It’s a huge challenge just like blogging.
During my 12-week fitness plan, I needed:
- To work hard. There is no quick and easy way to make money via blogging. It takes hard work. Just like you cannot take a pill and you suddenly lose 6 lbs…you cannot buy a $27 blogging e-book and expect to be earning thousands of dollars by this time next week.
- Targets. I had targets for weight loss, weight lifted, running times, etc. You need targets for your blogging business as well. Number of visitors, blog posts, backlinks, etc.
- A daily plan. I know exactly what I am going to do each day I enter that gym door. It’s planned out. Your blogging business should be also. What are you going to do today to hit your targets?
- Someone to turn to. When I need help on a particular exercise I asked the personal trainers at the gym. They were always willing to help. When you get stuck on your blogging business, make sure you have someone who you can ask. NEVER be afraid to ask.
So what now for my fitness plan?
I’m starting again. I start my 12-week training plan again…only this time I shall jog a bit faster. I shall lift heavier weights. I shall train harder.
What about you? What positive action are you going to take to make your blogging business even better?
Please share your comments below. Thanks.
P.S. Did you see the photo? That really is me. I had to have several pairs of trousers made smaller!
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Positive thinking with self motivation works like a charm for anything you ever wanted. Your weight-loss is another example of what i am talking about 🙂
Vipin,
And…dedication…hard work…persistence and all those other adjectives, eh?
Andrew
I’d love to find out about your 12 week plan in more detail. What kind of exercising you did, what meals you prepared. 🙂
Dean,
That sort of information will be shared another time!!!!
Andrew
Great achievement!
21 pounds in 3 months is pretty darn good, esp. since it sounds like you are gaining lean muscle mass.
Keep up the good work and make some sort of a guide out of what you have learned IMO
Thanks,
Steve
Steve,
Not so sure on the ‘lean muscle’.
I am thinking of creating som sort of guide – thanks.
Andrew
Congratulations Andrew! Huge accomplishment. Here’s to another 12 weeks, eh! What’s next, a marathon, scaling some mountain? 🙂
Collen,
No it won’t be a marathon – my knees wouldn’t take it.
I did a half-marathon 10 years ago, though.
I’d like to lose another 10lbs or so.
Andrew
I mention ‘marathon’ mainly because of the book “Younger Next Year” Highly recommend it. The ‘hedge’ principle places an event in the future you have to keep exercising to prepare for. The book is a must read for anyone over the age of 40, – you, me, my husband, in a few years most of your visitors! 🙂
Colleen
Thanks for the book tip. I looked an Amazon and it has great reviews. Decided to buy it.
Andrew
You’ll love it. The book is a life-changer for us. 🙂
Congrats on your achievement. I know all too well how fast those extra pounds can creep up when we work from home. This month I’m taking action in my blogging to finish (finally!) a free download to offer as a subscription incentive. No excuses, just solid daily actions.
Jean,
Free guide – excellent news!
Let me know when it’s ready for download.
Andrew
Wow! Congratulations! I too fell prey to blogger fatitis and I’m trying to fight back! I work out daily and watch what I eat – which is proving to be a huge challenge with the kids at home for the summer vacation and the house full of snacks and junk food.
I have a good motivator though – a 100 days long semi-trekking trip to the US next May!
Anne,
My wife and I decided to remove all the junk food.
I find snacks the hardest thing to be healthy – so during this next 12 weeks, just fruit for snacks for me.
Trip sounds great – my son is going to US /Canada for 3 months next year.
I’m very envious.
Andrew
I don’t have the weight problem, other then i have trouble keep weight on. Do however need a little firming up. When it comes to blogging I am trying really hard to have a plan and work my plan every day. I shall get there and thanks so much for all the good tips you give and the help.
Thanks again Andrew and have a wonderful day.
Debbie
Debbie,
I need a plan whether it’s a blogging one, a fitness one, a ‘what shall we do this weekend’ one.
I hope your blogging plan is enabling you to make progress.
Andrew
Super slim Latin dancer – sounds sexy! Well done, Andrew!
For a good laugh with some proper English girls, check out the link I’ve left for you 😀
Great video, Cheryl.
Did you see I ‘stole’ the one you shared recently – my latest post!
Andrew
At the moment my next step is offering personal calls over Skype. We’ll see how it goes.
Good luck, Evan.
Let me know how it goes…
Andrew
take action, that’s something that’s so easy to tell myself LOL, I guess I need to control some parts of my life while I still can. I regularly go to the gym about 6 months ago, and I did well with my weight (since I’m underweight before and again). Sustaining the habit is the real challenge, I guess I wasn’t that disciplined enough to sustain my own health, knowing that I excessively smoke these days, due to tons of work.
But your results are definitely inspiring, and I’m taking your word as a good wake up call, I “MUST” take the right actions while I’m still young 🙂 Thanks for the very convincing post Andrew.
Regards,
Jason
Wow, Jason!
I’m pleased the post could make a difference.
Seeing my fat self on the video was my low point.
Will you do it?
Andrew
Yep, I’ve thought about it last night, and I realized that I do want to prolong my life and enjoy my days with no limitations, physically. That’s why I’ve decided to start taking care of myself and I’ve actually started doing things this morning, I ate breakfast for the first time in several months :)I’m also planning to start pumping some muscles this coming weekend.
This is a life changing post Andrew, and I’m a living testimony of it 🙂
Thanks man! I do appreciate your efforts in sharing your personal experiences to make your readers take advantage of their potentials, well that’s what I’ve felt after “TAKING THE ACTION”.
Regards,
Jason
Jason,
Wow – that’s great news.
Keep us posted on your progress, won’t you?
Andrew
Congrats on your weight loss, Justin! The key to healthy and permanent weight loss must be slow (fast weight loss will only lead to fast gain weight too), and you’re doing a great job so far! I too have gained weight because I spend most of my working time in front of the computer, but as long as I pay attention to what I eat and exercise regularly, then I guess everything will be alright. Keep up the good work!
Felicia
“Pay attention to what I eat and exercise regularly” – that is all there is to it. No secret, no pills.
So simple really…but so,so hard to do!
Andrew
I like your analogy to working out. but my question is how would you compare your second 12 week plan to blogging?
Lavera
Momentum…
Once you get past the first few months of exercise you start to see results and as you continue to exercise you get fitter.
With blogging, you get more visitors, more comments, more sales!
Andrew
Andrew it is good that you have a habit of exercise. After coming to the online marketing field I completely leave to exercise for which my health is going decrease day by day.
I am going lazzy for doing exercise.
Chandan,
Think you will change and start?
Andrew
Yes I am think for change my daily life schedule. Well thanks Andrew.
Congrats my friend!
Mine’s over 100 lbs, started long before my Internet career.
Unfortunately certain injuries prevent many forms of exercise and workout, for a while at least.
Pretty much the only thing I can do for who knows how long is walk. Even that is seriously hindered until the ankle to knee hole in my leg is fully healed (long story)
Dennis,
I hope things get better for you…real quick.
What are the timescales for the healing?
Andrew
This summer marks 1yr – would care specialist says maybe Thanksgiving.
Dennis,
That’s not too far away, is it?
Andrew
3 months, hope he’s right.
A good exercise plan or gym is very important for anyone who is working from home. It is very important to watch your weight and what goes into your mouth. If you dont want to put on unnecessary weight.
Luqman,
Easy to say…sometimes very hard to do!
Andrew
Congratulations for your weight loss! For me, i don’t have overweight problem but underweight problem! So everyday, i try to eat a lot to gain weight but it is so hard for me!
I recommand you to drink green tea, i heard it has weight loss vertu!
Sushie,
You sound like my wife. She cannot put on weight either and she eats whatever she wishes.
Thanks for the tip, re: green tea.
Andrew
Some serious motivational tips you’ve got here. I’ve been dying to kick myself off the excess carbs but simply can’t. I’m somewhat of under constant stress (work,extra work and blogging) and eating is how I deal with it.
Maybe the time has come to be proactive as my pants are becoming quite a challenge each morning 😉
I still do my best to work hard @ my blog but having pre-hypertension doesn’t help @ all. Now I have to slow things down a little to avoid being TRULY hypertensive.
Udegbunam
That’s how I started to get bigger…eating and eating…until my trousers didn;t fit.
Then I had to do something.
Try a routine. Just 30 mins before you start work…do a little exercise. It soon starts to become a habit.
Andrew
Yes, positive action! move forward. don’t want to mislead you about my personality (my blog, for instance is a bit snarky), but I keep this quote above my desk:
“whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. For in action there is magic, grace and power.” Goethe
that said, changing out the badminton for tennis might help too! (see, snarky. can’t help myself)
thanks for the post. enjoyed it!
Monkey,
Great quote – like it.
For me, I use more energy playing badminton than tennis. It just makes me run around more!
Andrew
Wow – I’m impressed! Thanks for sharing. Must go and reread your blogging guide to get on track with my blogging.
Val
Valerie
All feedback on the free guide would be welcome – thanks.
Andrew