I have lost enough weight in the last 60 days that it is noticeable to most people who see me.  Invariably, these folks will ask, “how did you do it?” as in “which diet did you use to lose the weight?”  I will dutifully answer the question, but it is the wrong question.  In fact, no matter the “what” in life, the “how” is irrelevant as compared to the “why.”  Did you follow that?  No matter what “big thing” one is trying to achieve, success or failure will be determined by “why,” not “how.” Therefore, the more relevant question is “why did I to decide to lose weight?”

“Why” completely explains my enormous success in gaining weight as I have over the years.  Why gain weight?  Because it was not important for me to lose it.  My self-esteem had, as still has, nothing to do with my waist line.  Rightly or wrongly, I have always had a rather high opinion of myself regardless of what the scale says.  I take great pains to accentuate the positive in my own mind, so as my waist line expanded, I mentally focused on other positive aspects of my being.  Why gain weight?  Because it’s fun.  I love Whoppers and onion rings, pulled pork sandwiches and fries, chicken wings and beer.  I love sitting around a table with family and friends eating and talking.  At this stage in my life, eating and talking is had replaced drinking and clubbing has my primary means of recreation.  I love food and I am not ashamed to profess this love from the highest of mountains and in the loudest of tones.  So there!

“Why” also completely explains my initial success in losing weight so far.  I have two children that think the world of me.  My wife thinks I’m pretty cool, too (most of the time)!  Of course, it is not unusual for children to see “Daddy” as a hero.  Also not unusual for “Daddy” to want to prove on a daily basis that this hero worship is justified.  Part of being a hero is being there, whenever and whenever “there” happens to be.  So why lose weight?  My “why” is a two year old daughter whose wedding I would like to attend.  My “why” is a four-year old son whom I would like to help become a man.  My “why” is the knowledge that trying to carry 230 pounds on a 5 foot 5 inch frame is essentially asking for a heart attack.  My “why” was finally realizing it was time to let the hero inside me come out.  When I came to these realizations, I did not know how I would change, but I knew why I would change.  And “why” is really all anyone needs.

How am I losing the weight?  I started to believe in the “why” more than I feared the “how.”  I found a reason to do the obvious, eat less and move more.  I discovered there were people I loved more than Big Macs and developed an interest in proving it.  I discovered my inner hero.  When “why” becomes strong enough, the how will reveal itself no matter the “what.”  Get it?