I received this comment a few days ago:
Anonymous said...
Your blog is spot on.However, you have to give the real Jared credit, he lost a bunch of weight (though didn't put on the muscle you have put on) and has kept it off for more than a decade and he has turned himself into a brand and likely makes a good income for himself and his family. Not too shabby.It seems you are also trying to create a brand. You won't "sell out" to a corporation. It looks like you are trying to create a brand based on your personality which will eventually generate some income for you and your family. Again, not too shabby.How come we haven't seen any pics (perhaps I have missed them) since 8/21? I suspect the next set of pics is going to show a very lean and ripped muscular person (not that you aren't pretty close in your 8/21 picture) so that you can say you are one of the few to not only lose 200+ lbs but create a body builder physique at the same time (naturally).I think you have a business plan (brand defined by 200+ lb weight loss while working in a restaurant not eating in one, maintained for 24 months, very muscular but not muscle-bound build, done naturally and simply though not easily, straight talker but still humble, devoted family man, and not afraid to make people angry) and as a true capitalist, I respect that.Though I respect your lifestyle change and results more -- I have made acceptable progress in the last 6 months but have 3-4 months to go to fit into my goal clothes and I only have an outline for a maintenance plan -- still need to complete the mind shift that the habits I have now are basically what I need to do forever.Thanks for taking the time to write this blog.I look forward to the day when some TV show figures this out and has you and Jared on at the same time. Though I don't think Subway would allow that.
10/28/09 1:26 PM
I have read this over 100 times. At first I did not understand why it was anonymous.
It was very complimentary.
After reading it a few times, I loved the fact that it was anonymous, because so many people think this.
In fact, at one point I thought it as well.
Yet, it is very far from the truth.
When I weighed in at 198.8 pounds at my Weight Watchers meeting, I truly thought there would be balloons and confetti coming from the ceiling.
I was the "long shot", the 400 pound guy who lost over 220 pounds and changed his life.
I thought that the CEO of Weight Watchers would come out and shake my hand, and give me a key to the Weight Watchers city of Onederland.
I thought my leader would have called my family who would all be there, and they would have offered me a leader job.
I thought different news media outlets would be there to interview me about my weight loss.
Yet, all I got was a sweet comment from 87 year old Ethel, which was:
"Woot!"
When I left the meeting, I thought the clouds would part and there would be a beautiful rainbow.
I thought "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey would be blasting.
I thought that the birds would sing, and everything would make sense.
Yet, it was raining, no music was heard, and nothing made sense.
Honestly, after losing over 200 pounds, I felt like the world owed me something. I beat all the odds. I changed my life.
When I would see a success story on the Today Show, or one in Weight Watchers Magazine, it would frustrate me.
I mean, they lost 150 pounds, I lost 221.4 pounds!
What about me? I have sent you my story. Why are you over looking me?
That anonymous comment made me realize how foolish I am. I never got it. I never understood.
People who say that "Weight loss is a marathon not a race" do not understand weight loss.
Weight loss is neither.
You train for a marathon. You run a race. Then you cross the line, slow down and throw your hands in the air.
"Yes! I did it."
There is no finish line for weight loss. Once you hit your goal the journey has just begun. Once you hit the finish line, you realize you crossed the starting point.
I have a good job. I have a great family. I can do things now that I could never do. I do not want to be a full time weight loss blogger.
I just want to be normal.Something that I deserve.
I also love writing on this blog. I do believe that no one will be able to tell my story better than I would.
So whoever wrote that comment, I do say thank you.
You have sparked a new flame inside of me.
And you will learn a lot about me in the next few posts. What scares me, what inspires me, and why I will succeed.
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Got me an early Christmas present!
2 hours ago
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15 comments:
that is true. i have lost a lot of weight. and now i have a whole new battle in front of me. i have to get in shape. be FIT, for real. and after that it will be maintaining that fitness level. there's always a new journey, no matter what goals we achieve, because we, as humans, always want more, always want to be better. and i think that's a good thing. can't wait to read the next posts.
I hope that you do not feel my comment was in ANY way designed to make you seem "foolish".
I do a lot of internet marketing/social networking marketing work (I am not trying to sell you anything by the way) and based on reading your blog and the associated web site, I assumed that since nobody seems to have jumped up and snatched you up that you were using modern marketing methods to turn yourself into a brand and not relying on the mass media.
The reality is that nobody is going to snatch you up unless they think they can make money off of you. You appear to have very high standards so I doubt I am going to be seeing the Tony Ear Muscle Machine on an infomercial anytime soon.
I think you would make a compelling talk show guest and inspirational speaker. I think you could put together a 30 minute speech that would have people standing and applauding at the end. I am surprised you haven't been asked.
I also think you could market yourself and make money off of this BUT ONLY IF THAT IS A GOAL.
If you keep doing what you are doing for another year, you are going to have a huge internet following. What you do with it is up to you.
In case it wasn't crystal clear, I have nothing but complete admiration for what you have accomplished and this blog.
The reason these comments have been anonymous is because I do do marketing work and I did not want you to think I was trying to sell you something.
I read your blog because it inspires me to reach my own goals. I can't speak for others, but you have made a huge impact on my own life and for that I thank you.
I give you the old Ethyl WOOT a lot but your anonymous comment was dead on with how I feel- you inspire me to succeed on my weight loss journey. To be a healthier person for not only myself but the people I love. Thank you for your support Tony!
You are so right with this blog I am at the moment my "normal" adult weight after losing 56lb I feel comfortable at this weight and I can live my life quite well but its not exceptional its not challenging I still have at least 140 or more pound to go when I complete that journey I can then start the life I had dreamed of the life I have always wanted the exceptional life they say the weight loss doesn't fix all your problems and in some ways releases the ones you have been hiding have you come across any of those lately problems your extra weight was hiding.
Hi tony,
I can't wait to hear about who you are apart from weight loss. I bet your an interesting guy.
I have battled a great fear of getting to my "goal" and NOT having the clouds part and confetti raining down and sunbeams dancing everywhere, justa s you described. I think that fear has kept me from losing weight over the past year.
Thank you for vocalizing how you felt when that happened to you, and how you feel about it now. That helped me, reading that. I even got tears in my eyes.
Thanks... excellent post.
There are a lot of "unknown" weightoss success stories out there. I am one of them. Sure I want to share mine with anyone who will listen, but the sad thing is for every success story there is another life out there who is sufferening from depression because it seems like a hopeless situation. I have determined instead of tooting my own horn, I am going to help others to realize THEY are worth the effort it takes to get there. It wasn't until I realized that myself, that I began to change.
I wish I could take all of the credit for that wonderful comment but dangit I can't! However, I completely agree with every word. You are one in a million! What you have done far exceeds anything that has been done by being pushed on reality t.v. and being sponsored by subway. You have done it on your own from the heart. No one to answer to but yourself. That sets you a part, in a small group of the most amazing weight loss stories ever. What you have gotten out of it all if far more than being recognized in a magazine or on t.v. You have a life now, you have given years to your child of spending time together and you are more inspiring than most people will ever be.
Wow I just left you a nice comment with no sarcastic-ness! YAY!
Have a FABULOUS Sunday ;)
Wow. I never would have even thought of it in that light. Of the finish line being just the beginning. In a world where we've seen and heard it all concerning weight loss, I always like coming back to your page to get that fresh perspective.
I really like your blog (one of the first WL ones that I found that I really identified with), and I really am looking forward to this series on your blog.
You are an inspiration and I love your blog! I have almost 100 pounds to lose and I read your blog and it really keeps me going knowing that if you could lose over 200 pounds I can do 100! Looking forward to your future posts..:)
"I just want to be normal.Something that I deserve."
This sentence jumped out at me. I can't tell you how many times I've talked about this in therapy about just wanting to be normal. But I don't think anyone is "normal" and I think that's terrific because it means we are each unique which is what we really all need to strive to be.
You are one of a kind Tony!!! Great job on all you've accomplished. I look forward to learning more about you.
Pardon the anonymous comment here, Tony, but well done.
You've got it figured out. Good job!
I love what you're saying about the finish line being only the beginning. It's so true!
I wish that so many people could read this post and truly honestly understand how true it is. Funny enough, I still fight like I'm gonna "make it" or wake up one day and feel like I am "there!" What's worse, I am now where others want to be, yet I'm looking out wondering why "here" doesn't feel like "there" was suppose to feel! EH, all these emotions, it's a rollercoaster!
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