The Best Weight Loss Program Starts with Pictures

Being either the master of the obvious or oblivious, I would like to again state the - you got it - the obvious.  All journeys begin with a start point.  All journeys begin with an end point.  Our challenge is to map the route, anticipate the obstacles, and plan for the unexpected.  We need to budget or allocate the necessary resources, gather the tools, and most of, get going.

But let me talk about the start point for a moment.  Whether you seek to lose weight or gain weight, how you handle the start point will probably have the most impact upon your success.

The truth is, we are all a bit delusional about ourselves.  I do not say that in mean way or to be negative.  But in general, I think we all have some difficulties in honestly assessing how we look and what our problem areas are.  After all, who is really into self-embarrassment?

Several years ago, I was in pretty decent shape for guy who was 40.  I was strong, healthy and pretty happy with myself.  Over the years since, I have been on a downward slide to becoming a skinny, fat guy.  And like forming a bad habit, the slide just sort of happened.  I let it happen.

Sure, I tried to work out now and then.  I joined a fitness club that I would attend for a few months before stopping.  I ran and did calisthenics at home.  But through it all, I would look in the mirror and say, "not bad for a 45 year old guy," or "not bad for a 47 year old guy.'  I would tell myself that my lats still looked pretty.  My arms were puny but they were always small even during my strongest days, so no biggie there.  And man, I could still see cuts in my legs.

I was delusional.

I did not mean to be, but somehow what I hoped to be looking at kept superimposing itself on what I was really looking at.  Occasionally, someone would snap a picture of me.  I would see myself and immediately move to the next picture. 

But as I looked at the half century mark with two little girls, I knew I needed to get serious about being healthy.  Afterall, I will be 64 when my youngest graduates from high school.  At first I started running and worked my way to a three and half mile route up and down a hill.  I convinced myself that I was getting back in shape - big time.

I was delusional.

Then I decided to really assess my true start point.  And there is really only one way to do that.  You must take pictures of yourself.  In a past article, I talked about the "bag over the head, naked exercise."  It is a good one.   I finally did it and it was horrific. 

I then did what anyone starting an exercise program should do (other than see your doctor), I had my wife take front, side, and back pictures of me.  All the past delusions shattered.

Because that is your true start point.  You will not need a second opinion.  You will not need to ask your best friend, "do I really look fat?"  Snap a few pictures and look at yourself.  If need be, take the picture from neck to ankle, so that you will not get distracted by your face.

In some ways, looking a a picture from neck to ankle can give you a better sense of where you are, as it can be like looking at a stranger's body.  If you had my delusions, then it will be like looking at a pathetic stranger's body.

But here is the good news.  You may like what you see and can plan a fitness program to maintain what you have.  You may not like what you see and can now plan an appropriate program to get you going.  But the most important task is to properly assess your start point.

And in knowing where you are starting, you can plan a program you can live with.  You need not further delude yourself that all you need is to drop five pounds or just add a little meat to your shoulders.  And you can properly plan your time frame.  If you are in rough shape like me, plan a year target with monthly goals.  If you have a setback at month four, no biggie, because you know you are in for the long term.

All because you know your true start point.

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