Morning Foks!!
I am 'Goal Oriented'. I was not always wired that way. It was taught and then self learned and then employed over and over and over again over time. It's a great feeling to know you have a road map to almost every goal before you even set the goal. A realistic chance of achievement so strong there is little or no doubt of success. Some goals loftier than others. Each usually a pretty long journey.
Today I hit a Major personal goal of mine. But it was made up of a lot of Mini-Goals and rewards along the way. But this one was the toughest one I may have ever faced. I had to change my habits in a real way. I had to change things in life that I did not want to change. But I made a choice. I made a decision. I decided to do something and not do it the conventional way, but my way and in my time.
What motivated me? Diabetes, Cancer, Death or whatever else, God willing, being in the 60's, 70's, 80's might bring. So I decided to do something proactive. I decided to lose the weight I had gained from being a domainer and sitting at this computer for the past 17 years. Going from fit to fat.
I like to eat! Strike that. I LOVE to eat! What better way to celebrate a good day but with a great, and in my case, HUGE meal. I am an eater. Get into the hotel, let's have rooms service before we go to cocktail hour on the way to dinner and then maybe a hot fudge sunday on the way back and maybe a late night snack. Set you clocks for 8AM because the breakfast buffet is off the hook. Then we'll do something special for lunch and get a quick snack before we order room service and go to the cocktail hour......repeat, repeat, repeat. FAT! FAT! FAT!
It was not unusual for me when I look back to go out and eat 5000 calories at one sitting. 10,000-12,000 a day. Day after day after day until there was no room in my body and I almost exploded. I ate like Michael Phelps and looked like I swallowed a bowling ball or two.
When I went on my 30 day Honeymoon with Alina I weighed 197LB. 48 hours before the Ceremony. Then 203 at the wedding and a whopping 217 at the Beverly Hills Hotel before I stopped weighing myself on the trip. So I guess I would have topped out at 220LBS as I arrived back home from that trip. I mean it was a culinary trip the likes of which I had never done or imagined before.
Then 3 summers ago I decided that if I did not get this under control it was going to get completely out of control. It would make me have health issues and so I prepared my mind for the journey to come. I prepared to change the habits that got me to that point. It was not easy after 55 years of eating for sport. My favorite pass time. Almost.
When I set goals I set them in steps. Achievable steps that give me the fuel and motivation to continue and see results along the way. My Long term RIDICULOUS goal was 169. I mean that was like shooting for the moon. Something you shoot for but know it is not really within reach. So you aim high and do what you can to get as close as possible,
So I set all these mini goals. 210, 205, 200, 199, 195, 190, 187.5, 185, 183, 181, 180, 179, 177.5, 176, 175, 174, 172.5, 172, 171, 170.5, 170, 169. It is one step at a time. The only way ANYTHING works. It's a ladder. Skip steps and you fall to the bottom and that means you wasted a lot of time and energy to only be where you started. No progress. All pain, no gain. So I celebrate EVERY step along the way! Its the story of the tortoise and the hare. Folks laugh at me for my slow progress on things. But the keyword is progress. Any measurable progress is a success.
So TODAY, after 3 years, after some ups and downs, after learning what I could, after reducing this and that, I have reached my GOAL! Yippie! 169lbs baby!! Never thought I would see that number again.
My doctor asked me what I did because it is rare to see somebody keep the weight off? First of all I NEVER exercised. I just SLOWLY began to change my habits. Slowly going down from 5 bottles of Ginger Ale everyday to 1-2 bottles. Having one bite of Chocolate cake instead of a large piece. Having a few bites of everything I like but that's it. I told him I knew if I did not change these things and my habits by myself, I would go into see him one day and he would tell me I could NEVER eat this or that again. I like food too much for that to happen.
In certain circles I am known as the 'Domain King'. In other circles I am known as the the '800 King' but in even another circle, I am known as the 'Carpaccio King'. Really. Coast to coast and a few countries and ships. But that story is for another day.
So TODAY I am 50LBS less than I was and I still eat my bacon and eggs each day. But now I am even trying to modify that a bit to reduce the fat. But first I decided to tackle the big problem. Overeating. Now I will refine what I am doing and hopefully as those new habits get reinforced, I will be able to maybe lose just a couple more pounds. But I am going to celebrate to with a nice lunch, hopefully take half home for dinner and so it goes.
If I had to boil it down to five or six words I would say it would certainly be discipline, decision making, determination added with a desire and then realizing it takes 30-60 days to break any habit or to form any habit. Add that with a passion to succeed and there is not much in life that can stop you or me from achieving any goal. But few goals happen overnight. It's a long process. Many steps. Sometimes thousands. This one was just over 1000 days. But there is no force on this planet that can hold any of us back when there is a true desire to succeed and the PATIENCE to see it through. Whether 3 years or 20 years.
I had a choice 1000 days ago. I could have kept on going and today maybe I would have been 269lbs instead of 100lbs less. Isn't that the REAL reality?
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz
Anonymous
Man
Robbie
Well Done Rick – Your are spot on, you shouldnt diet but change your lifestyle, You dont want to cut all the fun out of life just learn to eat better or as you would say”Smarter” its the same as Working Smarter instead of harder you were Eating Smarter!
Vincent Jacques
That is really awesome! Congrats. Health is so important and as a role model in this industry, perhaps you will inspire other domainers who have slipped into a similar gluttony. Either way, hats off to you for again setting and reaching another one of your goals!
KA
Congrats. Losing weight is a definite challenge.
JaimeE
A toast to your determination, health, and success.
Uzoma
Congratulations Rick! And well written.
I am tempted to say that, as much as this piece is sound and admirable, and goes very well with weight and food, I have a feeling that it is written to encompass other rigors, including life itself; in that larger context, I must suggest that there many ways to kill a mouse: you can trap it; or you could poison it. You could even shoot it. Yet, some may simply chase it away from the house. Let’s take smoking for another analogy. Some may try quitting cigarettes by setting goals; 15 sticks a day from a usual 40. Then 14, 12.5, 8, 4.5 sticks a day…
Whereas, another can just quit cold turkey. All methods that employ”discipline, decison making, determination added with a desire” will realize it.
I prefer your method. Slow and steady. Again, congratulations on realizing another one.
Jp
Mazel Tov!
Steve O'Brien
Great Job Rick!!!
Leonard Britt
Congrats on an amazing weight loss without exercise. Yes, discipline involves doing what you need to do even when you don’t feel like doing it. I would still recommend a moderate exercise program as you will be amazed at how much better you feel once you get in the habit. Find some exercise you enjoy (swimming, biking, running along the beach, weights, an aerobics/kickboxing/dance class, etc), consult a doctor and personal trainer and you will feel energized from a regular exercise routine. I have a few fitness-related sites if you are interested.
Rick Schwartz
Leonard,
In the last 13 years I have been in my pool TWICE!
Once with water!
But in anticipation of this event, I have completely redone my pool and entire backyard. It is an inviting paradise and when it is complete in 2 weeks…..I will at least match my record of the last 13 years!
Seriously, I am now going to my next phase as I focus on nutrients and a LITTLE exercise. ;-)
howard
You can come swim in MY pool anytime!
it guy
Eat when you are hungry ..that is my mantra
Poor Uncle
You are a Poet, Rick. Nice job.
Acro
Congratulations on this milestone, Rick. I might have trouble telling you apart from Mike Mann, this coming October! :-)
David
All it took was a P.H.D.
(Pig Headed Discipline)
Great job…
Danny Pryor
I’m very proud of you, Rick! This is more important to your MENTAL health than you will realize, until you look back from a few months and years from now. When you started on this journey, I seem to recall a few people commenting about it because there were some immediate results. That was nearly two years ago, and you had already been on the”program”, as it were, for a year.
I had to go through the same thing, especially after quitting smoking, when I ballooned up to 175 pounds (I’m skinny, so for me that’s ALOT of weight). I’m back to 150. I was 140 when you and Howard first met me, so that gives you a frame of reference. I do exercise, otherwise I’d look like a twig and have no musculature at all. I also eat whatever I want, but in reasonable amounts. Love those peppermint patties!
So congratulations, my friend. This is great news! :))
fizz
Congratulations on reaching your goal Rick. Good health.
Jeff Schneider
Hello Rick,
I am with you, I know from past experience that diets are short term fixes that always lead back to the same lifestyle. You have to change your lifestyle to be truly successful. I am currently at 195 going back to 165. A serious back injury set my lifestyle in a tailspin. Unlike you though I am usually a kinesthetic exercise guy, and am headed that way again. I recently danced for the first time in 5 or years, and accept for a little soreness I am OK. This was an impossibility for a while, and I am looking forward to skiing this winter.
I use many of your techniques myself, and find easy does it patience is the key. I was living to eat for a while and now I am eating to live. Life is all about choices.
Speaking of choices = For those interested I have taken Qihu off my watch list and have it as an outright Buy now, I am advising clients to buy aggressively under 20$ a share for a potential 3X current price return. I personally own no shares of this company.
We expect Bull to continue through the year and expect huge upside day with follow through on heavy volumes straight ahead,possibly even today.
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
Garbage
You own no shares yet you are advising people to buy. That is a joke. You post was boring anyways. Stop pumping trash stocks. Whomever would be your client is a real idiot.
Show us the money..
You can restrict calories in, or my preference to burn off more calories. In theory you can drink and eat to excess if you exercise enough.
So just slowly and surely up the exercise. Build it into your day, take the stairs, walk up the escalator, walk to the shop etc etc. Invest in some decent training gear, maybe a good exercise gym bike and you can ditch the gym and make it self funding.
If you can burn an additional 2000 cals a week, thats a whole day of additional energy burn. (Which you can bank and get lighter, or withdraw via with some decent drinking or junk food).
Jeff
A big congrats Rick!
Mark Talbot
One habit you needed to get control of was,…..
Being honest with yourself.
Think about it.
Mike Law
Congrats Rick! Very inspirational post!
Anunt
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.
Mark Talbot
Realized my post was rather vague and some clarity,..
Yes, congrats, but coming from someone also that loves food, and good food, I have found the desire is more ingrained in alot of cases when you look back to the lean years. For me, I can and do afford much of the better foods that was not possible many years ago, and I can easily eat till I bust, especially the finer dining.
But alas, I cant get a pound below 180, maybe for my frame thats ok,… but it doesnt take much distraction for me to gain fast. So I have to be honest with myself constantly, and enjoy the foods I like, and with moderation.
Anunt
Eat to live, don’t live to eat.
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.
The Other Adam
Nice work Rick. . . . your friend Ron Jackson could be your personal trainer too.
That guy has whooped ass at getting back in shape.
Rich
Great job Rick,
an extremely positive post…to your health
Dave Pelligrinelli
Rick,
How does that accomplishment feel? I went from 135 to 157. The process was almost exactly the same. I have started running and biking a little now, but that is after becoming more fit through nutrition.
Here are before and after pics:
http://davidpelligrinelli.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/before-and-after/
Congratulations on your accomplishment. Your health is likely much better even today. More energy, fewer colds, allergies, etc.
It is hard work to get there. Credit to you for doing it.
Dave
Will
Congrats, Rick, and thanks (again) for your inspiration. Due to some life changes, I’m going to have less time for a dedicated exercise/walking routine, so it’s encouraging to read that you were able to lose a significant amount of weight without exercising.
Adrijus
Cool, health is most important. There is no money to buy it, doesn’t matter how successful you are in business.
Rob J.
Congrats Rick and great job! Losing weight and getting fit takes effort and discipline. Also thank you for sharing your domain/business/life knowledge and tips for all these years. Please stay healthy so you can keep teaching!
TAZEEN HASAN Karachi
Great Rick wishing for best
Jeff Schneider
Hello Rick,
R. E. = ” For those interested I have taken Qihu off my watch list and have it as an outright Buy now, I am advising clients to buy aggressively under 20$ a share for a potential 3X current price return. I personally own no shares of this company.
We expect Bull to continue through the year and expect huge upside day with follow through on heavy volumes straight ahead,possibly even today.
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
UPDATED : My reco. of QIHU reference above has turned the tripple return potential I spoke of above QIHU now at 87$ range easily a triple return (3X)
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)