30 Days In: Things Are Changing

Day 30: 3/23/2016

I made it 30 days into this journey and haven't dropped dead. Sure, that's a morbid way of looking at it, but that's me. This blog has maintained my interest in being healthy. I can honestly say, right behind the support of my wife, writing this blog has been the key to keeping me on point.

I have maintained the topic of my relationship with food throughout this blog. Today was a BIG eye opener in the way I see food. I actually did some research for today's post. I wanted to know how I was able to get myself from a nice 252 pounds in 2012, to an extra hefty 393 pounds in 3 years.

Below, you will find the nutritional value of some of the foods that I love to eat on the regular.

Vendor	Item	Calories	Cal from Fat	Fat (g)	Sat Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sodium (mg)
Arby's	Beef n Cheddar Classic	450	180	20	6	45	1280
Burger King	Whopper w/cheese	600	400	44	15	51	1260
Chik-Fil-A	Chicken Sandwich	430	150	17	4	38	1410
Chipotle	Chicken Burrito w/pinto beans, white rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, fajita veggies, red sauce	1305	554	61	20	127	2910
Culver's	Single ButterBurger w/cheese	460	N/A	25	10	40	710
Dominos	Medium (12") Hand tossed pizza (The Whole Pizza)	1720	648	72	28	200	4160
KFC	3 piece meal (breast, drumstick, thigh) w/mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuit	1040	520	57	17	64	3320
McDonalds	Big Mac	540	250	28	10	47	970
Olive Garden	Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce	640	200	22	7	85	1050
The Habit	Single Charburger	470	200	22	6	43	1140
Wendy's	Dave's Single	550	300	34	13	35	1180

I did all of this research on each "Vendor's" website. I think what this did for me is put into perspective what I used to consume. It wasn't uncommon for me to have multiple items on this list in one day.

Prior to having gastric bypass surgery, I weighed 530 pounds at my heaviest. I had routines that I stick to. I would leave my girlfriend's (now wife") house late at night to go home, on my way home I would stop at whatever food joint would be open at the time and ravage the menu as if I hadn't eaten all day. This could equal anything from 500 calories to 3000 calories (I'm serious)

This is what I looked like right before I was being wheeled into the O.R. (mind you, I lost around 50 lbs from my heaviest, prior to this photo) (July 5th, 2011)

This surgery was no joke. It was painful, I puked all the time, my hair started to fall out, my relationship with food was down to strict survival. If you asked me to eat a bite of a cheeseburger, I would have slapped you.

Not very long after that surgery, I looked like this after doing a mud run 5k with some friends.

I lost a part of me by allowing myself to consume food at an alarming rate. 

I'm not at the end of my journey. In fact, it's just beginning. I have zero doubt in my ability to achieve my goals. The next 30 days are going to incorporate some hefty fitness goals. 

I learned today, that I have readers in Canada, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal.

Thank you SO much for your time and your support.