OK, so I have not negotiated world peace, nor have I solved the problem of world hunger. But I did reach my weight loss goal on October 1st after nine months of calorie counting and exercise. I trimmed down from 211 to 175 pounds, a thirty six pound reduction.

There are both plusses and minuses from this effort.

On the positive side, I feel lighter on my feet (duh!), my digestion has improved, I no longer have to use the CPAP machine at night, and I have changed back to my old wardrobe. 

On the negative side, I have to mend my relationship with my wife who was frustrated with my changed eating habits. She’s a great cook, and prides herself on her ability to feed her family, so I get it. Also, I have many recently-purchased items of clothing that now resemble hand-me-downs from a much larger brother. However, now the folks who shop at the GoodWill store will have a few nice warm shirts and tops to choose from as we head into cooler weather.

And some of the widow ladies at church have commented on my improved appearance, causing my wife a bit of concern. Her best friend, a spritely eighty-seven year old, has taken to calling me “skinny”.

God is good, always providing what we need. I’ve learned a lot about food this year which has affected my dietary choices; information I’ll use from now on. I plan to work on getting more fit; a little stronger maybe. Although sadly, so far, there has been zero improvement in my golf game. Nevertheless, I can still walk nine holes, so the exercise, fresh air, and fellowship all make for a healthy life.

Wishing you all a beautiful autumn and a bountiful harvest.