I've Been Lied To ... By Me

We just got back from spending a long weekend at the beach with family for the Fourth.  As part of that, I spent a lot of time out in the water, standing lifeguard for the kids, without a shirt on.  I ended up with a terrific sunburn and an even-more-painful slap in the face.  The fact of the matter is, I am fat.

I have not believed this to be the case.  I thought I looked big, sure, but I've been telling myself that I looked solid.  I thought I looked strong.  But I came to realize that even though you can tell that I've got some serious muscle to me, it's all quite well hidden under a thick layer of fat.  The fact is, I look like a tub of shit, and it really bothers me.

So, it's time to revise things.  From here on out, every part of my focus needs to be on losing fat.  It simply has to.  I'm a terrible example to my children, a sloppy mess walking around the neighborhood, and look like just another soft slob in a suit at the office.  That isn't me on the inside, but you'd never know it on the outside.

I'll still do the powerlifting meet, but I accept I may not hit the 405-315-495 that I've wanted.  I'll bet I could hit them at 220+, but by then, I'd best be down below 210.  That's not optimum for strength, but screw it.  This is simply unacceptable.

I've often been told that regular progress pictures are a good idea.  I now think that's right.  The pictures from the beach have been the slap in the face that I've needed.  Now to change.