Matt's Weight Loss Odyssey: Part 13 (It's Really Part 100)

Stepped on the scale tonight, and I've lost 100 pounds now. I never thought I would get here, that number is just so unreal to me. I can't believe where I was a year ago, compared to where I'm at today. I'm just having so much fun with working out and getting into shape; it gets addictive, like a drug.

Which is what makes having a cold so frustrating. I've had one since last week, and having to constantly blow my nose or hack for a solid minute is just draining.

See, for someone my size, I think I have a lot of energy. Most nights, the only reason I leave the gym is because it closes. Basketball, elliptical, weights ... whatever, I love working out in all of its forms. I feel like, on any given night, I can work out for 2-3 hours. Most nights, I don't get over there until later on, so I'm working out anywhere between 1 and 1.5 hours. I feel good, but so many nights, I could run home, no sweat.

But with a cold, breathing is 10 times harder. And, as a result, working out is much harder. I haven't been able to approach my normal numbers on my typical program on the elliptical (I usually set it to the weight loss program -- after 33 minutes, I'm in the neighborhood of 2.73 miles walked and 550 calories burned).

But with a cold, it's so hard to get that momentum; once I feel like I'm cleared up and feeling good, I'm tired and ready to call it a night. It's especially frustrating, because I've gotten plenty of rest all week long. So when I head to the gym, ideally, I'm not already suffering from fatigue and trying to catch up. But, even being well-rested, I'm having problems getting up to speed ... because of this damn cold.

And yet I've continued to make a little bit of progress, and tonight, I paid off in the form of hitting triple digits. I don't know what I envisioned when I started this, but losing 100 pounds never seemed realistic. Now? There isn't anything I can't do.

Matt's Weight Loss Odyssey: Part 12 (Before and After)

August 2005:	November 2006:

For clarification, the sheep I'm holding is Mikaela and Dusty's travel buddy, Gulliver. The photo was taken at Cannon Beach about two months before I thought about losing weight.