Jason Murphy

Losing 60 Lbs in 6 months

Nov 2, 2007 Help Yourself

A few months ago I took on a challenge of writing something on this blog every day for one whole month. That challenge actually turned out to be a success and ended up allowing me to write some fantastic pieces. I also proved to myself that I can accomplish a goal if I remain consistent and set my mind to it.

Yesterday was my half-birthday. If you ask me, half-birthdays should remain uneventful and unacknowledged. If you were to ask my wife though, she loves the concept of half-birthdays. She always gives me a hard time when its her half-birthday hoping she can guilt me into getting her a gift (never works). True story: last year a company she loves shopping at sent her a Half-Birthday Card with a “Why wait 6 months to spend something on yourself?” coupon inside. I tossed it at her and said “Wow did they hit the nail on the head targeting their customers with this one”. And yes, she spent it.

So why did I even notice my “half-birthday” this year? Well, it wasn’t that I was looking for a reason to celebrate. No, it was more or less me looking at the calendar and noticing that I only have 6 months left until I turn 30. Damn.

Thirty isn’t a horrific number. I’m not afraid of officially losing my 20’s forever. The only thing that worries me is that this is supposed to be the prime of my life. Reality is, I’m far from being prime anything. Don’t worry, I’m not getting depressed and emotional here. It’s just a fact and I’m facing it. Actually, I’m using it as motivation. I plan on enjoying my thirties to the fullest!

To start, on my 30th birthday I plan on going skydiving. This is something I’ve always wanted to do with my life but never set out to do it. It is on my “things I plan to do before I die” list. I’m pretty excited and looking very much forward to it.

But it will take some work. First time jumpers are required to jump tandem with an experienced dive coach. There are a few reason for this, but mostly so you have a safe jump and don’t panic and pull the ripcord too late (or worse, too soon for that matter. Ever hear of jetstreams?). I have no problem with this. However, there is a weight limit that the diver must be under 220 lbs. or he doesn’t jump. From what I hear, they are pretty strict about this. If you are 221 lbs. then you don’t jump, even if you try to convince them you’ll jump without your shoes.

So I know I’m overweight. My health, along with a lot of other needs, has taken a distant last place to the needs of my wife, kids, family finances, vehicles, work, friends etc. It’s not their fault, its mine. I just never made my health a true priority. That’s a shame really, because by being healthier I’d have increased ability to assist to the needs of others.

I know there is a saying along the lines of “you can make time for anything if you make it important enough”. Well, I think its about damn time that I make health a priority. I have a selfish reason and a not-so-selfish reason for doing so (skydiving being the former, my family is the latter).  I weighed myself yesterday. 280 lbs. Holy shit. My 6′4″ frame hides some of it well, but it is still apparent I have a lot of weight to lose.

So 280 lbs is where I am now, and 220 is where I want to be. That’s 60 pounds in 6 months when I turn thirty. Seems like a worthy and practical goal (although the last time I remember weighing under 220 I was in High School and skinny as a Hollywood Diva).

I plan on keeping track daily on another site of mine (link to come shortly), but I’ll post periodical updates here. And hell yeah I plan on posting my victory video of my 30th birthday jump!