My Final Four Pounds

Happy Tuesday #Jontourage,

​Welcome back to the “Classy Gent Chronicles”, where staying classy is the only way to be. In this week’s edition, we are down to the final four pounds on my journey to losing 100 pounds in under one year. Read a letter that I wrote to myself about this journey...

Dear Jonathan and his final four pounds to lose,

We are down to the wire. Who would have thought that 293 days ago, you would be 96 pounds smaller than you were? I knew it! In fact, I knew it all along. I remember the day you said I don't want to live like this anymore was the day things would change forever. Anytime you set your mind to something, you make it happen. This health journey was going to be no different.  

I have watched you push yourself to the limit. I have watched you get up and exercise when you were tired, when it was cold, when it was raining, when it was snowing, and many other conditions to ensure that you met your goal. I watched you study nutrition so that you can program yourself to have a healthier inside. I have watched you find accountability partners to make sure you are staying on track. I have watched you encourage others to exercise with you and help them live a better lifestyle too. I have watched you scale back on responsibilities and over-committing yourself so that you could find time to exercise and practice other self-care strategies.  

Most importantly, I have watched you stay committed EVERY TIME after wanting to quit. The lifestyle you knew was so much easier for you but you decided not to take the easy way out and conform. Instead, you decided to try something new and stick with it. I am so proud of you but the journey is not over yet. Here is one important question you must ask yourself as you prepare to complete this journey:

What's next after you lose 100 pounds?
With any journey, there comes a final destination. You are so close to reaching your goal but there has to be life after a goal. Whether that is losing more weight beyond the 100 pounds or simply maintaining your current figure, it is important that you remember to keep moving forward. It will become extremely easy to get comfortable and want to constantly celebrate losing the 100 pounds. Right now that this goal is in your present but soon it will be in your past. Be proud of what you have done but keep your eyes towards your future. How do you stop yourself from gaining the weight back? Seriously champ, you need a plan. Many people who lose weight gain it back. Make sure that does not happen to you.  Do not forget the plan you made to lose the 100 pounds but be open to adjusting that plan.  New challenges will pop up that will test your commitment to this healthier lifestyle but you are capable of coming out on top.

As I wrap up this letter, just know you are amazing and can do anything. Always proud but never surprised! See you on the other side of this journey.

Always with love, 
100 pounds smaller Jonathan who is waiting for you to finish this journey.

Moral of the story: Rumi once said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” I have big dreams but my first step to accomplishing anything is making sure I am well put together. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey to 100.  

P.S. HOW DOES A $50 PRIZE SOUND? If you can guess how many days it takes for me to finish this journey and lose my 100th pound, you can win $50. Enter the contest at https://www.authorjon.com/journey-to-100-contest.html . Contest ends April 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Remember, in order to live out your dreams, you have to think it, feel it, live it! Until next time, stay classy...

For more Classy Gent Chronicles blog post, be sure to visit https://www.authorjon.com/blog