Penguinmas

Feeling great in a new body

Today is my birthday- a day that I generally treat as a holiday and stretch it out as long as possible (and why I never mind belated Penguinmas wishes). Christ gets his mas every year and I think we all deserve our mas. This year I’ve made a particularly big stink about Penguinmas. I’ve not done so purely for attention, although after nearly 2 years of covid isolation and 1 year recovering from the trumpvirus, a little attention sure does feel nice.

I got out of the hospital after 8 days, on January 6, 2021 (Happy Insurrection Day). When I was released, I had lost 22 pounds. That was a very unhealthy side effect 3 weeks after getting sick. When I got home I had a very weak appetite. In fact, the old appetite has yet to return, and thus the hyping the big news that I’m so excited to share.

As I watched the pounds melt away and the loose skin sag and slowly shrink, I began setting weight loss goals, not expecting them to be easy to reach. They are about as easy to reach as the top of Everest. I’ve been overweight pretty much all my life and had reached a point that I didn’t care how high the needle rose. A healthy appetite, love for food, and depression are quite the melange to greater mass. And I’m not known for my willpower. I do as I please.

Before: scary

Each time a post covid weight loss goal was reached, I would set a new one. There were times the pounds seemed to fly away, losing 3 a week. Other times were slower, but I never really changed my diet. Sure, I was no longer eating fast food 1-3x a week. I’ve only been to Whataburger 5 times in the past year! (And each burger and fry is 2 meals!) And yes, I was eating healthier, but I never denied myself anything. To this day I eat dessert almost daily. I still eat pizza, burgers and TexMex and HEB ice cream (so much better than BlueBell). It’s just that with such a small appetite, I’m eating about 1/3 of what I used to. I’d go to Eva’s and eat an entire chimichanga meal with chips and a large ‘rita. That same plate now lasts 3 meals and if I do get the occasional margarita, it’s generally a small one. It’s like eating out has become Hanukkah. Stretch it out.

Speaking of stretch it out, back in high school, 1985, I started working out with Jane Fonda. Not in person—I wish—but some of you may know of her famous workout tape complete with 80s leg warmers and over-synthesized music while coaching us to “stretch it out.” I continued this into college and remember it being low impact and fairly easy on the body, although a tough workout. Jane loved beating me up; after all, she popularized the phrase, “Feel the burn.” I’m glad she was on tape and not in person. There were times I had a few choice words for her. You keep that leg up there, b***h. (I still love you, Jane.)

After: wowza

I squee’d finding the DVD on line so I have been working out with Jane again since April—7 months ago. I have not felt so happy with my physique since the late 80s, when I was lifting weights in college 4x a week. It’s nice running my hands down my legs and feeling muscle instead of fat.

So here is the big reveal that I’ve not mentioned but to a very select and close few. I’m ashamed of how I had let myself go and mentioning the numbers is difficult, but here goes. At my heaviest, I was at least 260 pounds. I suspect I got heavier than that because I stopped stepping on scales. When Mom had her seizure in January of 2020, my stress eating took off like a Besos rocket. Fortunately, after her passing and a few months into quarantine I started to walking 3 miles a day. By the time I contracted covid in December of 2020 I had lost about 10 pounds. Loosing 10 pounds? That was huge for me.

169 pounds on 8December2021

I recall 12 years ago when I started a diet and my goal was to get back under 200 pounds. After struggling to do so I promptly contracted that PenguinPox virus, as my friends named it. Yet another virus that nearly created a Penguin-free world. That’s right, covids wasn’t my 1^st virus rodeo. during recovery from that illness, I waved goodbye to being under 200 pounds and never looked back. Until this past spring. I don’t recall the date that I reached 200- early summer, perhaps. The next set goal was 185. When reaching that, I made my goal 170 pounds...and to be at or below that weight by my birthday. And that’s why the big deal for making this announcement on Penguinmas.

Today is my birthday and I reached 170 pounds on November 23^rd (actually a few days prior...I don’t usually accept a new weight until I get 3 readings at that weight in a row). Going to Dallas for Thanksgiving and feasting on culinary delights with my adopted Mom, Leta and her friends and family, I lost my footing and was scared that when my birthday arrived I might be a pound or 2 over my goal. However, as you can see, I have attained my goal. This morning, Wednesday, I am 169 pounds.

It’s not a diet that I recommend—getting covids—but after all the SHIT that I’ve been through in the past 3 years, this is one thing that I’m happy for and so, very proud of. I know Mom is happy for me, And prior to Itsy’s passing, she was really impressed with my weight loss. I can feel their pride in my progress from across the veil.

In Dallas for Thanksgiving

Beefcake!

I’m not sorry that you might have to suffer with more selfies than I’ve ever taken, but I’m loving how I look after so many years of being heavy. I’ve dropped 4 sizes and now feel like Narcissus- not the plant, but the handsome man who so fell in love with his looks that he couldn’t stop looking at his reflection. I deserve this and I will own it. I may not be as hot as Army Hammer or whoever is on the cover of People’s hottest man of the year issue, but in my magazine it’s me and I’m rocking it!

On sale today!

Thank you for your support and Happy Penguinmas- 90 pounds lighter than a year ago.