The results of hard work and dedication are bitterness?
I’ve been thinking lately. Dangerous… I know! Anyway, I take the comments I get from people I am in human contact with and compare them to the people that only see a picture of me online. Of course I’m closer to the human contact persons, I call them my friends. I’m just a little tired of bitter comments from my friends who tell me I’m too skinny now or I need to quit losing weight. The BB.com community has been awesome with their support and motivation and these are people I might not recognize on the street! It’s weird.
Upon further analysis, while I’m not in great shape by my standards, I look better than I ever have in my life. Maybe it’s that they are all now hitting their mid-30s and realizing that they can’t stuff crap down their throat and drink a few beers every night and not pay the consequences. Maybe they are upset with themselves because they COULD do what I’m doing. Maybe I’m just a d*ck. Who knows?
The good news is that I don’t care what they think is the right body for me. I have a vision and a plan. I am happy and healthy and yes, I could stop and still have what is considered in the excellent bodyfat range for my age, but why? Why should I pull up short of my innermost secret goals? The ones that were only pipedreams a few years ago?
I started this a year before I found out I was getting divorced, so I didn’t do it to attract ladies, though that is an added bonus! I am doing it for me! ME,ME,ME! Call it greedy, call it vain, call it what you will. Now I know the bbers won’t call it that, but my friends might. I don’t sacrifice time with my son nor am I missing out on anything. I guess some people just don’t get it. That’s ok with me. I’ll do my thing, you do yours. It’s all good right?
April 23, 2008 at 6:09 am
It’s DEFINITELY all good!
I have found that when people make comments directed at you, it is far more indicative about themselves and their own lives. For instance, they are almost surely jealous of your hard work and subsequent results, and they feel guilty that they are not doing the same things. It’s often on a very subconcious level, though, so they likely have no clue that they are doing this. But even knowing all this, it’s still incredibly disheartening when I hear comments along the lines that you got, from my close friends and family. It really does deflate me, albeit temporarily. When it does happen, after the initial hurt and sting of it, I remind myself that they are voicing their own insecurities and fears, and it does not have as much to do with me as I think! 
Feel Better, Jeff. You look great. 
April 24, 2008 at 1:43 pm
You know it, my brutha from anutha mutha. I haven’t had any negative comments, just lack of understanding from family and friends as to why I eat what I eat and workout as often as I do. Of course they’ll all see it after a while. For now, I just explain the same things over and over again.
It’s good to do things for YOU. We have a short time on this earth, so why not do what you can to be happy?
April 26, 2008 at 3:50 pm
You have the right attitude to deal with all naysayers in your life. Your journey to lifelong health is the most selfless and generous thing you could do for your son. You are setting an example that will hopefully show him the path to lifelong health and happyness! Keep the faith Jeff!
April 27, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hey! You are freaking incredible! Way to go! Never stop, never let them make you. You know where your head is. KEEP AT IT! XO