Embracing Worthiness: A Journey Towards Health and Happiness

The hardest part of the journey isn't going through it; it's deeming yourself worthy enough to start. How many times have you been paralyzed by the fear of beginning? Countless nights spent awake, staring at the ceiling, yearning for change. How many Mondays passed with promises of change, only to slip back into the same routines? What made the day you finally took that first step different?

Was it the time, the weather, or the month? What actually made it different? Perhaps it was none of those external factors, but rather an internal shift — a moment when you decided that enough was enough. You realized that you deserved more, that you were worthy of your goals, your life, and your health.

I had been on every diet imaginable

For me, that moment came after years of struggle with obesity, after countless failed attempts to shed the excess weight. To be honest with you, I had been on every diet imaginable by the age of 22.

Hell, I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting at the ripe age of 12 quickly closing in on the 300-pound mark. I’ll never forget that overwhelming feeling in my chest, walking into that studio for the first time. I felt like I was auditioning for a play that I had no business trying out for. I was not only the youngest person in the meeting, but I was also the only male… This made me think, weight loss was only for women.

I stuck with "WW" for a bit, I had on-and-off success, but I was fully invested. I had the points wheel, the numerous "out to eat" guides that had every chain restaurant imaginable inside, with their entire menu, and the points that went with each meal. I bought the "WW" exclusive snacks, and I fully drank the Kool-aid. This was the early 2000s there were no apps, no online guides to look up, and no free PDFs, so I was buying more literature than a college student.

When "WW" didn’t help me fix my habits, I tried The South Beach Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, Jenny Craig, The Soup Diet, calorie counting, early versions of low carb dieting, The Atkins diet, and so many more that I can’t even remember.

My moment of change

So at this point, you must be thinking to yourself, "John, where is this aha moment you mentioned earlier?" Well unfortunately for me, my moment came at a cost. Almost losing my life at 22 years old, 520 pounds, code blueing in my house.

That moment saved me. It showed me how fragile life is. It showed me just how temporary our time here is, and how valuable it is. This is where I began to reflect on my life. The things that worked and didn't work. It gave me the chance to see my life in a 360-degree view and finally, I began to realize that the goal of living was far more important than just plain old weight loss.

It wasn't until I acknowledged my worthiness that I was able to embark on a journey of transformation. It wasn't easy. There were doubts, fears, and setbacks along the way, but I knew deep down that I was capable of more than I had allowed myself to believe.

It was more than a physical transformation

You see, the only thing stopping you from achieving your goals is yourself. It's time to get out of your own way and embrace the possibility of change. You can do the hard things that others say are impossible. It starts with believing in yourself and taking that first step.

My journey of losing 300 pounds wasn't just about physical transformation; it was a journey towards self-discovery and self-love. It was about realizing that I am worthy of happiness and health, regardless of my past struggles. And you are too.

You are not alone

So, if you're reading this and feeling stuck, remember that you are not alone. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for. Take a deep breath, trust in yourself, and take that first step forward. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time.

Together, we can motivate each other to embrace our worthiness and reclaim our health and happiness. Let's support each other on this journey towards a better tomorrow. Remember, you are worthy, you are capable, and you are not alone.