Damn, I’m Fat Again Week 6

Howdy all you friends, family, fiends, foes, and funky folks!

I’m already at Week 6 of this rollercoaster I am calling “Damn, I’m Fat Again,” and I’m sitting here at a current weight of 232 pounds. Not too bad considering I started at a beefy 252 pounds. Progress? You bet. But let’s not fool ourselves—the road has been spiked with both decent wins and some spectacular “oh-craps”.

The Highlights: Victories Worth a Standing Ovation

1. The Scale Isn’t Lying (For Once) Dropping from 252 to 232 pounds feels like a high five and an “attaboy” from the universe. There’s something soul-soothing about seeing those numbers tick downward. It’s like each pound lost whispers, “You’re doing it, Dean,” and for a brief moment, I feel kind of invincible.
2. My Energy Has Been Better, But Not ‘Dynamite!’ I’ve noticed a small change in my energy levels. Sure, I’m not doing backflips down the grocery aisle (yet), but I’m definitely less of a couch potato and more of a halfway-decent potato. Tasks that used to come with the obligatory groan now seem a little less daunting, like taking out the trash without making it a Kiss-style concert production.
3. Clothes Are Fitting Better A few weeks ago, my jeans and I were locked in a battle of wills. Spoiler: The jeans were winning. Now? I have dropped at least 2 inches off my waist, (one pant size) and had to buy more of my favorite “Dickie’s” work pants because I was tugging  at my others like it was a tug-o-war, just to keep them up.
4. Little Wins That Matter The small stuff adds up. I can tie my shoes without feeling like I just ran a marathon, and I don’t sound like a symphony of huffs and puffs when I go up a flight of stairs. Those are the moments that reassure me this is worth it.  My knees aren’t complaining at the thought of doing my daily “lot walk” to see what inventory is available to sell at my used car lot! 

Dean-Ism: “If you can pinch an inch of fat, I can grab a slab of it”.   

The Lowlights: The Struggle is Real, Folks

1. The Food Cravings—Oh, Damn, Temptation! Look, if resisting temptation was easy, I wouldn’t be writing this. The late-night snack demon is still alive and well, whispering sweet nothings about ice cream. I haven't caved, but I did find an alternative to ice cream, the Outshine Frozen Fruit bar, no sugar added and only 80 calories!  Thanks to my touch of O.C.D., I am able to be really disciplined.
2. Social Gatherings: The Calorie Minefield Is it just me, or do all social events seem designed to sabotage any diet? Every gathering is a waist-expanding festival of finger foods, cocktails, and desserts that look like they were made by the gods themselves. It’s been tough to navigate, but I’m trying to be “that guy” who politely declines any dessert or goodie. Spoiler: Again, the O.C.D. actually helps me to resist.  It’s still a lot of mental “work”.
3. Motivation Dips There are days when I feel like Rocky at the top of the steps, and days when I feel like whale crap at the bottom of the sea. The motivation comes in waves, and sometimes it’s a small creek rather than a Mississippi River.  I’ve found that listening to some classic rock—a little Rush, April Wine or George Thorogood—helps snap me out of those funks. But some days, even the best riffs can’t pry me out of my recliner.
4. The Mirror is Still a Jerk Despite the progress, I’d be lying if I said the mirror and I were on best bud, friendly terms. Sure, I see some changes, but I also still see areas that need work. The journey to weight loss isn’t just physical; it’s absolutely a mental battle. It’s about appreciating how far you’ve come while staying pumped for how far you still need to go.  (Just can’t get complacent.)

Dean-ism:  “When I was younger a hip joint was a cool club to go to, now…. It means something entirely different!”

Lessons Learned So Far

1. Progress Over Perfection Perfection is the sworn enemy of progress. If I waited to be perfect, I’d be waiting forever. A few slip-ups don’t mean I’ve failed—they mean I’m human. And last time I checked, that’s what most of us are.
2. Accountability Matters Having to take and talking about this journey, whether it’s on my radio show or here on the blog, keeps me in check. There’s something about putting it out into the world that makes it real, embarrassing if I quit, and motivates me to keep going. I can’t thank you all enough for the support and the laughs.
3. The Right Playlist is Everything I’ve discovered that the right song can turn a dreary workout into a mini rock concert. The power of music, folks! It’s been my secret weapon to making treadmill sessions bearable. Pro tip: If you ever need an extra boost, “Eye of the Tiger” still works.  I also like to listen to comedy while walking or working out.  Some of my favorite comics are Bobby Collins, Kathleen Madigan, and of course the older comics, Rodney Dangerfield, and Redd Foxx.

Dean-ism:  “One day you are young and healthy, the next you end up having a favorite pharmacist. 

What’s Next on the Horizon?

The goal for the next few weeks is to keep pushing—not just for more weight loss but for more consistency. I want to keep embracing those little wins and work on getting a bit more exercise, walking at least a little bit more, and using my weights here at home.  I’m also looking to spice up the workouts a bit, maybe throw in some weekend hikes or even try to get back to bowling. If that doesn’t go well, at least there’s a good story in it!

So, that’s Week 6 for you. Down 20 pounds and counting. It’s been a journey filled with ‘dynamite!’ moments, and yeah, a few “oh, craps”, but overall, I’m moving forward. And that’s what it’s all about, right?

Dean Benson, “The Dean Of Rock & Roll” SKY7music.com middays on the “Only Classic Rock Channel”.  Also see more of my writing at: https://stan.store/DeanBensonRocks .