It wasn't so long ago that I was a physically fit individual. All through my school years I was very athletic. I played sports year-round (football, basketball, track, etc...) and when I wasn't competing I was practicing or training. I once boasted to my mother that I would always find the time to exercise and keep in-shape...
Fast-forward to August 2008...I ask for, and receive, a Wii Fit for my birthday. Apparently I haven't been making as much time to exercise as I should and my shape is a little lumpier than it was back in the "good ole days". For those who aren't familiar with Wii Fit it is an excercise video game. After over-indulging at my birthday celebration, Nicole and I return home and I happily remove my Wii Fit from its box and start to play. I've heard that part of the game is an initial weigh-in, this is so that Wii Fit can track your weight loss on the road to becoming the physically fit version of yourself. I mentally prepare myself for what I think will be a dose of harsh reality. At least I think I do. The video game version of me is a cute little stick figure with an abnormally large head. Shaking, I lift my left foot onto the Wii Balance Board, an innocent looking device slightly larger than your average bathroom scale. It can measure your center of balance, the pressure you are exerting in a particular direction, and of course your weight. Now as soon as I step onto the board I hear, "Oh" from my TV. Apparently Wii Fit was expecting Twiggy. Undeterred I put my right foot, and all of my weight, onto the board. Whew, No more comments from Wii Fit. Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought...
A new screen appears on the TV. It's my big-heaeded, stick-skinny Wii Fit character standing next to what appears to be a some sort of thermometer. The top section is labeled "Obese". A little farther down "Over weight". Followed by "Normal". I believe there is another label after that but as it doesn't apply to me I don't pay attention to it. I figure I'm probably in the "Normal" to "Over weight" category so why bother with the other categories. Just as I start thinking, "My Wii Fit character sure could use some meat on his bones." the indicator line on the weight thermometer starts to move up the scale. Ever hear that saying "be careful what you wish for"? That saying applies to what is currently taking place on the TV. As the indicator line moves up the scale my Wii Fit character begins to plump like a Ball Park Frank. I watch with dread and anticipation as the line keeps moving up, up, and still up the scale. Where will it stop? Normal... How rotund can my Wii character get? Over weight... I know I've gained a few pounds over the years but how many? The the indicator on the scale quickly passes the midway point of the "Over weight" section and approaches the line between "Over weight" and "Obese"... Wow, I guess I'm a little bigger than I thought. The line finally stops. I'm in shock. I can't believe what I'm seeing on the TV screen. My Wii Fit character looks as if he sat on a helium dispenser. I'm pretty sure his belly-button went from an iny to an outy. At least his head no longer looks abnormally large for his body. The line on the scale indicates...obese. Obese. Really? I had mentally prepared myself for the high end of "Normal". Or even possibly "Over weight". But obese? Wow. I'm stunned. I turn to Nicole, who has been watching the scene unfold and say with a laugh, "Your turn Sweetie.". Her response, "No way". Smart girl.
Since then I've been on a physical fitness rollercoaster. Occassionally I'll dip into the glorious realm of "Over weight" only to find myself in Obese-land just a few days later. The "Over weight" days are incredibly exciting. I feel the need to tell all my friends, "I've done it. I'm now over weight!". And then I think, wow, there's something really weird with being excited about being over weight. It's such a backwards sounding goal, "I want to be over weight.". I mean, who wants to be over weight?
I guess it's all about celebrating the small victories. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. So to all of you out there battling the bulge, celebrate the small victories, keep your sense of humor, and most of all keep on working. You can do it. I know you can. Because this morning I got on Wii Fit and...I'M OVER WEIGHT! :)
