I was recently asked the question “How do you start this process?” I responded quickly with a couple
of how to steps. In my case, I started exercising & began changing my eating habits based on results I
received from a d.n.a weight loss test I took. However, I pondered that question in more detail later. “How
did I get started?” The more I think about it. The more I realize the better question is “Why” not “How” do
I start the process” The why is far more important than how. So with that in mind, I think I’ll revisit the
question from a standpoint of why did I get started.

There comes a point in most people’s lives where you say enough is enough. That’s where I was. I was
frustrated beyond measure. There were little events that accumulated over time that just led me to the
point of “enough is enough”. Events such as walking around the mall & having my back hurt. Events like
constant aching of my knees. Events like going to restaurants & praying like crazy the hostess would
give us a table & not a booth. I wish I could say there was some big epiphany or “a-ha moment” but that
wasn’t the case. I just quietly said “Antuan, enough is enough. You’re better than this.”

From that moment on, I just resolved to get a little better every day. I sat down & came up with a goal.
After coming up with ridiculous goals like losing 1000 lbs in 2 months & running a marathon in 6 months
after I lost 1000 lbs, I asked myself two very important questions. “What do you want & why?” I wanted
to be healthier. I wanted a better quality of life. Why? So I could grow old with my wife. Why? So I could
take my family to Disney World &have my only excuse for not riding the rollercoasters be ‘the lines are
too long’. Not I don’t want to be embarrassed because I can’t fit in the seats. ( It has absolutely nothing
to do with me being a tad bit uncomfortable with the idea of going 100 miles an hour spinning in the air,
hitting curves, and going upside down) Why? So I could run around in the back yard with a very active
9 year old. Why? So I’d regain all the confidence I once had. So I would actually like the way I looked in
pictures.

I had to have a number to focus on at first. So I set the number at 250 lbs. Before the number
overwhelmed me, I broke it down into monthly goals. Before the monthly goals overwhelmed me, I broke
that into weekly goals. Before the weekly goals overwhelmed me – you get the idea. I broke it down into
manageable daily things I could do. I didn’t fully buy into losing 100 +lbs initially, but I did believe and buy
into me doing a little bit every day.

It sounds simple enough & it really is that simple. However, what I learned is simple doesn’t equal easy.
The steps to lose weight are quite simple. There are only a few things to be done. The issue for me
wasn’t so much physical as it was mental. Once I realized that, I learned the lesson that simple and easy
are two different things.

So I said all that to answer the question. “How do you get started?” Well…. In my opinion, the answer
is, get started by finding out why you want to get started. When you find a “why” that’s important
enough to you, you’ll start…..