When I was in college (University of California, Davis – Go Ags!), I worked in the alumni fund raising department calling alums asking for money. I was good at it, raising over $100,000 in a little over 5 months. I figured I found my calling. (pun not intended)

Right after school, I moved to Washington, DC and after two months of job searching (an interesting experience needing another post on another day), I landed a job at CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. It was a non-profit that focused on supporting the advancement office (fund raising, alumni relations and communications). It was fun, but when I got a chance to jump to a university, I took it. Over the next seven years, I worked at various schools in DC and California, and in late 2000, tired of slow moving university life, and running smack dab into internal politics, I left and started consulting for a friend’s startup.

Why is this important? Well, as I continued my university life I realized that a unique quality paradigm existed in university administration: the incompetent people were fired; the good people left; and the mediocre people were promoted. Because of the high level of mediocrity, self-motivation didnt exist, and wasnt welcome.

How does that connect to my weight loss? Well, last night I was watching the season finale of Shaq’s Big Challenge. Its a show where Shaq took six kids and provides them nutritionists, trainers, doctors, etc. to lose weight, all in an effort to curb childhood obesity. What was interesting to me, after nine months there was one kid who lost 77 pounds, surpassing his goal; one kid who lost 40 lbs, but clearly needed to lose another 20-30 lbs; and one kid who lost 25 lbs.

• Chris lost 77 lbs. It was clear that he was completely self-motivated by his success to keep off the weight and continue his healthy lifestyle.
• Kit lost 23 lbs. She was self-motivated by her failure to lose more.
• Ariel lost 40 lbs. She was content to be “normal.” She had little self-motivation to continue to work hard, because she tasted success and didnt really fail.

I thought about this, in regards to my progress. I have lost 40lbs, but it has taken a long time, with many ups and downs. My motivation has ebbed and flowed. But, it seems that as soon as I consistently weighed less than 300 lbs, my motivation has completely disappeared. Much like Ariel, I have had some success and havent really failed. My fear is that I will be status quo for months before my motivation comes back. How can I get it back now?

Here is what I decided. I am going to disregard all my previous successes and start over.

So, hello: This is my fatblog. I weigh 293 lbs and need to start losing weight.

And, I decided to set myself a goal. Heath Perry, my personal trainer suggested completing my first 14teener on my birthday, which is two months away (September 25). Not a bad idea, scares the hell out of me, and will be challenging. So, I committed to it. The Saturday after my 36th birthday, I will be climbing my first 14teener.

The only rule will be that I have to lose 10% of my current weight by then. That will put me at about 263 lbs. Yikes!

This new tactic should eliminate my state of mediocrity and reminds me that the best way to learn to duck is to get punched in the face.

My father said something interesting to me this weekend. He said that I view failure as part of the process, and thats why I am open to risk. The worst thing that could happen to me is a learning experience. So, hopefully my recent failure at consistent and significant weight loss will be a learning experience, and this new goal and way of looking at my battle of the belly will lead toward success. Which, will be rather motivating…

And, I will post the workout Heath gives me, and the 14teener we plan on climbing. All are welcome to join in on the “fun.”

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