Jack of Harts

When I was young, I had one belt at a time. Usually some form of thick leather cowhide belt because that is what my parents bought me. When I got old enough to afford my own belts, I tried fancier belts that looked better. And they broke down on me because they weren’t as durable as a basic cowhide leather belt. So I went back to them as I grew up. Most of the belts I have now I have worn for between twenty and thirty years. Slightly different lengths. Different patterns. Different buckles. All but one being a basic cowhide leather belt. The one is a decorative cool belt that I don’t wear on a daily basis so I haven’t worn it out.

Of my daily belts, when I grew to my biggest in January, I was hitting the last hole in some of them. I’ve now lost somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty pounds, and I’m solidly in the mid 250s now. A while back, I remember sucking the belt back in one hole. Now I’ve had to suck them in again. Most of my belts are two or three holes inward of where they were nine months ago. I’ve now spent maybe around a month tooling around in the 250s, and most of the muscle aches and pains from getting under 260 have faded away. It no longer hurts to move as my muscles have figured out my new shape. But it did feel good to recently pull my belts in another bit. That is a very visible way to measure my return to better fitness.

All of this is through a combination of smaller portion sizes and low level resistance exercise. I’m not yet up to walking around the neighborhood, but I’m doing good and I’m feeling better. It’s amazing what thirty pounds will do when it is no longer there.

For one, I don’t have to go out and get new belts. That right there is worth the price of admission to this ride.