Part 1 - Welcome to the Beginning

You are going to die...words that can shake you to your very core....words that were spoken to me this past June by my doctor....words that are changing my life...

Let me introduce myself for any that may have come here and don't know me...my name is Michael Manzer....I am 38 years old and I am...well...to be blunt I am fat, large, heavy, big boned, rotund, robust, round and many other adjectives...I don't say these words to be self-deprecating but I acknowledge them because they are true and honest...look for yourself...

 

See, I wasn't kidding I am 6'3.5" and I weighed 674lbs. when the doctor shared this prediction with me.  My BMI(body mass index) was at an astronomical 81.95 and my blood pressure was at 142/100.  I am technically labeled "Super Morbidly Obese" and I could continue to list all of the maladies that accompany such a prestigious title but I can save that for another blog.  I can't explain why this time the doctor's words finally sunk in but they did.  I have tried before to change my lifestyle on many occasions with little to no success but this time I am determined to be successful.  As of this past Wednesday, I now currently weigh in at 584lbs., a full 90lbs. lighter.  I have been keeping updates posting on Facebook and I have been receiving massive amounts of support from family and friends.  I also have been receiving many questions as to how I am making it all work this time.  So I took a suggestion from a friend and have created this blog.  I am going to do a new posting every Sunday giving updates and sharing bits of my journey.  I will add pics so you all can see my progress.  Now, while I look forward to your comments and questions I would ask kindly that we keep this posting a place of positivity.  I encourage freedom of speech but I say please think before posting ignorant comments.  It is my intention to not only make this a post about my progress but to be able to help people who struggle with weight issues by offering encouragement and tips that I have found and am finding useful.  My other goal is to make this a completely free and open forum where anybody can ask me a question about any facet of my life or how it is to live a life as an obese man.  I have found that many people don't comprehend the day to day struggles that obesity causes and I have found that most of the cruel comments that come from people are based in ignorance of what it is like.  I am on my way to success but I am by far not even near the finish line.  I have changed my lifestyle drastically but it is a day to day struggle.  There will be weeks when I am not able to say I lost weight or even that I might have to admit to gaining some, but one of the first lessons I had to embrace was this, it isn't the falling down that matters, it is the ability to dust off and plod forward with your chin up and your eyes on the prize.  Over the coming weeks I would love to see people's thoughts and encouragement.  I will be sharing stories about my growing up and things that I think contributed to making me what I am today.  I will share stories of my family and especially of my Mom who sadly lost her battle with obesity this past February.  Her story is one that has helped to motivate me in this battle I face.  I gladly will answer any questions about my medical issues due to my obesity and how I am working on correcting them.  I will share my goals and dreams and what I hope to become.  I leave you this week with a thought that I have adopted to help me.  You can not succeed and hope that others will love you if you can't love yourself.  I have started to love me for me again and it has given me a whole new outlook on life.  I hope you all stick with me through this journey and I thank you all for your support.  Stay tuned because "The Rendering" is bound to be an interesting and life changing trip...God bless you all...to be continued...