Weight limit.

Today, for the first time in many years, I weighed under 330 pounds.  This is a surprisingly significant number for me. 

First, as you can see above, for the first time in a long time, my driver’s license is actually accurate.  In Oregon, I was actually registered with the state at 340 pounds, and when I got the Washington license, I for some reason decided that License Me had lost ten pounds, even though Real Me wasn’t sniffing 330 any more than 340. 

Second, 330 seems to be a cutoff point for a lot of things these days.  It seems that it used to be (back when it used to be odd to see a person over 300 pounds) that weight limits were set to 300 for most products.  330 seems to be the new number.  It makes me feel good that I can go buy a regular bathroom, spinny-numbers scale and weigh myself on it today.  I can also buy a Wii Fit.  Sure, I don’t have a Wii, but I could.  I’ve found hammocks, recliners, and zip line tours with weight limits of 330 pounds too. 

I’ve also been thinking about something else as it has become more and more feasible.  I haven’t been on an amusement park/fair ride (excluding Ferris wheels) since probably my senior trip to Six Flags in 2001.  I love roller coasters and other such rides.  But there’s no way that I’m getting in those lines without being awfully damn sure that that safety harness is going to fit.  I actually found a website where fat people submitted their experiences attempting to ride the rides at various theme parks that was helpful, but I still plan to wait until the ol’ State Fair next year to make my grand entrance to the ride scene.

That leads me to another question, though.  Who are these people willing to stick their pride out there and hop on into line, not knowing if you’ll fit?  I’m not asking to shame these people; I am impressed.  As a longtime fat person, I know the dread that goes into a lot of seemingly simple activities. It’s a very vulnerable position to put yourself in, and there’s no way I would have done it at 400 pounds.  I’d feel uncomfortable stepping up there at 329 pounds.

I’m also getting very close to a very good milestone.  When I reach 319.6 pounds, I will no longer be classified as Obese, Class III.  There is no Class IV.  At 6’3”, I’ll start dropping through the classes in neat 40-pound increments.  So at 279.6 pounds, I’ll reach Obese, Class I.  At 239.6 pounds, I will cease to be Obese and simply be overweight, and the pie-in-the-sky dream, which I fully admit may not be obtainable, is at 199.6 pounds, to be, for possibly the first time since my age was in single digits, at a normal weight.  Weighing under 200 pounds is an exciting thought, but so is weighing under 300 pounds.  I can’t get myself too wrapped up in the idea that there’s some weight that I HAVE to get to.  If I get under 200 pounds, great.  I should be in damn good shape.  If my weight stabilizes at 205 or 225 or 245, then I’m still miles ahead of where I was just four months ago. 

I’m miles ahead of that guy now, literally.  I have 222 miles under my belt, just from the miles that I’ve personally tracked.  I should have at least another 200 by the end of the year.  On Sunday, I’m going on a seven-mile hike with a 2800-foot gain on the way up, and while it’s going to be one hell of a workout, I’m not going to have a problem doing it.  I couldn’t say that four months ago.  I’m not at all sure that I’ve ever been on a hike before, and certainly nothing approaching seven miles.

So I may not get to that mystical number of 199.6.  But as great as my life was before I started losing this weight (it was), every day is even better (it is, and yes, you should be jealous).  It’s simple things, like discovering the place I want to go is six blocks away and being entirely OK with walking.  It’s walking up three flights of stairs and not having to catch my breath. 

Also, I’m finding that I’m enjoying working out again, but there’s a limit.  I’m starting to tire of walking and running, at least the walking and running that’s just on my own time.  I’m really excited to hike on Sunday, and I’m really looking forward to pushing myself at the gym.  I think I’m ready to switch it up.  I’ve lost 74 pounds doing the same routine, but now it’s time to diversify! 

Also, blogging won’t generally be this sparse; dealing with a back injury, being sick and work being crazy has really diminished my time for anything, especially when you throw in working out and my new commitment to eating in.  Basically, I’m super busy because I’m awesome and popular and important.  Enjoy the weekend!