This is going to be a weird blog but I'll try and tie it all together.  But since you are my friends (you are my friends, right?) I'll share this with you.  Today has been a crappy day.  It didn't start out that way it's ending that way.  I'm sure you've had those kinds of days.

However, Saturday was a great day.  Now, nothing spectacular happened Saturday but during the workout I discovered something very unspectacular that made me very happy.  I hope this makes sense. 

I worked out Saturday morning.  Mickey had dumped me because of her desire to help others in the "relay for life".  So I rented "Rocky Balboa" the sixth installment of the Rocky series.  At Roger's Ranch several machines allow you to watch DVD as you work out.  So I popped it and began to walk. 

Let me just say this, I loved the first Rocky movie.  I had the posters, the soundtrack, the T-shirt and everything.  I was inspired!   The sequels were okay but you didn't care as much Rocky as you did the first movie. 

I know this will sound sappy and goofy but while watching "Rocky Balboa" it made me feel wonderful that I cared about Rocky again.  Rocky is a sixty something fighter trying to fight one more time because he still wanted to prove something to others as well as himself.  It made me feel good to learn that I still had a soft spot for an underdog trying to gain respect and achieve the seemingly impossible.  I even still got goose bumps when they played the original theme during the seemingly obligatory montage scene.

And then Rocky explains to his son how to be a winner, 

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"

As hokey as that sounds, it occurs to me that this is what this year’s losers have been doing.  Listen to the stories of the contestants and how life kept knocking them down.  Almost all had tried to lose weight but failed.  However, this time they held to hope and fought back...with tremendous success. 

And make no mistake; this journey has been a fight.  In fact, it's very Rockyesque.  (begin to hear "Gonna Fly Now" ) Members of the Black team were given the opportunity to quit.  But knocked down one more time they got up off the canvas and continued the journey.  They had knee problems (punch) , back problems (boom), hernias (boom boom), black toes (socko) but they didn't use them as an excuse to quit...when they fell of the wagon (because of Fiesta and other temptations) they got back up and fought again when given the chance. 

The online team has had nothing to motivate them except their own drive and desire to succeed.  No accountability to anyone.  Little recognition.  You'll meet them tomorrow.  Way to go guys!

I don't like to write about myself but I know that Mickey and I are working hard to finish the fight, too.   I don’t know about Mickey but I’m surprised to find that these are the some of the hardest weeks of the competition. 

Here’s the point (‘bout damn time, huh?).  There’s nothing extraordinary about any of us.  We are just ordinary folk. 

So what’s keeping you from losing weight?   We’ve achieved this in just 12 weeks.  Are you worth twelve weeks of sacrifice and pain?  You know you are!!  And when you fall (and you will) will you get back up and begin the journey again.  I hope our success inspires you.  I truly do! 

I know I’ll keep fighting…it’s what Rocky would do.

By the way, I feel a little better now.  Thanks for letting me have my say.