A Dream Realized (September 2026)
Image provided by @benhershey.
August Update
Weight (219)
Workout Days (32)
I continue to turn to a blank white page to document my weight loss journey. I continue to share something so personal with the world, because it provides me with another level of motivation. Like a teacher peering over your shoulder while you take a test, or a supervisor who micromanages, I need peers who can hold me accountable. I don't want to put all that pressure on my partner, so I am turning to you (friends and strangers on the internet). I also continue to share this journey, because we have all struggled with our body image. No one is immune, but we all should know that we are not alone.
Weight Loss
Last week, I did something drastic. After another stalled weight loss journey, I decided it was time for medical intervention. After careful research focused on results, side effects, and the weight loss journey of others, I began using a GLP-1. Now, this guy who doesn't like needles has started a weekly ritual of injections.
While I am not sure what happens next, I am hopeful that I eat less, crave less, and weigh less.
Diet
I am only a week into the journey of using a GLP-1. So far, there have been no monumental changes to my appetite. On Friday, I will weigh myself for the first time since beginning this journey. I have no idea what the scale has in store for me. If I know my body, I am not expecting any monumental changes right out of the gate. I know this is a process that takes time, and with each passing week, my body will begin to use the medication in its favor.
Mental Health
I must be honest. I am still shocked and slightly embarrassed that it has come to this. I can’t believe I am relying on weight loss medication to serve as a catalyst for some change. I remember being the kid in high school who could eat almost anything without it impacting my weight. But I chose this path, because I have grown so tired of hating my body and hating the face staring back at me in the mirror. When it comes to my weight, my mental health hasn’t been in a great place for a long time. I could keep hating myself or seek out some change. I made this choice for me.
Workouts
I haven’t gotten to the gym as much as I wanted this year. Since April, my workouts have shifted almost exclusively to playing tennis with my partner. For a long time, in passive conversations, we have searched for an activity we can do together that is both competitive and gets you moving. This spring, we bought a couple of rackets and plenty of balls. We hit the court not fully understanding the game, but with a lot of excitement pushing us forward.
Over the past few months, I have loved spending this extra time with Brandon, learning the game, and finding a new way to move. I look forward to every opportunity my calendar affords me. I am falling deeply in love with this game.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
As a member of the factory, you are taking a stand for human powered creation.
