Writer Dad (giveaway post).

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Subtitle: If you need me Im yammering over at Annabel & Jen’s blogs today.

Please to enjoy. I do adore me some Writer Dad.


Hi, I’m Sean and um… yeah, I have a problem.

About a year ago I started writing. I loved it. In fact, I loved it so much my wife and I closed down our pre-school so that I would be able to write
full time. It was wonderful! Ever since we made the decision our days have been spent sliding down rainbows into rivers made of chocolate..

Wait… that’s not true at all. Now I’m a writer, but alongside my last major career shift came two things. Stress and sentience.

We went from double income to no income. To make the no income turn into some income I had sit for several hours a day. Something I’ve not had to do since high school, and something I deplored so much back then it was probably at least five or six of the four-hundred reasons I decided to skip college.

I used to spend my afternoons at the gym, until I had children. Then I spent my days chasing wee-ones, until I started writing. Now I spend my days sitting on an ever widening bum while the only thing that gets any exercise are the only parts of me that can still be considered skinny.

In the last six months I’ve gained, I’m guessing, around 30 pounds. I don’t own a scale and have never really needed one. I have always been skinny (to the point of embarrassment in high school) with a soaring metabolism. But it turns out my job wasn’t the only thing to change. My calories may have burned like a Southern California fire in high school, but not so much these days.

I’m 6’ 3” so I hide the weight well, but I know and that’s enough. I know because most of my pants no longer fit and I’ve been reduced to wearing sweats or pajama bottoms throughout most of my writing day. At first I told myself this was okay. I’d buck up before summer and besides, I was living the life of a writer.

Then the part of my brain that can be counted on to slap me around a little when it knows I’m rationalizing did exactly that.

I have no excuses. I’m young and healthy. If I’m not fit it is only because I’m lazy, but there is no one to blame but myself. In the last two months, I have had only moderate sugar and only a healthy amount of fat. Already I feel better, look stronger, and feel more motivated. I have forgotten how good it feels. Now I’m left wondering, “what took me so long?”


Sean Platt is a dad and ghostwriter.
You can subscribe to his feed here.

And yes.

In the spirit of my still Living Not Blogging you can be entered to win a free playlist download from SonicTap.com for the lowlow price of a comment below.

USA only.

Winner announced Monday 6.22.09

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Comments

  1. Take comfort in the fact that you only waited long enough to need to lose 30 pounds.

    I, however, put it off until I had an extra 137.5 lbs to lose. I only have 32.5 of that left to go, but just think if I’d started living healthy before I’d put on all of this excess weight!

  2. I think I recall Miz saying she gained weight when she first started writing.
    Miz?

    I’ve always wanted to be a writer—maybe not now 🙂

  3. Well…30 pounds is like “whoa!” to the sensible people like you who stop to recognize there’s an issue. But I fail to understand other people who *continue* to gain well into the 200’s & 300’s and are still doing nothing but eating and being lazy. And now there’s this whole fat acceptance movement, “I’m fat but I’m healthy and fabulous”, crap that’s catching on. I just read about it recently, fat bloggers saying it’s all okay. YIKES!!!

    Do your thing, Sean. You’re a smart cookie….but just don’t eat it. LOL!

  5. Writing had the same effect on me. When I’m writing what I most want to write, I forget to eat. If I’m writing for someone else, the first step is always to get a snack!

    Good for you for getting back on the right (write) track early in the journey!

  7. It’s a good thing that you want to work on getting rid of the 30 excess pounds. OR, wait for it….”You’d be writing checks that you body couldn’t cash”.

  8. Miz, I love it that you’re ‘living not blogging’ this week! You still make time to comment on our blogs to cheer us on, though! Thank you!!!

  10. Good for you for getting after it after only 30 lb. I’ve sorted out my blood sugar and kept it in (reasonable) check I’ve been able to get a handle on the writing rewards. Used to be a good writing day earned me a batch of brownies. Husband can’t eat chocolate so I was stuck finishing them myself.
    Now I keep top quality chocolate in the fridge and have only a square or two of it when the writing goes well.

  11. i love the doing what you love to become a writer, it can be so hard to switch gears like that! 6mo really isn’t that long, but good for you to get back on track.

    ps-miz i just watched you trying to hula hoop… 🙂

  12. I love that you took responsibility for your weight gain & then took steps to change it! You have to look at it in the face, be accountable & move on & you did that. Congrats!

  13. I feel your pain Sean – I went from chasing a two year old as a SAHM to sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day when I went back to work. The result? A 20 pound gain. ugh.

    Glad you are doing what you love, and working to lose those pesky pounds!

  14. I think it’s a good think that the weight gain fell on you so fast, because there’s no way to ignore it. It’s when it creeps up on you a pound or two at a time that it’s easy to rationalize and not see a clear cause-and-effect.

  15. Oh wow.. what an honest post. And kudos to you for having the courage to do what your heart like in terms of a “career”.

  16. You can certainly lose this weight and get healthy for you and for your family! I’ll bet by this time next year you are back where you want to be. I lost 150 pounds twelve years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my family!

  17. Okay, I have to confess something…one of those I’m-an-evil-person things…whenever somebody who used to be naturally skinny and could eat all they want starts struggling with unwanted weight gain, I always feel a brief, intense moment of pleasure, before I mentally slap myself, chiding, “No! Evil!” Is that common among people who were chubby kids?

    Anyway, my feeling is that if you have to sit in front of a computer all day, picking up fat on the old glutes, you might as well be doing something you love! I find that at the least, when I’m in the writing zone, I don’t think about food or eating at all. 🙂

  18. Yep, I have those stay at home pounds too.

    Ok… I have to say that Yum Yucky’s comment has me a bit pissed off. “Continue to do nothing” “Lazy”? Wow. Things happen to people that are beyond their control. If you can’t start out accepting yourself you can’t start making changes. I’m offended and leaving.

  19. I totally understand the feeling of not liking your weight/feeling selfconscious about a gain even though others can’t see it. Best of luck in your new career and in your quest for better health.

  20. The first step is to recognize the issue, right? And that’s WONDERFUL that you’re following your passion. I love finding other people who adore writing as much as I do.

  21. Moonduster: I’d spent about two weeks not putting on pants, just wearing my pajama bottoms. That was the only wake up call I needed. When I returned to pants, I couldn’t button them. Time for sit-ups!

    Bea: It’s worth it, you just have to remember that fruit = good sugar, M&M’s = bad.

    Yum Yucky: I was at the heaviest point I had ever been and knew if I kept going I would be unhappy. I have about ten pounds left, but it should be cake (don’t worry, I won’t eat it).

    Hannah: Nope, not at all.

    Cammy: I’m exactly the same way. I don’t necessarily snack when I write, I snack when I’m bored.

    Janet: Thanks, Janet!

    Tom: LOL.

    Miz: Thanks for the chance to share your space today! The post was cathartic and a lot of fun to write.

    Leah: It was M&M’s for me, by the handful. I don’t even think I chewed. I’ve totally stopped though. It’s amazing how much better I feel.

    Jody: If you don’t own it, you’ll never drop it. No way, no how.

    Jill: I’m almost there. I love what I’m doing and love how I’m feeling. Cool beans all around (which happen to be high in protein).

    Naomi: I totally agree. Basically, I couldn’t button my pants and couldn’t afford to buy new ones. I could afford to eat better and exercise through the dead spots of my day. It made all the difference in the world.

    Suganthi: Thanks. It is certainly the right decision. I just need to exercise patience and persistence and it will pay.

    Diane: I’m almost there now. I fell off the wagon this week for my son’s birthday, but it was no biggie and I already don’t like the way I’m feeling. It will be easy enough to jump right back on.

    TFH: Not evil at all, just human. I totally understand. The more clients I get, the better the jobs and the less I snack. I’m sure there is a correlation. : > )

    Marianne: Yes, Yum Yucky’s comment was a generalization, but people have different perspectives. One comment out of seventeen, perhaps, shouldn’t be enough to make you gather your marbles and go home? Maybe a good dialogue could be initiated instead. : > )

    Marie: Thanks Marie, I appreciate it.

    Sagan: It’s the best way to make a living I’ve found so far. It will be Nirvana if I get to where I really want to go.

  22. Thanks for the introduction of another Dad.

    Lazy here too, but I know the power of exercise.

    LOL at the wishing I was 6’3″ comment. Sometimes height has its advantages.

  23. Writer Dad guest post! Sweet! I’ve seen him everywhere and enjoyed every single post. It’s great that you’ve caught the problem now instead of letting it go any further.

    @Marianne
    I don’t think you should be offended and leaving because of one comment. Although the comment was a generalization, a lot of obesity does happen because people don’t want to do anything. It is very much in their control, they just don’t want to do the work. I understand how you could get offended by that thought, but don’t huff off and leave!

    @Yum Yucky
    I understand what you are saying about the fat acceptance movement. To a certain extent I support them because no one should be discriminated on for any reason – including size. But claiming they are healthy when obese is not cool. Obesity does not equal healthy, so that’s where they lose me. It’s not a crime to be fat and you shouldn’t be hated upon, but don’t try to claim you are just as healthy as everyone else.

  24. I knew there was a reason I haven’t yet written the great American novel. I don’t want to gain weight! 🙂

    I think anyone with a primarily sedentary job can relate to this. Good for you for recognizing the need to change and doing something about it!

  25. Good post! And good for you catching it at only 30 lbs. Took me many years and over 100 extra for the “oh crap, this isn’t me” moment to kick in. I too sit at a desk for 8+ hours a day, but I just know that work time is work time (and usually catching up on my internet time since it’s a lot of hurry up and wait around here), and anything I want to do to pursue fitness is outside of that time.

    Gotta say, I envy those people who work at home and have a flexible-ish schedule (I know it’s probably not as it seems, especially with kids in the picture, but let me live my fantasy here, ok?). Sometimes I just don’t want to do my workout first thing in the morning, going from bleary eyed to running before I’m actually awake, but some days it is the only way.

  26. I’m not a fan of sitting all day either. My desk job makes me want to do a lot more structured exercise though.

  28. This post spoke to me for sure. I have a desk job and have been feeling the same way you did a while ago. Time to make changes!

  30. Since I started my new blog, I gotta lose the pounds, too. My hours behind desk and caregiving, instead of training, are starting to show! Must do more yard work, and yes, it’s salad time!

  34. i cannot sit even for a minute. i guess it’s in my blood though cause all my family members have jobs that run 24/7. they r so busy!

  36. i can never sot for too long. i always have to keep myself busy and walk around or else i get soooo bored and frustrated. lol. it’s good cause i get exercise that way but i think i tire myself too much.

  38. Such a great post that brings up a problem for many. I think it is an issue often overlooked for people who set out to follow their dream of writing and working from home. I started writing from home when we moved abroad and while I had a desk job before I was still more active driving around and going to conferences. I find it is more difficult to stay fit now that I’m home. I’ve only gained 5lbs or so, but my workouts aren’t like what they used to be and the urge to snack is awful! I never knew how easy it was to go to the gym when I was already out and about. It is so hard to leave the house when I’m deep in my work.

    Best wishes to you! Hang in there. Recognizing the need for change is the first step. You’ll get the weight off and be back to your old self in no time!

  39. TB: Almost always, but when I run into someone taller than me it feels unbelievably weird. Blogger Dad is 6′ 4″. Now that’s tall!

    Mary: Thanks for the compliment Mary. I’ve been bad this week – too many birthday cupcakes, but that’s what Mondays are for, right?

    Erin: Thanks Erin. It would have been irresponsible not to.

    Quix: It’s SO not as it seems (I swear). Sometimes, I would LOVE the removed environment of an office. The grass is always greener.

    Jess: Hard to do the exercise with people watching. At least my office is empty.

    POD: No way, for realz?

    Rose: There’s no time like the present. : > )

    Yum Yucky: Deal, but I like to eat with my face. Is that okay?

    Lori: Hiya, Lori! If anyone can beat those pounds into submission, it’s you. : > )

    Mary: Pretty simple formula. It’s the one I’m following myself.

    JK: I do tiny ones sprinkled throughout the day.

    Jayme: I’m with you, that’s the perfect workout!

    June: Lucky! Channel it, bottle it, and sell it if you can.

    Junghwa: I know how you feel. Sitting still for long stretches is really difficult for me as well

    Joshua: Thanks!

    Lori: Thanks Lori. I’m almost there. Just a couple more miles to go.

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