The Power of Support

This is now my 408th post.  I've been on this journey for over a year and a half.  And It's been one of the best experiences of my life (still not nearly as amazing as marrying my beautiful wife).  But it's been quite a long journey.  In fact, while I was inspired by Tyler at 344pounds, I'm not sure if he ever visited my blog.  And that's okay.  He's busy, I'm busy, you're busy!  And though he was my source of original inspiration and I posted some comments on his blog, I never though that I would be as popular or followed as him.  I'm not.

Comments are great.  They can help you get through tough times; they can help you celebrate successes; they can correct bad behavior; they can give new ideas for making even better habits.  I do have some readers (I'm really not sure how many, but it's maybe 10 a day?).  But I don't get the comments that other blogs get.  I don't get 100 or 50...heck, I'm excited when I get to double digits!  I know there are ways to get more comments: I can hold give-aways, I can do workout challenges, I can post comments on other people's blogs (while advertizing my own).  There's a lot I can do.  There are articles and even books written on how to drive readers to your blog.  Lots of tools. Yes, comments are great.

But there's something more important than comments.  

Support.  Yes.  Support is so much more valuable than comments.  Now, granted, comments can give hints as to how much support you have.  But really, the power of ONE commenter is huge.  It doesn't take 25 or 50 or 100 commenters to have the support you need.  It only takes true champions who comment to help you succeed.

Why do I bring this all up?  Well, I just wanted to thank one commenter who really carried me through the early stages of my journey.  No, I wasn't really struggling, but he sure did encourage me.  That man, as most of you know, is Steve. 

He was my first commenter, and I think that he's my best blogging buddy.

My first blog post was on 04/04/09.  And I blogged pretty regularly for weeks, only talking to the air.  Eventually, I told my Small Group at my old church and my Interdenominational Couples Small Group.  But I don't think I really had many readers.  And I certainly didn't have any commenters. 

Nope.  My first comment came on the 10th week of my journey.  I was my wife, Anna.  And while that's a little like having your mom tell you that you're the most handsome boy in school, it sure did make me feel great!

It wasn't until my 13th week--a full 3 months into this journey--the first quarter of this new life--that I got my first non-wife comment.  That was good old Steve.  And he's been commenting ever since. 

Thank you Steve, and all of my other consistent commenters!  Your support means oh, so much.  And if anyone reading this think that their comments go un-read or un-welcomed on any blog, just think about how excited you get when a post of yours gets a comment.  So please, if you are reading blogs, just drop a note to those people--especially those who've just started--to encourage them--don't make them wait four months to hear from their Steve.

Wednesday:
100 sit ups
100 push ups
3 front planks
3 side planks
pray daily
read the bible daily
read my devotion daily

Total:
45 minutes of cardio
200 sit ups
200 push ups
3 front planks
3 side planks on each side
pray daily
read the bible daily
read my devotion daily

Remaining:
Complete my weekly share of Hot 100 Goals
105 minutes cardio
15 miles walked/ran
100 sit ups
100 push ups
2 60-second front planks
2 60-second side planks
pray daily
read the bible daily
read my devotion daily
fast

Calories:
Monday: dunno
Tuesday: 2,422 Calories
Wednesday: 2,472 Calories