How this started...

Dear Family and Friends,

I need help. I did not know how to start this email, but that seems to sum it up. I need help.

I have allowed myself to lose control of one aspect of my life that is hindering other parts of my life. I need to be motivated, and be held accountable to make a positive change in my life.

My weight has always been an issue. I was a big kid, who became a big teenager, who became a big college student, who has now become a morbidly obese adult. Not many of you know that last Spring I auditioned for the show Biggest Loser. Some of the people who were in the know, said you are not as big as "those people." In fact, I am bigger than most of those people. And in the past year I have only grown bigger. I thought being on that show would be the motivation I needed. I would be motivated to not let my family and friends down. I would not want to be the guy who got on the show and did not take advantage. Unfortunately, I was not chosen.

For years I dwelled on the fact that my lumbar discs seem to herniate every time I start making progress, or the random staph infection that nearly took my leg. But my back has been feeling good for nearly 2 years and still I have done nothing. I have realized that losing weight is truly not that important to me because I have not even tried to start. But there are a couple of things that are very important to me.

One is my students. I am a passionate teacher, and feel like I am letting my students down. I am a terrible role model living this way. I need to do better for them.

Second is Relay For Life. I have dedicated a huge chunk of my life to this cause because Cancer has affected so many people in my life, and Relay For Life helps me feel like I am doing something to help.

Here is where you can help me with my motivation and accountability. I am asking people to sponsor my weight loss. Minimum is $1 per pound, you can decide on your own maximum. I will start on December 1st to give all of you some time to decide if you would like to help me, and for how much. Then I will do my final weigh-in a week before this year's Relay For Life, May 25th (Relay is June 2nd). This is about 6 months. All the money will be donated to my fundraising efforts for Relay For Life.

Here is what I am hoping for, at least 25 people to donate at least $1 per pound. If I can get that, then in six months if I lose:
25lbs - $625
35lbs - $875
45lbs - $1125
50lbs - $1250

Of course those numbers will be higher if people chose to donate more than $1 per pound. The more money, the more motivation I will have to lose weight. The more people that agree to donate on my behalf, the more people that will be holding me accountable. If I have a meeting, where a candy bowl is always available, I will not be eating any if people in the room are sponsoring my efforts. If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I will not be having any seconds if they are sponsoring my efforts.

Here is what you need to do if you would like to help: Reply to this email with a pledge per pound ($1 minimum. No maximum.) Forward this on to someone who knows me and you think might be interested in helping me. I left the addresses in the bcc, so they may have already received it, but seeing that you are going to help out might make them more likely to help out as well. Also, I don't have everyone's email address.

If you chose to pledge me, on December 1st you will get an email saying we have started, and an update of how many people pledged. This is hard enough for me to admit, so I won't be sharing my actual weight, but I will have people witnessing the weigh ins. Monthly updates will also be sent to those participating.

I know this email got a little lengthy. I hope you consider helping me, and that you find someone else who would help me. The bigger the support web, the more I can accomplish.
Thank you for your consideration!