speaker_stuart-selbst-rev2

stuartselbst

The VAR Guy: When did you decide to drop the weight?
Selbst: I always knew that my weight was spinning out of control, but I decided that it was finally time to do something about it when I saw that I had hit the 400 pound mark and it was getting harder to do normal everyday tasks.

The VAR Guy: Have you combined both surgery and a change in lifestyle to lose the weight?
Selbst: I did have weight loss surgery. I had a procedure called the Sleeve Gastrostomy. In addition to the surgery, I made a huge change to the way I approach food, exercise and life.

The VAR Guy: Are you hitting the gym or doing anything else special to tone up?
Selbst: I did join the gym, but bad habits don’t go away. I didn’t like going so I cancelled my membership. One of the things that I enjoy doing is getting in my morning walk/run. Each day my wife and I doing two to four miles. We track our walking with the Nike +GPS.

The VAR Guy: What has been the biggest benefit/upside to the weight loss?
Selbst: The biggest benefit is that I am so very much more healthy and I can just do. I am not always thinking about my next meal, I am thinking who can I help.

(Side note: In another conversation, Selbst said it’s easier to make good first impressions with people now because he’s judged for his expertise rather than his weight.)

The VAR Guy: What’s your total weight loss so far? And what year/month did you start taking off the weight?
Selbst: To date I have lost 146 pounds. I had my surgery on February 28, but two-and-a-half weeks before the procedure I had to go on a liquid diet to shrink the fat around my liver. To answer the question, February 2011 is when I started taking off the weight.

The VAR Guy: How much more do you hope to lose? Or are you in maintenance mode now?
Selbst: I am planning to lose another 5o pounds or so, my goal weight is around 205 pounds. Once I hit that and maintain it for 6 months, I am planning to have skin removal surgery to remove the extra skin from my stomach area.

New Focus for 2012

Selbst also is planning some professional changes for 2012. Instead of coaching micro MSPs (typically $500,000 or so in annual revenues) he’s moving up market to focus on larger IT service providers. He’s taking on only 10 clients.

Stay healthy, Stu.