I used to delude myself about my health. When I got to college, I was a rail-thin, 143 pounds. I thought I was cut, but I was just bones. Then, I put on some good weight, but I put on much more bad weight. I got up to 160 and was in okay shape, but I convinced myself that I looked great. I convinced myself that pictures that didn't look good were bad angles. I wasn't in bad shape, so even though it wasn't the truth, it at least wasn't an egregious lie.
I worked out less and continued to gain weight. I also assumed that this was just man strength developing. This was very stupid. Eventually, I made it up to 180 pounds. I saw a picture of myself, and hoo boy, there was no angle on Earth that could make an in-shape person look that bad. I knew that I had to make a change, because even though I wanted to believe I was magically creating muscle, it was definitely not muscle as that is something that simply does not exist. I learned that I couldn't search for positive reasons for my weight gain, because all I was doing was lying to myself.
My issue was working out become a hobby and not a habit. I was working out on occasion, but I wasn't sticking to a schedule. I had a great excuse as my summer work schedule in minor league baseball led to about 70 gamedays with 14-hour workdays. But that's still only an excuse. Working 8 AM - 10 PM is tough, no doubt, but what the hell was I doing until 8 AM? Not shit.
So I became a morning workout person and kicked my own ass in the gym. I also stopped drinking soda (that is the easiest way, BY FAR, to lose weight). The weight came off. After a year of consistent work, my weight got to 155 pounds, and I figured there was no way for me to be in better shape.
Then, I went and got my ass kicked for a year training mixed martial arts. I realized that I could be in better shape as my weight was now 148 pounds. But that was a decade ago. I'm a Dad now, so that weight is likely in my past. I'm close to it, working to stay within five pounds, but sometimes edging up to seven.
The numbers don't lie. I know I'm not quite in the shape I was in my absolute prime, but I'm close enough that I can still feel good about it. I know those extra 5-7 pounds aren't muscle, but I'm okay with that. The key is to trust the numbers. If weight is going up, and you aren't in an intense bodybuilding regimen (which you shouldn't be, you're a Dad, and your pro athlete dreams sure as hell better have faded by now), realize the truth of the situation. You're adding fat, and try to change habits.
The numbers don't lie, so you shouldn't lie to yourself either.