NIAGARA FALLS — Wearing my famed Green Lantern T-shirt, I confidently stepped onto the scale at ChrisFit Personal Training as dozens of fellow members cheered me on.

This was the day I worked so hard for. I was finally set to hit the 100-pound-loss mark and earn my way into the annals of ChrisFit history.

Cases of champagne were being chilled nearby for the milestone celebration. Someone went to the trouble of printing hats and T-shirts with the phrase “Forgione: A 100 pound loser” — collectibles that would surely fetch hefty prices on ebay.

Once on the scale, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

The crowd went hush — and then let out a collective groan. I briefly thought, ‘oh no, am I only at 99.9 pounds lost?’

I opened my eyes and the scale showed I was 100 pounds heavier. That’s right, I had gained it back.

Every. Single. Pound.

As I dropped my head in disbelief, several things happened all at once. The commemorative T-shirts and hats were tossed into the cans reserved for dirty, smelly gym rags, the champagne bottles were carted away, and my adoring fans stopped cheering and began chucking chicken wings at me.

Suddenly, the moon burst through the ceiling and an omnipotent voice ordered me to “get a hair cut.”

Thankfully, it was all just a nightmare. But try to Google the meaning of that one!

The dream actually occurred a few days after something major happened to me at the gym. I finally had earned my very own photo collage on the gym’s wall. This is a series of before-and-after shots celebrating the “journey” to better health and fitness. Basically, each weight loss milestone you hit is represented by a new, slimmer photo. As an added bonus, below the collage are all of my previous columns nicely displayed in frames.

It’s a very surreal sight, and quite honestly, one I wanted since the first day I walked into ChrisFit and gazed upon several other portraits of members who have had amazing success stories.

To be completely honest, it also brings me a lot of anxiety. Right now, the collage consists of two before shots and two shots of when I hit the 50-pound mark about a month ago. While, I can clearly see the difference, I can’t help but look at the remaining spots on the board and worry what if there’s never a picture showing 70- or 80- or 100-pound loses.

Then I snap back to reality and feel thankful that I’ve lost 60 pounds already. I have also shed just over 30 inches off my body — or as my trainer Chris Tybor put it, almost half the height of a short person.

It also feels amazing that perhaps that collage, hanging at the top of the entrance steps to the gym, may inspire

someone else to improve their quality of life with a healthier lifestyle and fitness training — just like the original ones did for me six months ago.

Chris tells me eight new photo collage boards will adorn the walls by the end of the month showcasing more members’ accomplishments since joining the gym.

For me, there are two collages I look at every time I walk in. They show the amazing transformation of Sandy and Laurie, two female members training with Chris and have each lost 100 pounds and counting.

They are truly inspiring.

Chris’ personal goal is to train at least 10 people who lose 100 pounds or more. Sandy and Laurie were the first two.

I fully intend to be his “No. 3” and am in line to do so — even though Chris has started teasing me that there are a couple of newer members starting to catch up to me already.

It certainly is a lot of pressure to hit that 100-pound milestone, but I am learning to take it one session at a time and appreciate every pound loss. Though he is at my side pushing me toward that ultimate goal, I know Chris also is satisfied with every little success along the way.

More importantly, both of us are committed to working hard toward that day I do step on the scale and I become “No. 3.”

It will be a dream come true.

And maybe I will get a hair cut before stepping on the scale, just in case.

Rick Forgione is city editor of the Niagara Gazette. Contact him at 282-2311, ext. 2257.