May 3 - Day 1

This blog, as I sat and thought about it last night, is not only about my weight loss; but rather coming to grips with being single as a full fledge adult. I am now a 37-year-old man, father of two, with one becoming a man himself. The rules of living my life are not the same as they were when I met Melanie at 29.

I look at so many of my mentors, family and friends who for one reason or another are alone at my age or older, and they seem so content on the outside (whether or not true, there seems to be a sense of comfort that I cannot comprehend).

All my life I have been taught through previous religious affiliation, television, radio and other media that I am supposed to end up with SOMEONE, or there must be a major problem with me. This pulls me in two directions, something seems fundamentally wrong with that statement, yet at the same time I have been indoctrinated to believe it.

Long story short, this blog is about growth (and loss : ) ), and strength and what inspires me and those that I come in contact with along the way in relation to my weight loss, my health concerns and my struggle to find the ultimate hobby to replace my soul mate.

Basically I am 37 years old and I want to find myself after all these years.

So, for the weight loss, today is day one. I don’t consider what I’m doing as a diet even though it has the extremity of one to me, compared to how I use to eat. I am going to limit my red-meat intake to once each week. Second, I am going to eat fish at least once per week and chicken once as well. I have already been doing well with fruits and veggies, but am going to amp that up as well.
 
What is gone? As many processed foods as possible (the more hands that touched them the worse off), fast food, added sugars and my favorite, soda.

I am also planning on working out 4 times each week for now. I am too big to commit to anything else, but the ultimate goal is to become triathlon ready (half-iron) and this 4 times a week is not going to cut it. I honestly believe I can safely lose 3 pounds a week through proper diet and exercise. In one year this adds up to 156 pounds, which puts me right at 200 pounds.

I think this is the perfect weight to train for a half-iron, giving me 6 months to ready myself. Now remember, along the way, a lot of my exercises will already be gearing m toward the tri, but the last 6 months will focus me in, including running a sprint level and a couple of 5k’, running will be my weakness.

 Over the course of the next few months, I see myself upping to 6 workouts weekly and an active rest day to enjoy Vegas by hiking, rafting, boating, and walking the strip, whatever. I also see trying a plethora of hobby’s; building, painting, writing – you name it.

I hope that something along the way excites me and helps me be the entire package.

And man, I cannot wait to grow the goatee back.