Things Have to Change

4/29/12-Ok, here it is.  For the past 14 or so years, I have been slowly commiting suicide.  This self destruction did not come in the form of pills, a gun, or any other nefarious means, but at the hands of hamburgers, chips, pizza and ice cream.  I am one of those people who "lives to eat", instead of "eating to live".  Over the past years I have eaten for a wide variety of reasons; entertainment, to alleviate boredom and just for the sensory pleasure of taste.  Weight gain sneaks up on you.  You don't wake up one day and realize, "Holy s**t, I'm a fat a**."  (I don't normally talk like that, but one day some of us do wake up and realize that.)  I know every excuse in the book:  "It is just a few pounds", "I can still fit in my pants.", "I can suck it in.", etc, etc.  The problem is that when realize that we put a few pounds on, we forget how many times we put a few pounds on.
     The wake up call came in October when my doctor told me that I was healthy other than being overweight.  It was his professional opinion that I had let myself go so badly that surgery may be the best way to protect my heart and increase my lifespan.  Thank God for such a good doctor.  He does not pull any punches and he is not a prescription happy type of medical professional.  He would much rather  have you fix it yourself, than give you a drug.  I knew I was in trouble when he said that in 6 months I had to lose 12 pounds or laproscopic surgery was going to be his preferred option. I'm a tough guy, but I don't like the idea of surgery.  Even worse is knowing that if I got this procedure, I would spend weeks or months of drinking my meals or eating mush.  (See how important food is to me?)  The appointment took place just a few days ago  Well, lets say that the results weren't great, but he was happy with the fact that I could tell him about the exercise I had been doing that he postponed the surgery.  Needless to say, I am one of those people who needs motivation and consequences.  This blog is a cry for that, a cry to be held accountable, a cry to be pushed by the faceless masses.
     So here it is, a time to make some changes.  I'm not going to put any disgusting photos of me on here, but I am going to post my goals and let you know in which direction I am going.

Goals:

1. Lose the pounds to reach a healthy weight  for my age AND at a healthy pace.
2. Be able to run in 5K and 10K races and show improvement.  (No marathons, just fun races)
3. Compete in a Cross Fit challenge when I and my doctor feel that I am healthy enough to do so.
4. Bench press my own weight.  (Losing weight so I can lift a lighter, but still manly weight.)
5. Join a gym for cross training
6. Feel strong, lean, and confident enough to venture into Chicago and take Krav Maga classes. (Martial arts/defensive combat used by the Israeli military.)

Well, wish me luck and stay on my hopefully shrinking backside.