My turn!

Becoming a father can change you in some ways and reinforce who you are in others. One of the biggest ways it has changed me is not really a behavior so much as a state of mind. I've never taken my long term health too seriously. Everyday stuff that people deal with like colds, sprained ankles, pulled muscles and the like were what I would deal with. But never long term health.

When I was 16 I went to a walk in clinic for some random illness, maybe even a sports physical and the doctor said my blood pressure was high. I didn't really understand what that meant just that it was bad. I have had high BP ever since. A few years ago (pre children, hell pre Amanda being pregnant) we were in Atlanta staying with Lauren and driving somewhere. Somehow during the course of the conversation I asked her "If there was something about me you want me to work on or change what would it be?" In my mind I was thinking along the lines of selfish, or communication or self esteem. But her response took my by surprise. "Your weight" she said. I was taken aback and in kind of a stunned silence. "I just worry about you Matty, I want you to be around for a while"

My weight has been a struggle since middle school. But thankfully being involved with sports kept things under control. I was still big and got called names and made fun of a little but nothing too extreme. Weight room rolled around in high school and coaches yelling at me all the time really helped. Also wrestling was a HUGE factor as well (senior year I was down to 265ish during wrestling season, 20 lbs less than my football weight, 70 lbs less than I am currently and 90 lbs less than my heaviest).

I got to college, stopped working out because I had no one to make me and packed on the weight. It was something like the freshman 30 for me. My weight has gone up and down over the years as I've gone through phases of exercising and not exercising (never really eating all that well). I've broken chairs just by sitting in them, seen my gut hanging out of my shirt in pictures but none of this has ever really been enough to make me consistently stay with exercise.

Then AJ was born. I wish I could say that things changed immediately. But they didn't. Less than a year ago Amanda's Uncle Tom died. He was an avid runner in his early 50's. That really got me thinking. My dad died when I was 6. I don't want my children to grow up without me being there. The men on my mom's side have a history of heart trouble and I really feel like unless I change things I might be on the fast track for a heart attack. And the scariest part? I know that all that will be enough to get me to start taking care of myself but might not be enough to get me to stay with it. I'm hoping it does.

Wow that was freaking looooong. So here are my goals:

Short term

Some form of cardio at least 3 days a week (this will probably start with walking and build into running)

Make the bed everyday (I'm stealing this Baykur cuz doing this the last two days has really helped me be productive and not be such a layabout)

Explore some type of weight lifting option (joining a gym is kind of out right now unless i can get a membership pretty cheap)

Look into yoga classes (yeah I said that, this one will also depend in the cost and when the classes are held)

Lose 20 lbs

Long term

Lose 80 lbs

Beat off the ensuing onslaught of ladies with a stick after losing 80 lbs

Don't die young

My start date will be Monday April 16th (at the latest, going to try for walking tomorrow)

Thanks you guys for getting this going again. I am really excited!

Peace

Matt