Thank you once again, little buddy:)

Ever since I can remember, I was known as the funny fat kid. I would go on some crazy diet and lose weight, but then I was really just a “skinny-fat” funny kid. This has been going on for over 20 years. About 4 years ago, I was in what I considered to be the best shape of my life. I weighed 185 lbs, I had 12% body fat, I was strong, and I could run for miles. Then, I had an injury. Nothing major, just a busted wrist. But, it was the beginning of my next downward spiral. I let all those good habits and hard work get spoiled by bad habits and laziness. My past time became grilling out and drinking beer. I put on 30 lbs. For these last four years, I’ve gotten back in the habit of exercising. Not as much as I should, but at least I’m moving again. But, the grilling and drinking have kept these 30 lbs right where they don’t belong, hanging around my mid-section. I realize now that I haven’t been motivated by being healthy. I’ve just been focusing on losing a few pounds, not eliminating all these factors that are keeping me fat and unhealthy. Poor me, right? Maybe this is just how I’m supposed to be. Tired, sluggish, achy, hung-over, overweight, shameful and guilty because I just can’t do what I know has to be done. Complete failure. Again. (I think I see a pattern here)

I just happened to catch a video my sister posted on Facebook of a broken-down Veteran named Arthur Boorman. (See my last post to view video) By the end of the 5 minute clip, I was literally crying in my garage. Here was a man who was told by Doctors that he would never walk again. As he sprinted down the road toward the end of the video, I lost it. This man literally took his life into his own hands, and basically said f**k you Doctors, I’ll do this myself. 

This man overcame the seemingly impossible. Yet, I’ve let a few pounds and a case of beer stand between me and true health and happiness. Here I am, trying to show Jake that his mother and I live a healthy lifestyle. We don’t sit in front of the TV. We get outside. We run, walk and bike. Then, I put him to sleep at night and have a steak and a beer (or 6). What a f**king hypocrite. Again… guilt, shame, failure. (I think I see a pattern here)

After viewing Hungry For Change, I had ordered a copy of the DVD, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, the story of Joe Cross. Joe literally DRANK his way to health and happiness. But instead of beer, he drank fruit and vegetable juice for 60 days, rebooting his entire body and ridding it of disease (and about 70lbs).  

The DVD sat on the coffee table for two weeks, still in the wrapper. Jake was lumbering past the coffee table one morning and spotted the box. He uttered two syllables that literally felt like a punch in the stomach. He pointed at the cover and said “DA-DA?”

I had to wonder, which version of Joe did Jake think I looked like!? The fat one, or the skinny one? I owe that boy everything. Those two syllables changed the direction of my life. 

Since then, I have experienced and entire shift in paradigm when it comes to my health, and our future as a family. I don’t just need to change. I HAVE to change.

I lost my Mom at the age of 55 to lung cancer. 55. At 55 years old, Jake will hopefully be headed off to college. We’re working on baby number two. He or she won’t have even graduated high school yet. The thought of me being in the ground by then is terrifying. 

Inspired by Arthur, I started doing yoga a week ago. Yoga is about strengthening and healing the mind and body. That’s exactly where I need to begin. I also wheeled all the beer out of the house. Gone. And today, I begin step two of my very own transformation. I have started a 10 day reboot program, inspired by Joe Cross. I am essentially eating like a Vegan, and juicing at least one meal a day. No meat, no dairy, no refined sugar. Ten days is nothing when you think of the alternative. This program will help reel in my eating habits. Not too mention when I’m done, I won’t have taken a sip of beer for three weeks. Bad habits BUSTED!

Will I stick to my guns this time? There’s no choice. I’m doing this for my wife and son. Most importantly, I’m doing this for me. My self esteem. My confidence. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin for once since I was a kid. I want to meet my children’s children. Finally, I want to look back fondly at the funny fat kid, smile, and wave goodbye.