Here goes nothin'!

Today I celebrate the 20th anniversary of my 30th birthday (thanks to my friend Dennis for that gem). The last year has provided some pretty big milestones for me. I became a grandpa for the first time - LOVE IT (expect many pictures), I battled cancer - HATE IT, I watched the first of my four children turn 30 - AMAZED BY IT, I gave away my only daughter in marriage - STILL COMING TO GRIPS WITH IT and last but not least I hit the half century mark today - UMMM. While none of these events is earth moving in and of itself, when considered together they do provide some perspective on life. As I was musing over these things it hit me that if I'm going to be grown up some day it's probably time to start acting a little like a grown up. Hence the look at myself. Over the last ten years and for many reasons I have managed to gain about one hundred punds. Due to that (and I suppose somewhat the age) I'll borrow a line from country singer Jo Dee Messina and say "My Give A Damn's Busted". I no longer have the energy or drive to do the things I enjoy doing and since I plan to live a long time doing them, it's time to get my 'rear in gear' as they say and get healthy (or at least healthier). The first step in my plan is adjusting the way I eat. This should lead to step two which is lose weight. That should lead to step three which is getting the spring back in my step so I can get back to doing the things enjoy and hopefully enjoy doing even more.

The blog title is derived from step two (lose weight) and my birthday today. I've chosen a general number of 50 pounds I'd like to lose now that I'm over 50. Naturally I'd love to drop the entire hundred pounds, but I'm under no illusions about the effort involved with this. And I shy away from saying "GOAL" weight, because I don't want this to seem like a race to some finish line that when I cross I can go about things as I did before. My plan is to improve my life. Weight loss will just be a 'positive by-product'.

Over the next few postings I'll be laying out my plan and describing my support system. But I'll leave you here with an illustration:



This is me in 2001 (about 210 pounds)



And here I am in 2011 (310+ pounds)

Join me on this crazy trip. I'm gonna need all the help I can get.