It’s a new year

I’m one of those people who thinks new years resolutions are pretty pointless. If we wanted to make a change in our lives we shouldn’t have to wait until a new year to do it. But for some people that’s what it takes, and if it works good for them. Sometimes it takes just a little voice saying “Come on.. let’s do this.” And sometimes it takes something fairly catastrophic.

I lost my Dad in October and damned if that isn’t a complicated situation. I loved love him but he was also the most contentious relationship in my life. It was awesome to talk to him when we were on good terms with one another but it was a full-time job of suck when we weren’t. In any case, since he’s died I’ve gone back and forth between anger, acceptance, anger again.. a little forgiveness.. a lot of regret. And I don’t know if the two are related or not but I stepped on the scale for the first time in a long time and it confirmed something my Dad said to me several years ago.

“How much do you weigh now?”

“I’m 285.”

“Bullshit. You don’t weight a pound under 300.”

My Dad ladies and gentleman. Never one to hold his tongue. And he was wrong… several years ago. But he was right last week when I stepped on that scale. I stepped on the scale because I decided to start working out. Cynthia has a friend whose Father-in-law has a lot of equipment in his garage and it provided a good opportunity. You have to track progress, right? I climbed up and watched the numbers display and shook my head. Heavier than I’d ever been before in my life.

That fact helped spur me on. Cynthia’s motivation to get moving in the right direction spurred me on. And in part Dad’s dying spurred me on. I don’t want to be 65 years old and leaving my kids. I want to watch my grandkids grow. God willing I want to have great grandkids. So changes have to be made. I won’t see that goal at this rate.

Yesterday I joined WeightWatchers for the third time. Or is it forth? I don’t recall. In any event, the lightest I’ve been (that I’m aware of) since out of college is 272. So close to the 260’s. My first big goal is 250. I have smaller goals between here and there but 250 is going to be one of those weights that gets celebrated. WeightWatchers has always worked for me. I just never stayed on it long enough to make any giant changes. But I’ve regularly lost 20lbs on it.

But I want to be serious about this. I don’t just want to add diet, I need the exercise aspect of it too. Cynthia and I went and signed up for Planet Fitness too. Now I know this gym gets a lot of flak for some of their practices. Pizza day, anyone? Bagel morning? They also aren’t catering to the hardcore gym rats who want to chug protein drinks and hulk out. They cater to beginners and that’s what I am. So I’m not going to listen to any grumbling from folks who have a problem with them. They have equipment. They have trainers. They have a price that isn’t going to break me or in and of itself provide a de-motivator. I think it’s perfect for me at this point.

I’m ready. I’ve got my unflattering pictures of me in my XL White Planet Fitness T-shirt. Now let’s get to making that shirt fit nicer.

One day at a time. As always.

But this year is going to be better than the last, if I have anything to say about.