Retreading familiar paths in comfortable shoes.

It's been about 5 long years since I really, truly began to let myself go. I cant say I really just dropped the ball all at once, it was more of a gentle loosening of my grip. When life circumstances began to change and difficulties began to arise, it became easier and easier to compromise my health and fitness. Over the course of years and with the help of a herniated disc in my neck, I managed to slip not only back to where I began in my pre-Body for Life life, but even a tad further.

I'm really not sure what it was that triggered me to gather myself up and shoot for glory. Maybe I was just tired of being tired. Maybe it was not being able to reach my shoes after a big meal. Maybe it was the first time I'd caught a glimpse of myself in a pair of swim trunks after many years, but ultimately I think I just couldn't see myself going out and buying more, bigger pants. I was holding on to that size 36 (which I'd long since outgrown) for dear life. Don't know how it happened. I was a svelte size 32 at an easily maintainable 160 lbs which I thought I carried well on my 67.5" frame.

Over the last few years I'd made a few paltry attempts at recapturing my former glory, only to buckle and cave at the prospect of a big BBQ at the church, or dinner with friends. I mean, if I cant discipline myself enough to not stuff myself to splitting, then why bother exercising either. Right? My wife loves me just the way I am and that's enough, right? So slowly I grew, and quickly I slowed down. then one day I tried to run with my new puppy and it was like I had forgotten how. It felt so alien and unfamiliar. Like someone had rearranged the geometry of my legs or something. something just was not right.

I knew I had to do something. I had had much success with the BFL lifestyle in the past, but something in me kept rebelling against it. I bought every book and video I could grab, comparing, analyzing, experimenting, failing. It wasn't the programs' faults, but my own. There was no conviction. There was no dedication. There was no motivation. There was no customer support. There were no web forums, or message boards, or online communities, or hotlines, or any complete information, or answers to questions that a guy like myself with years of experience might have, let alone a total novice. I hated working out at home with my personal equipment. I hated working out at work on their equipment. I hated having to pass on extravagant dinners with friends and families. I hated not eating mounds of ice cream and chocolate cake, but I hated looking and feeling like crap even more. It was a very vicious cycle and I was the only victim; miserable.

soa fter many months of pondering and analyzing the causes of my failures, i came to the conclusion that A) Body for Life works, and more specifically, it works for me. B) I had to quit being such a cheapo and re-join Gold's Gym. C) The only way to do it is just to do it.

I went back to basics, joined the gym and made up my mind that i was going to be the full potential version of me for God, myself and my family....this is my journey