Our Time to Change

What can be done in 180 days?

Exactly 180 days ago, my wife and I made a decision to get healthy. 180 days… today. In some aspects I look back and it feels like 180 days is a very long time. However, it also feels like that time has flown by. What has happened in 180 days:

Eat Healthy: It all started with this. We threw away our unhealthy food and restocked with good stuff following the Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start. Note I did not say a diet. We have never been, and never will be, on a diet. We are eating healthy! Stopped drinking caffeine, eating red meat, eating fast food, and focused on a healthy balanced eating program consisting of 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.
Fitness: Ran my first 5K in March, and have run 4 after that. One of those 5K’s was the first my wife and I had run and it brings tears to eyes seeing this photo. Started Crossfit March 31, 2011 and have continued going at least 3 days a week. Completed the Warrior Dash in May and now have my first half-marathon approaching in November and Tough Mudder in December.
Weight Loss: At the date of this post, I have lost 65lbs, gone from a 44 in the waist to a 36, and even lost a shoe size. I was pushing a XXXL shirt and have gone down to an XL or L in some cases. I managed to document most of this along the way and it feels good to look back at old photos and remember where I started.
Life in General: I am being called skinny now for the first time in my life. I am at a weight that I have not seen in about 10 years. I have never felt this strong and this fast in my life, ever. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a long way to go. But I feel so much better and so much more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have.

Although both my wife and I are doing this together, I speak mostly about my accomplishments here. She has not really wanted to take “then & now” shots, but is getting closer to wanting to do that. When she does hopefully she wont mind me posting them here to show off all of her hard work.

With all of that said, we both still have work to do. I want to see 200 pounds and would love to do that before my foot crosses the start line at my first half-marathon. I want to complete a triathlon. I want to complete an Ironman. There is so much more I have yet to do with this life.

If you are reading this and been stuck in a rut, not sure how or if you can move forward, and are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, know above all else that you can do it. All it takes is getting started. Take that first step in a new direction and then never go back.