I’ve read a bunch of other people’s blogs in my lifetime, and never really consider myself much of a writer. Officially, I HATE writing. But here I am, posting my very first blog entry. How did I get here? Well, this will shock those who know me, but I’ll keep it short. I stepped on a scale and saw 178. I’m only 5’6″. I’m not used to being heavier than I ‘should’ be–I’m used to eating whatever, metabolizing whatever, and going on with life. I’m used to seeing 150-something and thinking that 140-something is ideal.
Apparently one of the other things I’m used to doing is commuting. I’m a Native New Yorker, who has lived in the city (read, Queens and the Bronx) for over 30 of my 39 years on this earth. I’m a public transportation dude who once even set out to take every train end-to-end, just because. I also love playing the quintessential New York City sport, handball, and I bowled in a league for 8 years. I never did any ‘real’ exercise for the sake of doing exercise, I just was doing my thing and the exercise just came along with it.
About 9 months ago, after being unemployed over a year and a half, I took a job offer in Sierra Vista, Arizona. My commute went from a 10 minute walk to the train to a 15-second walk to the car. My weekly handball games disappeared, as there are no outdoor courts here. The local bowling alley was being renovated, and when the renovations were done, I called up and all the leagues were full. The most exercise I got was the occasional 15-minute walk to the grocery store.
I pretty much ate the same things I ate in New York (though not as much pizza) and just went on with my life, watching the belt hole go from #4 to #3 to #2, feeling pants getting tighter and blaming it on the dryer…
Finally a couple of weeks ago, there is the number 178. Right then and there, I called up my friend, Dr. Whitt-Glover, and voila! Here I am! With a pedometer on my hip and a goal–150 by 40. I turn 40 on June 25th. Will I be able to change my lifestyle enough to make it? And if I do meet my goal, will I be able to maintain it? The answers to those questions, and more, will be answered right here in this blog…
Peace and love, yall
–Scott
P.S.–I kept it short!