The Long Road

Today I start a long journey, one I believe will leave me healthier and happier.  As with any new undertaking it requires a bit of background explaining where we have been and how we arrived where this new journey must start.

The Past

As a child I consider myself to have been rather average fitness wise, I was neither scrawny or chubby.  I wasn't overly athletic in the sense of sports.  My brothers and I spent most of our days running around the neighborhood and less time inside doing less active activities.

As I entered high school and early adulthood, my activity levels were decrease and I started spending more time with friends in activities that involved sitting around.  During these times my diet took a rather poor turn as massive amounts of sugar was ingested during our marathon late night sessions. 

Shortly after high school, I met and married my loving wife.  Being newlyweds and having a increased income this led us to eating out many nights a week.  This certainly played a part in my slow down slide with my weight.  The decrease activity and increase going out to eat continued for many years.  The births of my three children only reinforced the bad habits I had learned of the past 5-10 years.

The Present

Currently my lifestyle is a big part of my current issues with weight and in part my general health level.  At work I sit 8+ hours a day at a computer screen for work.  I get little to no exercise each day, with the only real exercise being taking the dog for a short walk.  The remainder of my day is either spent sitting on the couch watching TV or in front of a computer.

My daily meals consists of pastries and coffee for breakfast, fast food for lunch (including regular soda) and a half way healthy meal for dinner, which sometimes turns into fast food if my wife and me are too tired to cook.  In between meals I'd snack on candy bars or chips with another soda throw in.  By late evening I always found myself hungry and would snack on something as late as 10:30 at night.

I am tired of being tired.

The Future

Only God above knows what the future holds for me.  I can only do my best to plan and move forward with that plan.  Below are my beginning plans, these are very basic and lacking details as I am unsure exactly what I'm going to do.  Over the weeks and months I will be dedicating posts to each category.

• Exercise 
• I'm currently leaning toward doing more low impact aerobic exercises.  I loved working out on an elyptical machine a couple years back.   This will be one of my primary form of exercise starting.  
• Later I will probably add some very light weight work. 
• As energy returns I look to bike and hike more.

• Diet   
• Breakfast will consist mainly of Oatmeal with fruit along with something that add protein.    
• Lunch will consist of a meal replacement.  Currently I am researching the various products.  ProGrade: Lean looks interesting and I'll probably give that a try first.
• Dinner will consist of more vegetables and fruits with a lean meat.  
• No more soda, lots more water.
• Healthy snacks, such as fruit and vegetables, ones specifically picked to stave off hunger and further snacking.

I will be posting a weekly update with my progress and posting the details on just what seems to be working and what doesn't.