Blubber To Runner

July 4th weekend, 2010.

It will be known as the weekend that changed my life forever.  I am known as a worrier – someone that cares very much for the well-being of the people he loves and is willing to say the hard things people need to hear in order to get through to them, even if it risks losing them.  This weekend for me was no different, as I touched on a problem I feel that two of my best friends currently have.  It’s a touchy subject, but one that I feel passionately about and felt that something needed to be said to them so they were aware that ‘yes, I’m worried about you.’  As we discussed the issue between the usual laughs, tension and points that always go through a difficult convo, I laid down a challenge to them – change your lifestyle for 6 weeks and let’s see the result on our annual LBI trip in mid-August.

What came next was totally unexpected:

“OK… I’ll do this if you lose 15 pounds by the same time.”

I’m sorry… what?  You’re challenging me?  I’m not the one with the problem!  Fine… you wanna challenge me?  I’ll lose 15 pounds in 6 weeks just so you’ll have to do what I told you to… SO THERE!  But just 2 weeks later came the real message – one of the closest people in my life had to sit ME down and have the conversation that the challenge was laid down because THEY were worried about ME.

And it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I had a problem so bad that people who normally don’t speak up felt the need to speak up.  Coming from me it’s different… I do it all the time.  But from these three it was a whole different ballgame.  Now people are worried about me.  Apparently I have looked so bad and been so down during conversations with them that it actually caused concern.  At that point I knew changes needed to be made – not just to save these relationships, but to save myself.

So… that explains the challenge… but why the blog?  Simple… TOTAL ACCOUNTABILITY.  See, I live alone.  I live 200 miles away from my ‘support system’ of family and best friends.  I have zero accountability if I want.  No ones gonna know if I didn’t run today, ate McDonald’s today, skipped therapy this week… how would they?  THIS is how.  I am committing myself to this blog site so every one can keep track of my progress… I will report out w/ blogs, pics and videos updating my status to obtain “Total Health”.  I’m gonna be very candid in this blog, and probably talk about some topics that many may think are taboo, but if I’m going to accept full accountability – this is what needs to be done.

I’ll update periodically, including weekly updates after my Monday Weight Watchers weigh-ins, and will answer any questions you have.  Please subscribe to this blog if you so choose to, plus I’m on Facebook and on Twitter so feel free to add/ follow to get additional updates as well as notices on when the blog is updated.  I look forward to taking this journey with you!