Why This and Why Now?

I had no intention to start a blog when I woke up this morning.  But, at some point today, I decided it would be in my best interest to do so.  Let me give you a little background on who I am and why I started this.

Like stated in my brief introduction, I am 27 years old, a single dad, a military veteran, suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, and overweight.  Really overweight.  Currently I clock in at 272 pounds.  A healthy man my age at my height of 5'11" should be right around 160 pounds.  If my math is right, I am 112 pounds overweight.  That makes me not simply overweight, but, obese.  Borderline morbidly obese.  I am on the brink of catastrophe.

How did this happen to me?  Why didn't I see this coming and stop it?  What can I do now?  These are all questions I ask myself and they all have simple answers:  1. This happened because of poor diet choices and inactivity.  2. Because weight gain is a gradual thing and I stayed blissfully ignorant of my body, I chose not to notice the changes happening.  And in my "moments of clarity" when I knew something was wrong I made excuses and failed to make the necessary changes.  3. This is what I can do.  Make the change.  Lose it!

I decided to start this blog to have a bit of accountability for myself.  I plan to throw this on my Facebook wall and invite everyone I know to read this and follow along on my journey.  I'm going to be as candid as possible throughout this whole process, so, be fore warned.  This will be personal because this is a very serious thing.

A couple specific sources gave me the inspiration and drive to embark on this quest :

- First off, my little sister, Tammy.  I have watched her grow, albeit from a distance these past years, into a wonderful woman.  Tammy has changed her outlook on life and made the changes that I desperately need to make for myself.  My hat goes off to to you sis.

- Secondly, Ben Davis of Ben Does Life fame.  If you have never heard of him, watch this.  It seriously made me tear up because I feel his pain and could imagine his joy.  The same joy that I wish to have.

- Finally, to Runner's World.  I haven't always liked running, but, there was a time in the army when running finally clicked.  It was a God send when I was deployed in Iraq.  Running on the treadmill night after night was one of the only ways I found to turn the situation I was in off.  For at least an hour my cares and stresses were gone as I put one foot in front of the other.  I read this article today and it put my butt in gear.

And speaking of running, that is the method in which I want to get back to where I need to be.  But, more on that later.  Tomorrow, I'll post about my plan to lose it.  I really hope you'll stick around with me here.  I can use all the support I can get.

- Louie