Introducing The Heavy Man

Hello.  For the purpose of this mission, you can call me The Heavy Man.

I have had issues controlling my weight for a good portion of my life. I used to have no problems staying in shape back in High School because I had sports and gym class to keep me exercising.  It wasn't until college hit that it all went down hill. Being on your own and having the freedom to eat and do what you want can take a pretty big toll on your body. 

When college ended, I had a great job that kind of fell right into my lap.  This job entails traveling all over the country and running televised sporting events. If anyone has ever traveled before, on a constant basis, you know that it is hard as hell to maitain a good eating and workout regiment. Anyway, needless to say, I gained weight and fell even more out of shape then I ever was.

Struggling to regain my health, I had a run in with my first ever reality check.  My uncle passed away due to complications that were related to being over weight. My whole family was in shock over the news because he was the one person in my family who knew how to pull everyone together in times of need. I will never forget the way we all felt at his funeral. It looked like the air had been sucked from everyone's body and we were all struggling to breath. It felt like I had lost my own father. I had vowed from that point on to loose weight and to get back into shape and I did!! However, the weight loss did not last for long. I had lost the weight and gained it all back, plus a few more pounds.  I was not educated enough to understand how to maintain the weight loss.

That brings me to the present time. I am over weight, out of shape, and struggling to keep what ever piece of health I have left from slipping away.  It is not a good feeling knowing that you are slowly killing yourself. I just had my second reality check a few weeks ago. I had gotten into a little argument with my mother over the way I was eating and disregarding my health and she was right. She had called me up in tears and I will never forget the words she had said to me that night, "I don't want you to die." That my friends will break your heart into a million pieces hearing your mother say that. After I got off the phone with her, I thought to myself, "I don't want to die either." What the hell did I get myself into? I had suddenly remembered everything that I wanted to do with my life: I want to get married, have kids, start a family, grow old and watch my grandchildren come into this world. I am not ready to check out yet!!

So, here is the deal. I am developing this mission not only for me but for everyone who struggles with the same weight issues as I do. I want to show the world that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I am hoping to inspire myself, as well as others. Please help me to keep on track and I will do the same for anyone else who wants to try. I am going to embark on a weight loss program on Monday, May 31, 2010 that will last until my wedding day (Friday, August 26, 2011). I will record my struggles and accomplishments every single day for the next 452 days. This will be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life. I do not know where this road will take me but I am determined to make it work.

This is the Heavy Man's Diary and I am on a mission to get healthy. The count down to the goal date starts tomorrow!!