Day 0

Hello! Well, I've decided to make a change. A big change. I've decided I've officially "let myself go" and it's time to get back to where I need to be--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm not going to use the words "rock bottom", although physically I haven't been this disappointed with my overall self-image in many years. Although I am currently at a point where I am extremely satisfied with important areas of my life such as my marriage, my family (Ty is the light of our lives), and my career, the big thing that's missing is overall health & well-being. Throw in spirituality & inner-peace and that pretty much sums up where I'm at right now. I've been having trouble sleeping for over a year & my energy level wanes at times. I just want to feel good again. So I'm going to feel good starting right now...

Yesterday was Valentine's day and as you can see by these pics with my sexy, hot & beautiful wife, we've become a bit of a mis-match (in my eyes). I'm not that skinny, cocky, can-do-it-all kid she knew 10 years ago. Call it "baby weight", I guess. Ever since I became a father, fitness has taken a back seat. I've begun to follow that familiar path a lot of new parents follow--letting fitness fall off the radar completely--and have begun down a road that usually leads to not-so-good outcomes. So, inspired by Adam Waters' Real Time Physique Transformation Blog, I've decided to be a copycat. I'm going to work harder than I ever have before in the gym & eat cleaner than I ever have in my life. And I'm going to do it publicly so everyone can hold me accountable.

I'm going to break it down into several Phases. First, in Phase I, I will lose 16 pounds in exactly 1 month from Feb. 16 to Mar. 16. Through daily weight & cardio training, along with a newly re-structured eating plan, I will reduce my body-fat percentage and maintain the muscle I have built over the past few years of on-and-off weight training. I am not striving for the "emaciated Hollywood look", I am setting out to look good. My focus will be short, intense weight training sessions followed by interval cardio training sessions. This will mark the first time in over 2 years that I will have weighed less than 200.

Then, in Phase II, I will achieve "6-pack abs" by my birthday, May 25th. I will have a 6-pack for the first time in my life at the age of 32 on 5/25/2009. I will do everything I can to achieve this goal.

Then, for the rest of my life, I will commit to challenging myself to other fitness-related goals like running a marathon, competing in a triathlon & other goals like the ever elusive 300 lb. bench press (the closest I've gotten is 290).

Starting tomorrow, I will begin Phase I by telling you my current weight, body-fat percentage and overall feelings while displaying (unfortunately for you) images of my current state. I will give daily updates & photos. I hope you find inspiration in this as I truly believe (in the words of KG) that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!! See you tomorrow...