Whats This??? An actual post?

Well friends, the time has come when I am finally interested in blogging again.  I realize that I may have lost some of you as readers, but hopefully you will come back to the badge.

A couple or 3 years ago I started this blog as a way to relieve stress, and have someplace to put my thoughts.  I went strong for quite a while, but then I became tired of posting, and writing, and with the whole concept in general.  So I stopped.  Then on March 10th of this year I watched one of my co workers pass away while we were at work.  This did not help me want anything to do with blogging.

This was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with.  He was a good man, with a big heart and a booming personality.  He was, however, very over weight and liked to drink a lot.  He was 51 when he passed and this experience gave me the final kick in the butt that I needed to make a change in my life and get healthy.

I was on a roll for 5 weeks with working out.  Most weeks I would go 5 days a week.  But through it all, I was still having a tough time dealing with his death.  So I took an almost 3 week break and started drinking almost every night.  Not good.

Then this last week I got is some trouble at work that provided me with 5 days off with no pay.  And while I should be upset and feeling down about this, I actually feel good.  This discipline has put my life and my job stress in perspective.  It made me see why my co-worker that died lived his life to the fullest.  Granted, he was not in our facility as a career because it was just a job to him.  But what I have learned is that when some people are against you, you will never win or excel.  And now that I have been enlightened to this little fact, I am totally at peace with going to work, doing my job, being seen and not heard, and then going home to my family.  Suddenly a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and the work stress is gone.

I have a friend that is 43 and started working out at the end of January this year.  He was the same size I am now and works out 6 days a week.  While I may work up to this someday, right now I am happy working out just 4 days.  He has gone from a 47" waist (like me) to a 36".  That is not pant size, but rather the measurement around the middle of the stomach, right over the love handles, and around to the back.  He has inspired me to really make an effort to work out and be consistent with it.  He is helping me to eat better, loose weight, and look the best I can.  Unfortunately, he is also trying to get me to participate in a bodybuilding contest.  

I am fighting him on this.

I just cannot picture myself walking on a stage, in a banana hammock, and posing in front of 300 people.  Nope, it is just not for me.

I do want to lose weight, be healthy, and gain muscle.  Lots and lots of muscle.

So I have decided to post the ugly facts on this blog.  For all to see.  

I want to track my progress and look back in a year from now and say "damn.....I have come a long way....I was a fat ass!!"  And so without any further delay, here are the ugly truths with a couple of BEFORE pics.

Weight: 255lbs

Waist:  49"

Chest: 49" (not to bad, except it is mostly man boob)

Arms:  17"

And there I am in all my glorious fatness.  

So this is what has been going on with me.  I am looking forward to getting back into the blogger swing of things, and catching up with all of you.  

More to come.

Greg