Wake Up Call

This is my wake up call.  I note to myself, from myself.  Not to share with others, not to show off.  But for me to yell at myself for making excuses for my health.  I'm done.

Time to get back into it.  Restart.  Reboot.  Mid life crisis.  Name it whatever I want, it all means the same thing.

I'm sadly out of shape.  I've lost all my form over the last two years.  And I'm done with this downward spiral.

Also, I turned 40 twenty three days ago.  So there's that.

Just to recap, last year I had my lowest total miles ridden on the bike since 2008, the middle of my first transformation.  That went from Summer of 2007 to 2009.  In the Summer of 2007 I was depressed, overweight, and out of shape.  I weighed 230 pounds.  I was inactive, sedentary,  and weak.  And I ate like crap. 

So I made a conscious change.  I made it over several months, slowly but surely changing everything.   

And it worked.  When I set off on my first AIDS/Lifecycle in June of 2009 I was in the best shape of my life, I weighed 162, and I managed to keep it that way for a few years. 

However, the last 2 years I have been slipping.  I still eat rather well, aiming for whole, natural foods.  Avoiding sugar. 

But I've been slipping.  2014, 2015, and 2016 saw massive drops in total miles ridden, and constant weight gain.

So, here I am. Out of shape.  My bathroom scale says 195.  The doctor's scale today said 200.5.  That scared me.  Aside from the fact of why I was there, having gone through several allergic reactions over the last 2 months, and finally getting sick of not knowing what is going on.  So today I gave blood, and next week I will go back and get the results. 

This is going to be my wake up call.  My jolt of reality.  It's been screaming at me for months now, but in my stubborn mindset I ignore it and push it aside.  My health will now be a larger priority for me.  I'm an old man, after all.

So, here's my plan.  18 months.  From now, the middle of January, 2017, to the Summer of 2018.  I will food journal, paying close attention to serving portions.  Portion control is something I am not good at, I admit.  Something to focus on.

I will ride whenever I can.  I will ride through Summer, I will ride through Fall, I will ride through Winter.  I will ride smart.  I will ride hard.

I will buy running shoes and start cross training.  I do love trail running.  Time to get back into that.

I will fix me.  Inside and out. 

And the goal will be the California Triple Crown in 2018.  Solvang, Davis, and Devil Mountain.  I did it in 2013. 

I will do it again. 

The journey starts today.

-E