Are you living the life you intended?

If not, what are you doing about it? 

Are you accomplishing your goals? 

Are you keeping up with your kids? Are you carrying around an extra 40, 50 or even 100 pounds of extra weight? 

Once again what are you going to do about it?

It's a new year; it's a new beginning to your life. Why not do something about it. Now the time to take control and start living a healthier lifestyle. Is it easy? Is it something that's going to come naturally? The answer to both is no!

Three years ago, I was carrying around over 100 pounds of extra weight. I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure and constant pain. It was getting increasingly more difficult to keep up with my kids, work and any other activities that we were doing. So by March 2011, I started doing research and began planning and implementing my new lifestyle. I saught out people with knowledgeable in exercise and healthy eating. My only motivation was my children and knowing that I needed to change. I started my journey on April 1, 2011.

If you want to read more about my journey and see what I did to lose weight and change my lifestyle, read the following posts.

• Tips for losing weight in the new year!
  
• Once an OVER EATER, always an OVER EATER! One year anniversary of losing 100 pounds!
• I AM AN OVER EATER!!
  

What are the benefits to changing your life now and getting healthy?

For me, I have many, but I will give you my top 4.

1. I feel incredible. I'm 51 years old and I am in better shape than I was when I was 30 years old. My stamina is better then when I was a teenager. And I am stronger than I have ever been in my life. 
2. I can do anything. I know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. My health and my body are not going to hold me back anymore.
3. I can keep up with my kids. Now I am able to keep up with my kids and my kids even strive to keep up with me.
4. I am an inspiration. I have become an inspiration to my kids, their friends and others. I have become fun again and there's no holding me back anymore.

Dan crossing the finish line at the Biggest Loser RunWalk in Panama City Beach, FL. He completed his first half marathon with a time of 2:11:22.

Are you ready to start living? 

Are you ready to control of your life?

If you answered yes to both of these questions, then do something about it.

So what is your plan of attack? 

If you don't have one, I have a few suggestions for you.

First, get organized. Get your strategy and plan in place. 

Second, make a commitment. Believe that you can do this.

Third, tell someone. Make sure you tell someone about your plan to make yourself accountable. Let others help you and remind you to become the healthiest version of yourself that you can be.

Is change going to be easy? No. 
Is it going to be easy to pass up burgers or fries? No. 
Is it going to be easy to pass up cake and ice cream? No.
Is it going to be easy cutting down on soda? No. 
Is it going to be easy to give up eating sweets and candy? No.

Change is always difficult, but I can tell you that it is so worth it. The positives far outweigh the negatives. You feel better. You feel healthy. You have control of your life again. This time plan to change your lifestyle. In the end, not only will your friends and family thank you, you'll look back and wonder why you waited so long to make this change. Anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight and become healthy say the same thing, "Why did I wait so long to make this change?"

When you look at the calendar for a day to start changing your life, there is no day like today. So don't wait any longer. Make a change today. For those of you joining the Chippewa Valley Challenge, use it to help motivate you to change. Ultimately everything is up to you. 

Have a great day! Let us know what you're doing to make your lifestyle change. 

Thanks again for reading.

--Dan