And the adventure begins.

It is my plan to be at - or very near - my ideal weight and near my desired fitness level on or before Christmas of 2010, and this blog will be my attempt to share that journey. Make no mistake about it - I know how unhealthy the extra weight I carry is and how much it slows the life I want to live now. There is no doubt it will be difficult with day-to-day life, temptations, work loads, and the thousand and one distractions that daily try to keep us in a life we really do not want. I have, at present, all a man could ask for - a good wife, great kids, a beautiful little green and eco-friendly home in the country on a small acreage, and a job I really love. I am also a writer, so some of the daily trials of getting a novel finalized and published might creep into this journal, but that should be okay too, as writing is a big part of who I am and I know for absolutely certain my writing projects contributes to my current level of stress.

It is my hope that someone wants to track this trip with me, but if no one does, that is also okay, as it is, essentially, my journey alone. It is my attempt to see if an "average joe" can transform where he is into where he wants to be, even at 60.

Briefly, and for historical reference here, I have been an athlete, playing both organized sports (football mostly) and individual sports (running) in the past. I've raced motorcycles semi-professionally (road racing and flat tracking), and all have contributed to issues I have with a hip, both knees, all the fingers of my left hand, my left wrist and elbow, and other assorted hurts I will only remember later tonight when I try to sleep.

I am also no longer simply the meat-and-potatoes guy I grew up to be in the sixties, having discovered there are fruits, vegetables, and assorted "good-things-to-eat” along the way. The plan is to not make unrealistic radical changes but gentle ones so I end up where I hope to be weight-wise while making some of the changes I need to make to stay there once the target number has been reached.

Officially I start this trip on January 1, 2010, but as I get used to blogging, I may have another entry or two before then. Hope to see someone else with a similar interest along the way.

-Average Joe
Somewhere, USA