It is mid-July of the cursed year 2020.  I, like much of the world, have been holed up in my home for four and half month now thanks to the Corona virus.  We’re all living on egg shells wondering if or when this disease will be sent packing.   I don’t know much but I do know this, if the pandemic were to magically end tomorrow, there would be much more of me than when it started.  In truth,  I have morphed into a human slug.  I’ve been over indulging on pretty much everything since the beginning of the pandemic (okay maybe before the pandemic too) except healthy living.  I’ve been eating and drinking nonstop. Only shame prevents me from actually pulling a chair up the refrigerator and grazing.  I’m thirty pounds too heavy and I look every bit of it.  This is a stark contrast for someone who generally has kept in relatively good shape most of his life.   

I’m about to turn 59 years old and over that time I have drifted in and out of various degrees of physical fitness – “physical fitness” being a very subjective ideal.  You see, no one would ever confuse me for an Iron man triathlete or a member of Seal Team Six.  No, I have more of that, nondescript middle aged white guy look than anything else.  In my mid-30’s I adopted  a “Dad-bod” that is now easing rapidly into full “Grand-Dad-bod” status.  It’s not a great look nor is it sitting well with me.   You see I’ve always aspired to being in outstanding physical condition, complete with the body of Adonis.  However, I lacked the discipline and passion to follow through on it.  I guess it’s always been more of a wish than a true goal.  Like if I pulled the big half of the Thanksgiving wish bone I’d wish to morph into Hulk Hogan (before the Gawker sex tape thing).  Of course much of this want of physical prowess came from the desire to impress the opposite sex.  These days however, I’m less concerned about impressing the chicks as I am about getting up off the couch without having to call the fire department.   Things may not be that bad but I do feel miserable.     

So,  in the middle of a pandemic that has no end in sight, feeling absolutely awful about myself I have made a decision.  I am tired of being fat, feeling sick and ugly.  In fact I have enough; enough to change.   So I’ve decided to set a big challenge for myself.  As I am 14 months away from being 60 – a milestone birthday in my mind – I have decided to get in shape.   But not just “in shape”.  No, I’ve challenged myself to get into the best shape of my life by the time I’m 60.   In fact, I intend to cap it off by running a marathon – if they’re able to hold them by next fall (fingers crossed) – and set a personal best. 

Now some of you may not think this is much of a challenge but let me assure you it is for me.  Yes, it will be gruelling to burn approximately 30 pounds of fat off these old bones but knowing me the way I do, the fat burning may be the easy part.  Focus is my main problem. You see I find it challenging to focusing on something for 14 minutes let alone 14 months. In fact, I’ve a better chance of building a rocket out of Domino pizza boxes and flying to the moon than I do of focusing on fitness and well being for the next 14 months. Truth is my life is littered with hobbies, gym memberships, tools,  and can’t miss ideas that have come and gone in far less than 14 months.  I have paid the rent on more gyms, through memberships that I didn’t use, than I care to remember.   So for me it’s not just the challenge of transforming my body and health it’s a matter of stealing my mind and changing my lifestyle.

To achieve this lofty goal, I know that I’m going to have to change the  way I’m living.  I need to learn new concepts and adapt new ideas.  As author James Clear put it, “if you genuinely care about the goal you’ll focus on the system”. Project one, develop a new system.  

Now I realize at this age (or any age for that matter) I’m not going to be the second coming of Arnold.  That’s not the point.   For me I want to be fit, feel good and set myself up to age with grace and good health.  As I move through the back half of my years I hope to simplify my life and this will be a tenant in this new lifestyle.  Sure I’m going to get fit but I want to do it as simply as possible.  This won’t be about personal trainers, macrobiotic levels, negative splits or the latest fad diet.  No, this is about keeping it simple and basic.   I’m not a gym guy and I’m determined to get and stay fit without a membership (not that you can go to a gym right now anyway).  I’ll develop a system so that I can get fit, you can get fit, anyone can get fit without spending a fortune in time or money.  

So here I go.   Starting off with an open mind and very tight pants. I hope to change one of these things in a positive way .  I’m looking forward to researching how best to whip an aging body into shape.  While I’m determined to keep things simple that doesn’t mean they’ll be easy.   I know that I’ll have to break a sweat from hard, consistent work.     More importantly I’ll have to stay focused and motivated.  Along the way I’m also hoping to have some fun.  I’m planning to enjoy this ride and  I hope you will too.