Welcome Back Readers (and unfortunately the weight too)

After almost two years, I have lost a significant amount of weight, and I have also gained some weight back as well. After taking a demanding job, thinking that I didn't have to work out as much or try as hard, I fell back into old routines and eating habits that weren't very good for me. The whole vegetarian diet didn't work out, as I was constantly becoming sick to my stomach. But now, it is time. Time to get back to the grind, time to get back into shape. To be healthy and to find myself again in this process.

Statistics say that more than 80% of Americans who've lost a significant amount of weight, will gain that weight back. When I saw that I weighed over 200lbs again, was when it really started to hit me. I spent so much time, sweat, and tears to lose the weight, why am I gaining it back? It was my excuses that got to me.

"Because I'm too busy"

"Because I'm tired"

"Because I deserve to eat unhealthy, I lost X amount of weight already"

"I will work out tomorrow!"

What I really was saying was:

"Because I'm lazy"

So after much consideration, I decided to get a Personal Trainer again, this time, someone new, close by, and also Seth (my old personal trainer) has moved on to bigger and better things at A&M. I am now working out with Angelica at the 24 Hour Fitness in Rice Village.

I have told her my three goals that I have for this year and they are:

1. Do 1 pull-up.
2. Lose my gut.
3. Lose 30 lbs.

So far, I've had two sessions with her, and so far so good. The first session showed how out of shape I was, and my strength and cardio was not where it used to be a year ago. The second session showed my breaking point, where I got frustrated that I couldn't do the things I used to do. I had bad form, could only do less weights, and I even had to walk away for a second (with tears in my eyes). I felt like a failure, I felt like I let everyone down. After a minute, I used that anger, rage, and momentum, and did my best on the work outs.

The following day, I wasn't feeling very well. After work I ended up taking a nap, and woke up the next morning. Today, I had work this morning, and more work in the evening, so I couldn't work out again. Tomorrow, I am going to work out after work and make sure of it too.

I have also recently been taking the Group X Classes that 24 Hour Fitness offers. Last Monday, my friend Brent and I went to take a Boot Camp class, and let's just say, I felt like Jell-O afterwards. There were so many ladies and older women that were running laps around us, but that gives me so much more of a drive to get better, and one day I will be able to keep up with the other ladies.

One thing I need to focus on is my nutrition and making sure I eat every 3-4 hours. The past couple of days I would eat at 5:30am and the I wouldn't eat until 3:00pm. That's 7 1/2 hours of not eating.

So to everyone who may read this, I hope this blog will show you that this is not going to be easy, but if you have the right support system in place, the motivation, and the drive, anything is possible.

-Dennis