Day #53 - A Promise Kept

My oldest daughter does gymnastics.  I  really don't care for it; I have a hard time with any sport that has subjective scoring, to me there should be a clear winner not a winner based on a judge's opinion.  Regardless, my daughter loves it and so I support her.  All season I haven't been able to go to her sessions because it conflicts with my other 2 kids' basketball practices, but I promised her that I would come to at least one session.  Today was that day that I kept my promise...

I have to admit I was quite impressed, not just with my daughter's progress but also at how fit the girls looked.  You could see muscle tone on all of them.  They were flipping and flying and I really couldn't help but be in awe at watching them do things I couldn't even come close to doing.  It got me wondering where I went wrong...

When I was a kid I played sports almost year round.  I played hockey in the winter (my favorite), then on to baseball in the late spring/summer, and finally football in the fall.  Even when I wasn't playing sports we were outside running around, swimming in the summertime, and riding bikes everywhere.  I was husky as a kid but not fat (at least that's what mom told me).  I was also very muscular and strong!

What's interesting is that I can't quite put a finger on any defining moment that sent me on the path to morbid obesity.  My parents divorced when I was a teenager.  It was rough, but I don't recall turning to Frito Lay for support.  Being forced to move to another state just before my senior year in high school was also hard, but I adapted quickly.  Again I don't remember turning to food for support (though I remember eating a lot of fried tater tots when I went home alone after school).  Going away to college (both times), dropping out (the first time), Moving to NY, Moving to NC (A big adjustment!), kids, new jobs; I really can't point to any one of those events and say "That's It!". 

No my trip to where I am today has been a long steady journey.  Sure there have been a few ups and downs along the way but it's really been a consistent ride toward an early grave.

What's so amazing is how easy it was to not see it.  Yes, I knew I was overweight and needed to get in shape, but it never really seemed all that bad and I always viewed it as one of those "one time deals" where I would just focus really hard for a while and it would all get fixed.  Again, I was strong and the weight would just melt off (and there's actually some truth to that as I tend to lose weight easily when I set my mind to it).  There was time to do it; I just needed to make the decision (after this last trip to McDonalds).  Well, it never happened and now I sit here at 42 and realize that all my free tokens are used up.

There is no more "optional" in my book.  When I think of continuing on as I have in the past, all I can see is a life of misery and an old fat guy riding around in one of those scooters because he can't walk anymore.  Not a pretty sight.

Maybe I should go watch my daughter do gymnastics more often!  53 Days down, on to Day 54.

Stay Strong!