Running Down a Dream, The Sequal

I read a blog post today from July 30, 2007. I titled it “Running Down a Dream”. It was about a long run that Kim and I did. Someone had stolen our water from our first stop and it was one of the hottest and humid nights we had run in. However, we finished and we were a little made about it. I talked about how you have to get a little made at being unhealthy to run down the dream of health because it never comes to you while you are standing still. You have to run, or bike or swim…something to it. You also have to make good food choices along the way. That seems like a lifetime ago.
This week I am closer to 330 than I am 230 and I am on blood pressure meds and gout meds. I have been a little upset about it, but not mad. Last night I kind of got mad. Angry that my friends were talking about doing a big bike ride and they were standing just beside me, but not including me in their conversation. They know I am not in good enough shape to bike 40 miles. I am not that person that ran down the dream of good health. I have been busy running down educational dreams and career dreams and family dreams, neglecting my health and weight. I am not mad at my friends for talking about it in front of me, I am mad at me for allowing this to happen.
Five or so years ago when I started my diet I did so because I did not want my best to be behind me. Meaning that I did not want the peak of my athletic and health goals to be the glory days of high school football, I wanted more. A short 5 years later (including a new city and two years of law school) later, my glory days are still behind me, just a little more recent past. I ran two marathons, three triathlons, and numerous other races, but I am only in good enough shape to talk about those things with my friends, not actually do them. That sucks.
The bulk of my weight loss came from the HMR program, and it did help me get the weight off quickly, but I don’t think I can do that again. I am combining concepts from many previous diets into a new healthier eating plan. The pillars of my new plan are 1) Limited Choices (I am shopping for a breakfast and lunch meal of the week. 2) Portions (I am making dinners that include a small protein a carb and vegetables) 3) Simplicity (nothing fancy) and finally 4) Daily exercise (probably no triathlon coming anytime soon, but perhaps some running races.
I am 35 and should be in pretty good health. I have no major knee, hip, or back problems. The only thing that stands between me and my health goals is disciplining me to plan meals and carve out the time to exercise. It is no surprise that this is not happening while I carry on doing the same old thing. It is time to start another journey and run down this dream before it runs out of sight.