My Return to 19

While I made this declaration to myself on 4/1, it is anything but a joke. It is a simple pledge to try and "return to 19." When I was 19, I was 10 pounds lighter, in much better physical shape and definitely more, as the kids put it, ripped. Stephen King wrote a great essay called "On Being 19" that can be found in a number of his books, such as the re-release Dark Tower books. It's about how we crystalize our view of ourselves at 19 and that we forever view ourselves as being in a sense 19. So, if you played sports then but haven't since, you always consider yourself an athlete even if you are 100 lbs overweight and a total couch potato. I have been guilty of thinking that I am now what I used to be and am hoping to break this routine. I want to get back to being the person that I think I am.

While I have started and stopped many previous attempts to recapture my former glory, I have decided to use my blog a forum to publically declare my intentions to "Return to 19." I figure, if I put it out there, I'll have to be accountable. My goals are pretty simple and attainable:

* I will no longer eat after 10 pm during the week, period.

* I will do at least 50 push-ups a day at first which will eventually get up to 100 a day.

* I will eventually will run both a 5K and 10K race (I have never done the latter) this year.

* I will bike 60 miles (not 30 like I've done the past few years because I haven't been in good enough shape) in October in the MS Bike Tour.

* I will increase my metabolism (I'm buying Ultrametabolism tonight) by modifying my habits. This includes having breakfast (something I never do) each day to kick start my digestive engine.

* I will reduce the amount of coffee I drink and increase in the amount of water.

* I will get a journal so that I can keep track of what I'm supposed to do and will give myself gold stars as rewards. In case you didn't know it, gold stars rock. If it was good enough to help me learn how to go on a potty like a big boy all those years ago, it'll work now.

That's about it. Exercise more. Eat less. Fix my metabolism. Get ripped. Sounds easy enough, right? Wish me luck. Change is hard but simply putting my goals in writing is a huge step for me. Sometimes the first step is the hardest. Good bye perpetual fall - I'm ready for this new leaf to stick...