Out with the old. In with the new.

<<blows the cyber dust off the old blog>>

Hey... it's still here.  You're still here.  Well, I think you are anyway.  You're reading this new entry on a rather neglected, dusty old blog.  To you I say, "Thanks.  Thanks for sticking around."

So, time to get real and catch you up on where I stand and how my weight loss adventure is going.  Simply, I fell off the wagon outside PandaBelly and decided to lay low and not move for a while.  While there, I found out why it's called PandaBelly.

I'm happy to report... I've left the village.  A similar wagon to the one I was on passed by and after telling the driver a few cheesy jokes, she let me hitch a ride.

Truth time.  I've gained some weight.  I'm nowhere near where I used to be, but weight gain is weight gain.

I'm currently at 314.4 pounds.  Like I said, nowhere near the 394 points I used to weigh.  Now you should know, I've been back on the wagon for a few weeks.  When I got back on, I was at 322.  As you can see, there's been some weight loss.  And I know there is going to be more.

I'm exercising again... running mostly.  I simply love doing it and it makes me happy.  I'm also bike riding.  And I'll be adding some tension bands and will be figuring yoga into the equation.  I want to make sure I'm focusing on my whole body, not just my lower extremities.  I'll go into more detail on some of those other workouts in later entries, but today, I want to focus on running.

When I first started this whole thing back in 2013, I began walking and then upped the ante to jogging/running.  In September of that year, I ran my first 5k.  A few months before, I bought my first pair of running shoes.

Needless to say, they've seen better days.  I took them out for another spin today and decided it was time to put them out to pasture.

I went to the mall and purchased these.  

Spiffy, huh?

I've not run in them yet, but I suspect it will be quite a nice frolic the first time round.

And let's not forget the scenery.  I live in a tropical state! There is an endless supply of awesome running locations and I intend to take advantage of them all.

I'd also like to issue a challenge for myself and anyone else.  I'm going to run a race (a 5k or 10k) every month.  

"But Mason, January is over.  How are we supposed to get a race in?"

I got this one.  Just pick up an extra race up somewhere.  As long as you have 12 by the end of the year, I say you've completed the challenge.  

Now, if you can't find a race in your area each month, sign up for a virtual race.  Those count too.  I use U.S. Road Running.  They're cheap. Have great medals and they're just good fun.  I'm using the "New Year 2016" race to count for January.  I ran it today (January 31, 2016) and clocked it at 43:37.  I can do much better and will.  It's the first race I've completed in a while.

So, lots to talk about.  I won't bore you with all of it now.  Just know I'm going to do this:  get the weight off and stay healthy.  I'm going to do it for me first and secondly, for some people I love very, very much.  

And I need your to help.  Hold me accountable!  Ask me questions.  Check in.  Tell me if I'm doing well.  If I'm not doing well, give me some ideas on how to do better.  I won't take it personally.  I'll do the same for you if you want.  You won't be alone.

Okay.  Time to go.  

Until next time dear friend... Be Infinite.