So as I've shared, I'm committed to making the moves that are necessary to restart my journey. After a year of ups and downs, I am focusing on eliminating excuses and putting in the work. I've been keeping tabs of all food intake in the diary all week long so far. I know it's only been 4 days, but it's a good step in the right direction. (I even included all the beer I drank on Tuesday, not trying to lie to myself!). With a hectic schedule like mine, it can be easy to say that I have no time to work out. While it's true that my schedule is insane, I'm going to make the time as often as I can. I realize that it isn't 2008 anymore. Back then I had the opportunity to go to the gym 5 days a week (Mon-Wed, Fri, and Sun); but I also only worked back then. Now I work, I'm in graduate school, I have an awesome girlfriend, I live farther away from friends. So trying to balance even just work, school, girlfriend, and family can be daunting. In 08, I was single and worked. Free time was plentiful back then.

So now I'm going to challenge myself to work out three times a week. With my crazy schedule I can't even lock in workout days because of extenuating circumstances, but I will challenge myself to three days a week. Ideally one of either Tuesday or Thursday; a Friday, and one day on the weekend. I think even managing those days will be a HUGE step in the right direction for me.

So I titled this "finding my motivation" and haven't mentioned the word once yet. Well, the foundation for my motivation is going to come from this workout schedule. I remember when I dropped 60 pounds, I felt simply amazing. Things in life seemed easier, I had the most confidence ever (and i'm a pretty confident fellow) and I felt like I could take on any challenge. The funny part is that even at that weight I was still considered obese (260 at the time). So my motivation is reminding myself how I felt at that point. If I can recapture even a glimpse of that, then I'm sure I will have found the initial secret towards my continued success.

I've been on campus everyday for the past 5 days, tonight I have dinner and meeting the girlfriend's parents. I have no idea what will be made but I'm trying to compensate for it by eating effectively throughout today.

Tomorrow (Friday) I plan on participating in a small boot camp by class after work...and I'm looking forward to it.

Richie