Welcome to DanSeldenFitness.com......My name is Dan, a newly overweight thirty-something male with one ambition... to detox and get fit during 2008/9. I may do it, I may not.. My goal is to get involved and see what happens.
I had always been a slim (some might say too slim) individual. Back in 2001 I weighed a little over 10st and the obvious comments were made “Skinny Bones” etc. I never really used to worry about my weight. I could eat anything; drink, smoke etc and it wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference. I think it’s called being young and having a high metabolism. Or I was just lucky.
I first started noticing my weight changing in 2003; I had given up partying hard (and all that goes with it) and began staying in more. I had noticed my body shape changing around this time, the love handles or muffin lovin’ era began. Now whether this was down to getting older, being in a stable relationship (that old chestnut) or my metabolism slowing up I don’t know, I never exercised or bothered eating healthy.
During the mid part of 2003 I decided to join the local gym, with visits ranging from 3-5 times week. I continued this regime regularly for the next two years. My weight balanced out and then naturally increased with my changing physique. I was in good shape. Not pretty boy looking or anything, just in good shape. With the new found endorphins came creativity in both my social and working life. I was enjoying life and loving it too.
May 2005 I got married in the Caribbean, I was still in good shape only my regime had slipped a little, I was in a state of plateau, it seemed no matter how much I worked out I did not gain muscle nor lose anything. In fact the less I attended the gym the less I weighed. It was also around this time I noticed that my alcohol in-take was increasing. From going from drinking only at the weekend’s with the occasional midweek tipple, to moderate drinking nearly every evening. Along with my smoking habit (15yrs worth) I was wondering where my new healthy lifestyle was heading? Things were not looking very positive. Had the wheels come off?
Smoking was an issue, I knew I had to give up and in January 2006 I gave up, it was one month before the birth of my baby daughter (another good reason to quit) and to be honest going ‘cold turkey’ is not as hard as some make out. It was a one day at a time thing. I was still attending the gym only by this time it was more like once every week and I was lacking some serious enthusiasm. My drinking and appetite had increased, being able to taste food again was very pleasant but for obvious reasons had its complications. My weight was increasing dramatically, but to be honest with you, becoming a father for the first time and all that comes with it made my weight issue very insignificant. Naturally my priorities had changed.
By January 2007 I had cancelled my gym membership as I had not been for months and was wasting money on the monthly subscription. Financially this was a benefit at the time, although looking back if I had stopped drinking I could have easily afforded it. My enthusiasm had gone, I was always tired, often irritable and a little depressed. It was around this time my friends and family began to openly comment regarding my weight gain. This just fuelled my concern, but I knew deep down I was going to turn things around, only when? Well, I had a half hearted attempt late summer, I began mountain biking again, fitted a punch bag and turned my garage into a substitute mini gym (if not a bit on the cheap side). All was well until the nights drew in and not having electricity and no heating made it practically impossible to continue.
At the tail end of Christmas ’07 when looking at myself (which I tried to avoid), it made me feel empty, disappointed and resentful. The lack of energy and constant tiredness was probably down to poor diet, burning the candle and constant over indulgence, daily ignorance seemed to be the only answer.
January 2008 - Its time things changed.
It’s January; everyone makes New Year’s Resolutions, why not me? Just kidding! My main reason for this change is my health - I’m fed up with feeling and looking like sh#t, constantly run-down with no enthusiasm for anything! Other factors include a better lifestyle, clearer head, personal achievement and well... just being “my old self” again.
Now click here to see how I’m doing.
