My 2015 Goals…and Another Marathon!

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Hey, guys! I figured since it was February 5th, it would be a fine time to share some of my goals for this year. (You know, that post everyone else writes the first week of January.) Better late than never, right? ;) I usually spend the majority of January prepping for the Walt Disney World … [Read more...]

New York City Marathon: The Expo, My Costume, and Final Thoughts

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So, I ventured into the city to attend the New York City Marathon expo yesterday. I think that kind of makes this whole thing real! I can't believe it's almost here. In some ways, I feel like I've been training for this race forever...and in others, it feels like it was just days ago when I … [Read more...]

Putting Myself ‘Out There’

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For more than three years now, I have been keeping a secret. I have a blog. While those of you who follow me on Twitter -- my main forum for publicizing the goings-on here at "The Final Forty" -- may be scratching your heads right now, allow me to explain. I started blogging in January of 2010 … [Read more...]

Mastering the Art of Self-Confidence

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This weekend, I earned my Bo-Black belt in Muay Thai kickboxing (in this program, it's the belt right before black...and, not gonna lie, I'm excited because our names are embroidered on the belts). As per my usual MO, I spent weeks freaking out about this test. Was I going to survive the workout? … [Read more...]

Five Years Later: In for the Long Haul

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At this time five years ago, I was embarking upon my most recent weight loss journey. I started Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time in November 2007 -- the weekend right after Thanksgiving, no less! This is, by far, the longest I have ever succeeded in sticking to a "diet," and it is absolutely … [Read more...]

Persistence Pays Off

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If I had a nickel for every time I quit something...well, let's just say I wouldn't be writing this blog post from my tiny apartment, surrounded by furniture purchased from the likes of Walmart and Big Lots. My weight has fluctuated up and down (and up and down again) since I was in elementary … [Read more...]

The Thing You Think You Cannot Do

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There was a one-credit course I was required to take during my senior year in college -- "Personal Fitness" -- and as part of our final test at the end of the semester we were required to run one mile around the indoor track in the campus' recreation center. The humiliation of that day is seared … [Read more...]

Stop Making Excuses…and Cheating Yourself Out of Success

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If you want to ensure that you never reach your goals, do exactly what I've been doing: let your life be taken over by excuses. On July 4, I ran the local Firecracker 4-Miler race in my hometown for the second year. Despite the fact that last year's event was my very first race ever, and that it … [Read more...]

Letting Go of the “Old Me”

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I have a confession to make. Prior to this weekend, I hadn't weighed myself since before the holidays. And by holidays, I mean Thanksgiving. These past few months have included some of the the most defining moments of my life -- not the least of which was finally moving out of my parents' … [Read more...]

Oh, Gym, How I Loathe Thee. Let Me Count the Ways.

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Recently in my journey to optimal health and fitness, I have discovered a shocking new development. I absolutely, positively hate the gym. When I first began losing weight, if I wasn't at home or at work, I was on the elliptical at my local YMCA. As a result of juggling two jobs, my only available … [Read more...]