At the beginning of this year, I was determined to get healthier, so I started a diet and exercise regimen. Not quite two weeks into it, you know just about when most New Year’s resolutions begin to falter, my best friend since childhood, Barry Jackson, died of a massive heart attack, leaving behind his wife and two beautiful children. Let me tell you, this was a real wake up call for me.
Leaving my best friend’s funeral, I had more resolve than ever to get healthy to do everything in my power not to orphan my own son. I had read about various workout programs available through Team BeachBody, and I wanted those kind of results. However, I had enough sense to know I was not physically ready to take on such a challenge.
For the last sixty days, I have been on a very strict carb counting diet coupled with about an hour to an hour and a half of cardio daily on an exercise bike I bought, so I did not have to hit the gym for my cardio. Every time I entertained the idea of not exercising, it's as if I could feel Barry in the room threatening to shove his size 13 Nike up my behind. So with that additional incentive, I have managed to stay the course these last two months.
In that time, I have lost 30 pounds (about half of what I need to lose) and have vastly improved my resting heart rate. However, as anybody who does low carb can tell you, part of that weight loss has been muscle tissue; plus, I am pretty burned out on the low carb diet as a whole. I knew these downsides going into it, but I saw this type of rapid weight loss plan as simply a tool, a stepping stone if you will.
So Shaun T, my man, you can consider it brought! And if I ever feel just too exhausted to get up and go Insane, I know Barry will be there to pick me up and push me on.