Nutrition Challenge

Well, I just got back from a nice night time bike ride and swim at the gym. Probably makes Laura more nervous when I do that than anything else I do, but when you want to spend time with your kids, crazy times of the day are the only times you can actually work out.

When I got on the scales at the gym I was reminded that working out is great, but your diet is still the driving force behind maintaining weight as well as losing weight. Three years ago, I was perfect, I didn't stray and for 2 years it paid off. Last year after doing my triathlons and adventure races I thouhgt I could start eating whatever I wanted and could work out hard enough to balance that food. It's impossible.

When I started losing weight, I had so many people giving me tips along the way. The funniest tip I ever received came from my uncle. At one point in his life, he weighed over 300lbs as well and one day decided he was going to make a change. He just quit eating and has never changed that philosophy. He doesn't exercise and still believes that not eating is the only thing you can do to maintain or loss weight. At the time, I totally disagreed and now I only partially disagree. I do think you have to cut back on the amount of food you eat. I think I normally eat around 3500 calories a day. Over time, that starts to add up. If I am able to keep my calories taken in per day closer to 2500 then I can consitently lose weight. For those of you who don't like counting calories, do it for a month and for the rest of your life you will have a decent idea of the calories you are consuming with your favorite foods.

Either way, no matter how hard I work out, I have learned that as much as I want to eat a burger a week, I can't. I have to eat fish, eggs, veggies and I have to stay away from my wife's amazing baked goods. Today was a wake up call, so hopefully I take advantage.

I also want to ask anyone that is reading this to say an extra prayer for the Sutton family in Dallas. Pat Sutton is a close friend of mine and he and his brother lost there mom this week. She is in a better place, and she was able to see both of her boys start wonderful families.