Health Is Not An Option: No Shortcuts, No Excuses, Find Time

It was a year ago, that I visited Kona for the first time. And I posted on my Facebook page this simple question: 

Well, it's been a year now, and while there was a short flirtation with training and training schedules, that effort petered out like a sprinter climbing Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France. I just didn't have the stamina to sustain the dream last year.

Well, Today I'm in beautiful Kona once again. I've pondered over Kailua Bay for days, and I've driven the bike course to Hawi and back. I'm more in awe of the triathletes that do this course. Not just the pro athletes, they have sponsors and are paid to train and compete, But I'm in awe of the age groupers. The men and women that defy the odds and whatever challenges life throws at them in order to compete

My challenge has always been my weight. And while I had it under control for a brief period of time, my job as local union president and on the CTA Board of Directors, with it's constant travel, stress, conferences and seemingly endless buffet lines has not ben a great environment for my health. So, I've decided to reverse what I've done to myself over the last 5 years.

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This is not a vanity exercise. This isn't about turning heads or looking great in swim trunks.(Although all of that would be welcome.) It's about improving my health. About enjoying my vacations to the fullest without having to worry, if they'll have a wetsuit big enough, or if I'm not too heavy for this or that activity.

So what's the plan?
Here it is in broad strokes:
The one thing I've discovered over the years is that exercise is a relative small percentage of weight loss. I used to ride bike centuries a few years ago, all of them while at least 100 lb over weight. I had great conditioning, but never really lost a significant amount of weight. In order to change that, I'm undertaking a 30 day re-set. So, starting August 15, they day after I return from Hawaii, I will begin the the Whole 30 plan.  I'll write more about this as I go through the plan. But here are the basic Whole 30 rules if you're interested. 

The second part of the plan is exercise. For the first couple of months I'm going to concentrate on the bike. Because of my size, riding my bike is uncomfortable; it causes back pain which in turn stops me from riding, so for now, the bike will be stationary. Eventually I'll build up to running and swimming. Kona and it's Ironman inspire me.

Kona inspired me last year as well and it didn't stick. What's different this year? I'm not relying on inspiration. I'm relying on discipline, determination and the support of colleagues, friends and family.

I don't know if I'll ever hear the words "Roberto Rodriguez, you are an Ironman!" resonating on Alii Drive, right now that's not my goal, right now, the goal is to get off the couch and to to make time in my busy schedule to workout. At the very least I'd love to be alive, in good health and in Kona on October of 2058 and watch the athletes cross the finish line just before my 95th birthday. And if I do this right, perhaps on that day I'll be remembering the day I crossed the finish line.

#NoShortcuts #FindTime #NoExcuses