''Fifty by Fifty'' - my weight loss / health goal

I know I owe everyone an update on our trip to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama, but I had to share some news.

As some of you know, I've set a goal to lose 50 pounds by age 50 - hence ''50x50'' or ''Fifty by Fifty'' I think 'publishing' your aims and goals in some way helps to keep you (or at least me) on track. To that end, I'm very pleased and proud to report that I'm down to 246.8 pounds as of today!

My starting weight was 261.5 pounds as measured by last visit to doctor. My blood pressure was borderline hypertensive and my cholesterol levels remained higher than desired. Something 'just clicked' and I've been 'on it' since early December. I'm keeping it simple and simply ''Being more active and eating less fat'' I've adopted a quasi-vegetarian diet and I'm currently up every morning between 5 am and 6 am working through a cross-training routine on elipitical machine, strectching and soon, free weight exercises with dumb bells.

As the old Nike campaign slogan suggested, 'Just Do It'