Two years and a couple of months post surgery and I am in that "new normal" area. For the last 18 months, I have been buying size Large shirts, 36" waist pants. My weight has been consistent. I pushed myself early to do a 5K and climb a mountain. But 2016 was busy. I met a spectacular woman over a year ago and was more interested in building the relationship than trying some new physical challenge.

Last October she did a six-week 20-pound weight loss challenge (which she really didn't need to do, but she felt like she needed to reset her system). I didn't have time then to join her, but she did well, she lost 18.2 #'s, and her abs are killer - she is 54 and can rock a bikini, I find that impressive. After the program, she had an accident and needed knee surgery just before Christmas. Because she was in such good shape, her recovery is going better than expected. That was a wake-up call to me that I can do better than just being average.

So I decided to jump start this year by doing the same program she did. Four weeks ago I already started doing the C25K program again to get ready for another race in April. So things are getting moving again. But today as I was cleaning up old files and I found a picture from 10 years ago, and my first thought was "who's that?"

I didn't recognize myself.

We joke in the beginning of our weight loss journey that we often have a moment where we don't recognize ourself in the mirror, well one cool thing to look forward to is getting to the place where you don't see yourself as the fat guy anymore. And even when you don't, it's also fun to push yourself a little further and strive for an even better normal.

It's so nice to read about your total renewal and recommiting. Yes, the bikini thing is impressive.

You'll have to carry Tupperware. Steel will make you lean to one side now.