The Road to "Svelteness"...DAY 1

OK...Well...maybe this really isn't DAY 1...

Maybe I am starting this blog two weeks into the "game"...

BUT...it's better late than never!! (Plus...I wanted to make sure I didn't fall off the wagon only one week in. Do you realize how tempting a can of soda can be after not having one for two weeks? Ever take chocolate cake from a fat kid? Well...thats me...)

Oh...well I guess I should first introduce myself to those of you who don't know me and feel the need to follow a complete stranger who you have never encountered in your life. My name is Justin Clapp...but my "alias" is Justin Tyler. You see a long time ago...in a land far away...I was put into the Witness Protection Program after watching someone rip the tag off of a pillow at Kohls. Ever since then, my life has never been the same.

What...you don't believe that story? Well...aren't you a smart one! LOL...Actually, I run a group of four radio stations in Upper Valley region of New Hampshire/Vermont, and I am 1/2 of the morning team known as the "Morning Showgram" on Kixx 100.5. See? This is our station below...

My wife and I celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary on September 18th of this year...and we have been fortunate to be able to raise three great sons...Austin who is 7, Brady who is 5, and Landon is 2. Here's a pic of them...minus Landon who at the time was searching for his pacifier at the time of the taking of this picture.

So...while I am going to add some humor...and FUN to my blog...the reason why I am on the "Road to Svelteness" is because of my family, and to feel better about myself.

How did this road begin you may ask? Almost a month ago, my wife and I decided it was time to change our nutrition habits, and to work as a team to lose weight. You see...coming up on September 29th I start the first week long vacation I have had in FOUR YEARS when our family heads to Disneyworld for 8 days. It's going to be a great time...filled with rides, sleeping, watching my kids have a blast, and swimming in the resort pool. Well, that last part was a great thought until it really snuck in the next morning...

POOL???

WITH THIS GUT???

DO THEY HAVE A POOL FOR JUST OVERWEIGHT "THIRTY-SOMETHINGS"???

IS THERE A CLUB I CAN JOIN...WHERE I'M NOT ONLY THE PRESIDENT, I AM ALSO A CLIENT???

Yes...that is what you call REALITY. So two weeks ago I put the plan in motion. I knew it was time to change not only my lifestyle, but also my eating habits.

Have I continued to drink soda? Nope...been off the addictive drink for two weeks now.

Candy...sweets? Nope...and now when I even think about the thought I push it to the side.

However, I have started a new stage of this diet. Three days ago, I started working with the Vreeland Clinic in Norwich, VT. 

Dr. Carrie and Dr. Cort worked with me on what my diet should consist of...what I can/can't eat...and what would work best for me. Let me tell you something...I have never felt more comfortable around two doctors than what I did on that afternoon. They made me feel like that I CAN accomplish my goals, and what I want to do can be done. So first off...big thank you to Dr. Cort and Dr. Carrie for making me feel like I can be what I want to be. (And they lasted through me having to take off my shoe AND sock during the appointment, so they must be good. How on earth can a doc go through looking at toes with each new patient?? Do they have a tip jar for just dealing with that???)

So...next step...(Phew...I might lose calories with all the steps I will go through...)

Starting tomorrow (Monday, June 6th), I will be meeting with my personal trainer for the first time for my first workout session at the CCBA in Lebanon, NH. Yup...you read that right. A Personal Trainer. Someone who will force me to do more than the 10 push ups I can do now. (And thats only if you put a bowl of chocolate that I am bobbing for cherries out of). While I know that the workouts, at times, will make me want to cry into a towel and scream for my mom, I do know of one thing. It will be worth it. It will be worth it for my own mind and being. It will be worth it for my wife and kids who show me support every day. And...well...it will be worth it for the people at the Disneyworld pool in late September who won't need to worry about watching an Albino Killer Whale walking into their pool.

So...here's the deal with this blog...I will be posting on here on a daily basis. Sometimes it might just be a paragraph long. Sometimes it might turn into a chapter book that makes Michael Crichton jealous. No matter how long it is...I can guarantee one thing. That I hope to not only make myself proud, but you as well. I hope you'll be able to follow my journey along the way...have some fun...shed some tears...and I hope I'll be able to give you some motivation in the long run as well. 

Well...I think that's it for Blog "1". Until next...

OH...WAIT A MINUTE...

YOU NEED A "BEFORE" PICTURE OF ME. LOL...Get ready...I bet you haven't seen this much white in your life since NBA Basketball in the 80's. 

Ready?

YOU SURE???

Alright...well...here you go...

What? You don't think I need to lose some weight? Look at the rolls I have on my stomach. No one needs speed bumps like that!

Fine...fine. I'll get to the real "me". And, honestly, I'm not ashamed of this pic. Because in 3 months...things will look MUCH different...

There you go...thats me. All 228 lbs of pure Justin. Am I making you jealous?

And the "Road to Svelteness" begins here. Glad you have become a passenger. I'll be your Captain for this journey. And when we get to the "Final Destination", I hope the entire trip has made an impact on your life.

I know it will for mine.