CONGRATS, TODD!

Although I have no regrets from when I was younger, I really didn’t start my life until I was in my late 30s. After dating for several years, I finally got married when I was 36, and now at 40, I have a beautiful three-year-old girl, a one-year-old boy, and a beautiful wife! Awe, my beautiful little family, they melt my heart and mean more than anything in the world to me. 

As a father and husband, I am constantly striving to give my family the best life I possibly can. To me, that means more than just bringing home a paycheck and providing for them. It means being there for the “big things” like going rock climbing, going fishing, going on daddy-daughter dates; and perhaps even more important - it means being there for all the “little things” like tea parties, playing on the ground, giving horseback rides, coloring, and putting Band-Aids on all the little bumps and bruises along the way. 

One day as I was thinking about my family and time, it hit me - I will be in my 60s when my kids graduate high school! A scary thought since I lost my father (my best friend) when he was only 54. So what does that mean for my kids, my wife, my family… How do I ensure I am going to be here as long as I possibly can for them? The answer was simple: Get off my butt and get healthy!! 

So I started making changes. I started a new job, working fewer hours and spending more time with my family. I started taking time for myself, to recharge, to rebalance, and to get out in nature. And I started focusing on eating right. At 243 lbs. and only 5’8”, I knew I needed to lose at least 50 lbs. I decided not to wait, and I started my fitness journey before the official start of CSE and lost 15 lbs. I started by making a goal just to be more active and cut out some of the junk in my diet, like energy drinks and fast food. 

Then my wife and I decided to start with CSE and lost another 30 lbs. during the last seven weeks. For a total loss of 45 lbs. I have continued my fitness journey by assembling a small home gym where I enjoy doing tai chi and yoga to help increase my flexibility and continue to find balance in my body and mind. I am looking forward to the future with new hope and determination. A future full of good choices, resulting in a healthy lifestyle, balanced with work and life, and taking time to be me and recharge. A future that involves Clean Simple Eats and teaching my kids about having balance in all aspects of their lives. And most importantly, I am looking forward to a long, beautiful life full of gratitude and no regrets!