I made a commitment for the New Year as part of my New Year Resolution to get more fit and lose weight. To get healthier for not only myself, but for my children so that they can enjoy having a very active, healthy, long living dad. So two and a half months into it as I am writing this article, I have lost nearly 20 pounds, sleep much better, lowered my Resting Heart Rate by 20, and feel at least a decade younger. This is how I did it, and how I am continuing…

The journey began after my son and I completed the 1000 New Year’s Day Kicks at our Karate Dojo with some other students as an Annual Tradition.

I started out with the Personal Mission Statement saying and cliche of, “Getting Lit and Fit, while saving plenty in 2020.” The Fit part was obviously referring to my fitness plans. The Lit part was to use my talents, time and treasure more to make a positive impact in the lives of other and honor my faith. Saving plenty was the commitment of completing Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and strive to be a better steward of my finances, get completely out of debt, and save money for emergencies, vacation, and a better future for my children and I.

For my “Fitness Challenge”

I did fairly well with my challenges and in the process have developed a healthy routine that I feel as if I can make it a away of life. In other words, something I can manage and maintain for the long term, most likely the rest of my life, verses a certain amount of days or weeks of a challenge. Here it is:

1.) Mediterranean Diet (with cheat days on special occasions) with Intermittent Fasting (16/8) beginning 3/2/2020. My 8 hr window is 2pm to 10pm

2.) Drinking 1/2 gallon (2000 ml) of water a day

3.) Daily exercise and/or work out routine with Sunday being a complete day of rest. (see Daily Plan below)

4.) Reading 5 pages of a non-fiction/self improvement book a day