So, there’s no way to sugar coat this: I’m fat. I’ve been fat for a long time. To varying degrees in the past few years I have been somewhat less fat, but at the moment I am the largest I have ever been in my life. I stepped on the scale last week for the first time in months, and I weighed in at over 300 lbs. for the first time in my life. This has to stop.

Last week I took Ben to Blizzard Beach, and the exciting news is that whereas in the past he has mostly just wanted to swim around in the lazy river and maybe go out into the wave pool for a while, this time he wanted to do slides. Lots and lots of slides. The thing about the slides is that you have to pick up your raft and then walk up long flights of stairs to the top of the hill. I was absolutely thrilled that Ben was craving something so entirely age-appropriate, and I wanted him to be able to go on as many slides as he wanted. But he isn’t independent enough to be trusted to walk up to the top by himself and come down the slide by himself, so I was right there with him. He would have happily gone on a dozen more slides, but I just physically couldn’t do it. By the last time we came down, after maybe the 7th slide, I actually had a lifeguard come over to ask if I was alright because I could barely stand in the water. Because I am fat and out of shape.

Now, I’m an analytical kind of guy. What has worked for me in the past is setting measurable goals, logging extensive data, and then posting about it in a public format to keep myself honest and motivated. So here I am, making a public commitment to lose a pound a week for the next 52 weeks. When I get on a plane for Vegas for Travel Mart 2012, I want to have  had to buy a new suit to wear because my current suits are all too baggy. I want the people who only see me once per year to say, “Oh my god, you look fantastic!” Most importantly, when I am taking Ben to the water parks in the summer of 2012 I want him to go on as many damn slides as he wants, and I’ll be right there with  him.

So what is the plan? First, making use of the Wii Fit at least five nights per week. Second, getting out skating at least two mornings per week and preferably three. Third, getting out on my bike at lunchtime at least twice per week. That’s the “move my body” part of the equation.

For the “feed my body” part of the equation, my primary focus will be on drinking plenty of water every day which will as a consequence reduce the amount of sugary drinks I consume. I know I also need to eat better in general, and I will certainly pay more attention to that, but I am less concerned about that as a primary focus right now.

This blog right here is the “public accountability” part of the equation. I will track my weight every day, but focus not on the actual day-to-day numbers (those just naturally fluctuate) and instead look at the moving average which gives a more accurate overall trend. The number I post here will be that moving average value and not my actual weight that morning.

So with all of that being said, here is my baseline for this project:

301.9