I Have an Expiration Date...

...and it's Sunday, September 5, 2032. If there's anything positive I can take away from losing my father it's the realization of this date. You may not think it's so positive, but I do and here's why.

My father, Bill Martin, died at the age of 54 years and 13 days. That's the age I will be on the above date. Some people will look at that and be convinced that it's a death sentence, but I'm determined to make sure it isn't.

It's no secret that I'm over the optimal weight for my age and height. It's no secret that can lead to many medical complications including diabetes (beginning stages here), thyroid conditions (again it's started), kidney conditions (again we're headed down that path), heart conditions (nothing to speak of yet), etc. NEWS FLASH, it's also no secret that all of this is preventable for me.

Dad had most if not all of these issues. It cost him his leg and then it cost him his life. It will not happen to me.

Before Dad died I had already started to make changes to my life. I joined Weight Watchers at work (I figured if they were making it a priority, then I would). I changed the way I ate and I started seeing a difference in how my body reacted to the changes (and a very positive one at that). Next I joined the YMCA and began to exercise. I will admit that I'm not exercising as much as I promised myself I would, but I have been trying.

Dad's death kind of threw a monkey wrench into all that of course. To some extent I broke my good eating trend over the days of the funeral. In fact my food log just says "Dad's Funeral" for that Friday and Saturday.

I admit it! I wanted chocolate cake. I wanted a cookie. I wanted to sample all the comforting food that people were bringing for our family, so I indulged, but I tried to reign myself in. I know that I didn't eat as much as I normally would have, and I'm positive I made a few good choices (admittedly though I've make some bad ones over the last week, but I'm changing that).

I haven't exercised either. The night I found out about Dad I was rushing home to change and head out to the Y for another round of exercise. I haven't gone back yet. I just haven't felt like it (for obvious reasons), but I'm determined to change that in the coming week.

I've got to get back on track. Even though I did loose weight last week (which shocked me), I can't get complacent. Like I said, "I have an expiration date." I can't afford to give up now. If I do my life is more than half over with.

I want to be here for 50 more years, not 23. I want to turn my life around, now more than ever. I want to wake up on Monday, September 6, 2032 and spend that Labor Day with my family and friends and remember my father who in dying made sure that I could see it.

(Note: I decided to cross post this on my blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts because at this moment I feel very strongly about this. I want to keep this feeling. So I ask anyone who sees me and thinks I'm slipping to remind me of this post, how much this meant to me when I wrote it, and how accomplishing this goal is the best way to honor my father. If somehow this inspires you or you think it would be inspiring for someone else then I have to say you need to read more, but you do have my permission to forward it on if you want.)