Wake up Call on health

So, as if I didn't already need motivation to lose this weight, I got an awful phone call from my Dad a couple weeks ago about my 22 year old cousin.  He has always been athletic, but like me, gained some significant weight during college.  I would never say he was fat, but he was "husky" and "thickly built" as people would say.  I also would never say that I thought he was unhealthy, or a high risk person for heart issues or any other health issues for that matter.

However, my 22 year old cousin had a heart attack 2 weeks ago.  22!!!!!!!!!  Can you be serious!? Well, this got me to thinking.  If a 22 year old who is a bit overweight can have a heart attack, then what is there to say that I couldn't as well.  Someone my age never really even considers that heart problems are a possibility, and weight loss is, lets face it, more about the vanity than anything else more serious at this point.

Now, don't get me wrong, I want to be healthy.  I am not doing a "diet", I am learning to eat only whole foods, correct portions, and establishing a diet that more closely resembles that elementary school food pyramid.  But honestly, I just want to be able to wear clothes that are actually considered fashion.  I want to walk into places like Banana Republic, Guess, Limited, the Black and White store, without only looking at the shoes and jewelry.  I want to not stand out like a sore thumb in family photos.  I want to be confident in any picture, and not analyze my double chin, or if you can see a doughnut around my middle in that shirt.

So, yeah. My cousin's heart attack gave me another reason that I need to stick with this.  22 is far too young to have heart issues, and yes, this might be something that is more to do with his genetics than his weight.  However, his doctors told him what you would expect.  Eat a low calorie, low cholesterol diet.  Exercise.  Lose weight, and we will see you in a year to check on your progress.

That is not so encouraging, but for my cousin, it was.  Since being out of the hospital, he has lost 12 pounds.  I am so incredibly proud of him that I can hardly contain myself. This was not only Jesse's wake up call, but mine as well.  Thank you, Jesse, for being an outstanding inspiration for me, and our family.