Opinion: Fitness as a Lifestyle Choice by Matthew Mullins

Matthew Mullins

This week I celebrate the anniversary of my new lifestyle choice in being physically fit. I was looking over my photo progress diary, and I was surprised to find what I looked like then vs. now.
Last Fall, I was told by the Health Office at LACC that I was showing signs of pre-hypertension. I committed to a strict caloric diet to shed some pounds, started taking a drug for hypertension that made me feel like crap, and decided I didn't want to be dependent on any drugs or die early.

Since last Fall, I have run over 500 miles (cue The Proclaimers), started working out, changed some of my diet, and began strictly adhering to my exercise to continue on with my fitness journey.
Now it's Nov. 2013. My weight has gone from 206 pounds to 171 pounds, I help create The #Tags Runner team, and most recently began biking with the Payasos and some really cool bears. I am going to work up to possibly riding with them in AIDS/LifeCycle.

BEST PART: I can look at myself in the mirror, and feel comfortable with what I see! Also, my blood pressure has normalized.

I am not bragging, just posting this with the hope to inspire more people to make a change in their life that will truly make them feel so much better. It isn't easy, but it CAN happen! But do it for yourself, no one else.