2011: The Year that was.

2011-12-29T21:03:00.001-06:00

Goodbye 2011.As the year rapidly comes to a close I look back on the year that was 2011. Theyear started off rather solemn as the death of my step-dad was still on mymind. Our family continues to miss him and he is in our hearts. I’ve had theopportunity to spend time with my brothers Josh and Cameron and it makes merealize how quickly they are growing up.

I started aweight loss program at the end of April 2011 and this Saturday I should passthe 90 pounds loss mark. I’m extremely excited about this change in my life. Itfeels good. The best part is embarking on this journey with my wife. It hasbrought us closer together and we keep each other motivated when one of usstruggles.

I’ve alsocontinued to work on my graduate studies and will complete my Master’s Degreeprogram in December of 2012. Words can’t express how ready I am to be finishedwith Grad School. Between working fulltime and going to class it is draining. Myonly hope is that the economy improves so that I can find new opportunities.

2011 wasalso the year of New Orleans. Mary and I got to spend a good bit of time in NewOrleans thanks to great deals from Priceline. I love New Orleans. We findsomething new to do every time we go there and something about the city justcaptures my heart. Our latest trip was even more special as my beloved Ragin’Cajuns earned the opportunity to play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Thiswas the Cajuns first bowl game in 41 years and it was even sweeter since wewon.

All in all,it was a great year and I look forward to what 2012 brings.

No Boudin, No Cracklins: A Cajun's Weightloss Journey

2011-06-21T13:12:00.007-05:00

Yes it's true, I haven't had boudin and cracklins in over two months. In fact I haven't had many of the foods I truly enjoy in the past two months. I can't say it has been easy or fun. The truth is I could really go for some of my Louisiana favorites right about now. Yet, I know why I can't have them.

In April I began a journey. That journey started with weekly trips to Weight Watchers and now includes trips to Anytime Fitness. See I've decided to lose weight. The truth is it is long overdue. Making that decision wasn't easy. See growing up in South Louisiana I've had the pleasure of eating many delicious meals and snacks. Beef Roast, Pork Roast, Rice and Gravy, Boudin, Cracklins, Poboys, Etouffee, and many others I'm leaving out. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with a metabolism that lets me eat whatever I want and that's how I arrived to where I was in April.

The first step was to learn to eat healthy and in smaller portions. Luckily, there is a plan for that. Weight Watchers is a simple plan that has truly made this process less painful. With Weight Watchers I've been given the tools I need to succeed at losing weight if I follow their program, plus you can eat a lot of good food and still lose pounds. Fortunately, I also have my wife doing this with me. She has helped me greatly in staying on track and encouraging me. We've also joined Anytime Fitness where I've spent a lot of time bonding with the treadmill.

It's been two months now and the scale doesn't lie. I've lost 28.4 pounds since I've started. I feel good about where the journey is headed. I know there are more miles to travel and more pounds to drop. Lucky for me I have a wife who supports me, Weight Watchers, and Anytime Fitness. My friends boudin and cracklin miss my dearly, but they, along with other unhealthy foods will find new stomachs to fill.

The Ragin Voice

2011: The Year that was.

No Boudin, No Cracklins: A Cajun's Weightloss Journey