"Knockoffs shape"

As I stated in my last entry, The Knockoffs are playing our 20-year anniversary show on August 24th. I had the bright idea that it would make a good goal to get my fat ass into shape. What we call "Knockoffs shape". I haven't been exercising much the last couple years, and I definitely haven't been eating right. I was never much of a breakfast eater, so I usually skipped it. I don't have to be to work til noon, so I usually didn't eat lunch. Then, when I got off work at 6, I'd be completely starved, so I'd eat a huge plate of pasta, or something else packed with carbs, then crash on the sofa. I'm almost 50, and I realized that that habit wasn't going to get me into shape, and it wasn't going to get better til I did something about it. So, one day, I made a complete lifestyle change. I haven't had a soda in over 3 weeks. No snacks. Cut way back on the carbs. I bought a scale. I went to the grocery store and bought nothing but fruits, veggies, eggs, and skinless chicken breast. I've been eating a good breakfast everyday, a salad for lunch before work, stir-fry veggies and chicken for dinner, and fruit (bananas or oranges) for a snack. I bought good running shoes and I've started running in the mornings. I even have the goal of running a 5K at the end of July. I've always HATED running. HAAAAATED it. But I'm learning the benefits so after forcing myself to run, I'm starting to enjoy it. Starting to. But I'm definitely liking the benefits. I started my journey at 227 pounds. After 3 weeks, I'm at 219. 8lbs. in 3 weeks. Not bad! My goal is to lose 25-30 by the show, but I'm already ahead of schedule. And, like I said, it was a lifestyle change. I can't picture myself reaching my goal, then saying "Ok, I did it! Gimme a bacon cheeseburger!!" I can picture these habits staying with me. If I get below 200, even better! I've seen pictures and videos of myself the last couple years, and I don't like what I see. I'm hell-bent determined to get into shape! So, with a shit-ton of hard work, when you see me at the Knockoffs show, you'll be seeing a skinny-ass Tom H.!

They said it couldn't happen....

Ok, *I* said it couldn't happen. The Knockoffs are playing a show this year. I really thought I was done. But, happily, I've been proven wrong. I picked up a guitar for the first time in almost 2 years the other night. Yeah, I got some work to do. The callouses on my fingertips went away about a month after I stopped playing. So I've gotta work on getting those back. And I'm sure my voice is somewhat more than shot. So it's going to take a buuuuuuunch of practicing to get that back too. But I really am looking forward to it. It's been an interesting couple years, but I think I'm starting to want to get back out there. Just talking about playing again stirred a tiny bit of my creative juices. So, maybe, just maybe I'll have a new song or two to play at the show. We'll see....