A New Mission

Can you believe it has been more than six months since the last time we spoke? I missed you all so much!

A lot has happened in the last six months. Let me start with all the good stuff! First of all, my beautiful baby girl is about to turn one! I put up a few pictures for you to see that she has clearly gotten her mother’s looks. I also packed up the family and went on a three week adventure to Australia. We toured around Sydney, the Hunter Valley, Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, and Noosa. And Sofia was awesome the whole time, despite spending a total of 42 hours on planes over the three week period. Please note the absence of any ridiculous references to “Dingoes” and “My Baby”. You welcome.

The bad stuff is pretty straight forward. I got fat. And I don’t mean that I just softened up and added a few pounds. I mean I GOT FAT. I weighed myself last week and came in at the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I decline to reveal the number. Again, you welcome.

A major contributor to this was the fact that I essentially stopped my training regimen. But I have some great excuses. I am wicked awesome at making excuses.

During the last 20km of last year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer, I started to feel a slight numbness in my right hand. It felt like I lost all strength in my hand. I chalked it up to a little fatigue from the ride, but a couple of weeks later I was still having trouble using a fork, or holding a pen, or using my blackberry. There was no permanent nerve damage, but my doctor advised me to get better cycling gloves, and get a bike that is actually the right size. He also said to stay off the bike until my hand was back to normal.

I took that to mean “stay off the bike all summer and get really fat.” And, I know how to follow directions.

I did get out for 4 or 5 rides during the course of the summer, and right before we left for Australia, I went out and bought a sweet new road bike – a 2010 Specialized Allez Elite. So equipment wise, I am all set for the 2011 Ride to Conquer Cancer.

That’s right! I have decided to ride again this year. It was a great experience, for a great cause. Our KPMG Ridin’ Survivin’ Team has expanded – more than 80 riders strong! And this year, I have added an additional goal: trying to lose a little weight. By little I mean a lot. I have begun a weight loss and training program, and I am hoping to share my experiences again this year with you through this nifty little online diary.

Now, admittedly, documenting weight loss publically in front of family and friends is pretty damn risky. It can be quite the humiliation if it doesn’t happen. I am looking to that as my motivation. Lose weight or face a public shaming. Cool, eh?

My fundraising goal last year was $2,500, and you all really stepped up with almost $4,000. You were all so very generous in supporting my ride last year, I have upped my goal to $3,500 this year, and if all goes well, I may even increase it yet again. I figure watching me suffer through more spin classes and rabbit food is worth at least that much to you. Plus, you get to help find a cure to a disease that I am sure has affected all of us in some way or another. You can sponsor me by clicking on the link at the top right hand side of this page.

I am kind of hoping to write to you all a little more frequently and not just about training and weight loss. I mean, seriously, how often do you really want to hear about how about treadmills and chocolate cravings? So I hope to write about other things going on in my universe as well. I will try not to bore you, but I make no guarantees.

Anyways, it was great talking to you again. Let’s make sure it is not another 6 months, okay?

Ciao,
Mohamed
xoxo