Lifestyle Change

As a child I was never really overweight, in my teens I stretched up and to 6 feet tall and started to fill out. In school I started using the gym and i played basketball regularly and enjoyed athletics. But in my early twenties it all slowly started to stop. And my social life gained massive momentum. And slowly and steadily my weight gained. I was never really bothered that I was  big. I never saw myself as overweight. I was happy with my shape as I still looked muscular, but slowly the muscle was being replaced with fat. But I still was t bothered by it, my health was ok I was in a good relationship I was enjoying uni life I was enjoying partying and eating what I wanted. 

At my heaviest I was nearly 20st and now I wasn't happy with what I saw in the mirror and other health problems arose. My asthma came back, I got high blood pressure amongst other things. I didn't feel good. But ceased to do anything about it for the next few years. But fatherhood kinda changed my attitude. I wanted to be a bit healthier so I could be strong for my family, but if I'm honest I still wasnt ready to change my attitude towards food. Cheese was my Achilles heel, cheese was my vice, drug, comfort, my necessity. And the amount I was eating just wasn't healthy. My work regime made it hard to eat 'good'. Instead food of convenience was what I was having. Bad snacks everyday. Things were bad. 

But this year after a bout of bad health issues, (kidney infection, Flu, Larenjitis, slipped disc and dislocated knee) enough was enough. I wasnt a healthy 19st 4lbs, time to make a change. So in May I made the changes needed. Leanne was now expecting a 2nd child and the doctors had said I had high blood pressure and would need medication. These were the pushes I needed to change my lifestyle. So with that I cut out the cheese and started walking. I pledged to exercise at least 30 mins a day and cut out the snacks and eat better or 'clean'. And now on this day 15/9/13 I'm 17st 7lbs. And I feel good. I'm not going hungry but I feel better in my own skin literally. I've started to ride a bike a few times a week too as I think the walking and jogging wasnt enough of a exercise for me. But it was a start. Soon after walking and jogging the weight started to come off and eventually my bp stabalized and this spurred me on. I wanted to reach my wedding weight of 18.7st which was their best I had been in years, to be honest that was stress why I lost that. But I had reached my wedding weight quickly and I continued on. "I can do this" I can actually do this. With perserverance I carried on and am continuing on as I don't see it as a diet but a lifestyle. Over indulgence nearly killed me. Riding my back I actually  enjoy and that makes exercising easier, people notice I've lost a substantial amount of weight. I thank my kids for giving me the incentive and will to change my lifestyle. For the better. Live long and prosper. 

my little life of scrap: {great bloggers bake off : week one}

my little life of scrap: {great bloggers bake off : week one}

Wifey birthday cake made by yours truly

The day my son was born...

A cold February night, we had friends around watching the NBA all star weekend. Leanne was now overdue and very uncomfortable and has lost all patience now. But that night was going to be the last night as a 2. Leanne's waters broke early hours in the morning but it wasn't a rush to go to the hospital just yet so we tried to get some more sleep. About 6am we made a move to the hospital and we were ready to get this baby out. After a long and quite stressful labour our little boy was born, 4:25am that day it all changed. Holding this little perfect person made me break down and cry tears of happiness like I've never cried before. It's the most overwhelming g experience I think anyone can experience. Instantly I bonded with him like a long lost friend, instantly I remember feeling like I would die so be could live. Instantly I know our lives would never be the same. Maxwell William George Edwards was born, already he was loved by so many. 

He was born and I got to hold him before be got taken away to bro natal to be checked over as the doctors were fearful he might of caught an infection as Leanne's water had been broken for quite some time. But thankfully he was fine. The first moments of us together was like something I could never of imagined, it was serene and nothing else seemed to matter, everything seemed so natural and it didn't feel foreign of awkward. I wasn't concerned with telling the world just yet as I was so caught up in those first moments with my family. "My family" fuck me, I'm a dad. Only then it actually started to sink in. "I'm a dad" this little boy I was going to have to look after for the rest of my life. This little boy would rely on me for guidence, support and protection. For about 3 seconds I panicked, then was like "let's do this". And I've been doing it ever since. I pledged to be the best dad I can be to my son, to be understanding, patient, playful but still a parent. I was raised by 2 loving, hardworking parents so I wanted to be able to do the same for my child. And literally from that cold day in 2010 nothing else mattered but my family. As a parent you gotta be selfless, which at times can be hard, the life you had before children you can't have after but to be honest a good parent won't want that old life. Not to say you can't ever go out for a drink and a dance but you just do t want to as much. A luxury these days is being able to sleep in until 9am. But you know what, I wouldn't change it for anything. 

So to round up the last 3 years....

Maxwell was born February 2010

Maxwell grew a bit 

And a bit more 

I married my true love in August 2011 

Maxwell grew some more

And now our little family is gonna be growing some more 

So it's safe to say I've been busy. I started this blog when we found out about Maxwell but failed to continue. So the time has come round again and I feel ready to try to document this epic to the realm eternal.