This is most definitely not my first attempt at losing weight and improving my health. It is, however, the first time I have given myself the charge to do it for not only me, but for those who perhaps have even greater needs than I do.

I’m getting less shy and more candid about my life over the past couple of years. In that time, my wife and I quit our jobs and moved from Arizona to Georgia, I started a Ph.D., we had our son, I was challenged exponentially in my doctoral program (this will surely be strung out in other posts, so I’ll spare you here), I discovered relatively late in my education that I had a learning disability, I watched a loved one go through substance abuse issues, I discovered I had diabetes, and I summarily watched other areas of my health decline. Needless to say, it’s been a challenge.

So, I thought that I needed to get serious…and creative. I started a blog thinking that it would be a useful tool to help keep me accountable in my weightloss. And, in fact, the many readers of Fat Guy in a Little Coat did just that. They were warm and supportive. I, for the most part, was also relatively anonymous. I kept my ordeal to myself, a few others close to me, and to my new supporters. Then, I decided to go public and let all of my family and friends know. This time around, there’s no secrecy–I plan on being up front, honest and real. I had started running (I even ran a 5k and won an award in my age division) and in a matter of months, I lost 30 pounds. I was happy with my progress.

But then I stopped. And here I am with those 30 pounds back in tow.

So, I am here to start anew. This, as the title indicates, is my “new, new” beginning. I realize that I may be starting from scratch again, but I think that my health, my family, and my cause are all worth it. I hope you will explore this site and follow my endeavor. It’s not necessarily a new concept, but it is an experiment  I’m excited to be involved in. And yes, I also hope that you will become a matching donor for my dollar-per-pound goal, or make an in-kind donation once I have settled on the organization I wish to donate to.

Here’s to a new beginning.