Recently, Jan '17, retired and still shedding the stresses and anxieties of management in the IT industry. My mind and body are naturally gravitating to a less demanding lifestyle that doesn't include daily professional (and sometimes personal) conflicts.

Now I'm exchanging old challenges for new ones...healthier ones.

Monday's are no longer the day of impending doom they became in my early school days and then went on to follow me like a relentless bully into my professional life. Monday's have become my kick-off day - the day I taunt the scale with less to do and take on the week with renewed optimism.

Hopefully the tonnage I've acquired through the years will continue falling away like my cares.

My biggest healthy eating foe has always been Fall and Football, and recent events are proving that to be a worthy adversary. I've given up on abstinence and compromised on "loose" moderation with beer and healthier football snack choices. Still amazed how fattening a 3-hour Cowboy's binge can be.

3 steps forward, 1 stumble back and still faithful to a better and longer life.

Finally, I can celebrate being a nerdy loser!