Justification...or Excuses?

Hi everybody,

My name is Chad and I'm about 2 months in on my quest for a healthier me. I won't lie...from a vanity standpoint, I would love to look great and be confident. But at this point in my life (44), it's more about getting my energy and health back...and enjoying an active lifestyle as I get older.

Whenever I talk about how I got to this weight, I generally seque in with: "I NEVER thought I would ever have a chance of being over weight when I was younger." Guess that's because I played a lot of sports, ate whatever I wanted and had a metabolism that seemed "invincible" at the time. And then "life happened." I blame it on 4 things that happened in my late twenty's:

1) Significant knee injury. I had a couple minor ones to same knee earlier in my Navy career but this one required total reconstructive surgery.

2) Getting out of the Military...and thus not "having to" do consistent PT on a regular basis.

3) Getting into IT. Sitting behind a computer display most of the day for the last 16 years is not very conducive to maintaining a healthy metabolism.

4) Speaking of Metabolism...this is the time in life most people's starts to behave a bit differently. So, there's that...lol

So, these 4 things bring me back to the title of this thread: Justification or Excuses? I guess they are the root cause of my current state but I'm starting to wonder if maybe they're more excuses (TO MYSELF) versus justifications.

Merrium-Webster defines 'justification' as: an acceptable reason for doing something : something that justifies an action.

Since I don't consider letting myself become unhealthy and in the process developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea as acceptable conditions, I can't really call these justifications. After much contemplation, I've decided I'm done with "Excuses" too. Doesn't matter how I got here. All that matters now is how I fix it...and by "fix it" I mean forever. I've tried half a dozen times or more to make a lifestyle change over the past decade...always giving up way before the journey can take hold. Every one of those times, there was a seed of self-doubt from the beginning. This time feels different though, and I think MFP is the game changer I needed. Still in shock at how much I didn't know and how simple the math is. No more need for searching for that "magic" pill or revolutionary diet. And reading all the inspiring stories from folks that overcame so much and transformed themselves (both physically and emotionally)...it fuels me. It's absolutely uplifting and motivates me to push myself ...and believe that I can do this. I WILL do this!!!

Stats:
Started: 3/15/2015
Days tracking w/ MFP: 41and counting
Age: 44
Height: 5'10"
Starting weight: 284
Current weight: 259
Lost so far: 25 (12 of that with MFP since tracking)
Goal weight: 199 (but might adjust and lose another 15-20lbs when I get there)

I know I have a lot to learn about exercise and nutrition...but it's not so daunting anymore. I'm extremely excited now and look forward to challenging myself daily and developing healthy habits that will last...not just take me to my goal weight..but take me to a place where I consider it living naturally and not have to label it "substaining."

Feel free to add me. Looking forward to making some new friends and receiving motivation and hopefully providing some eventually. Can't wait to post my "success story" one day!