Fittest at 50 Begins

Oct 20, 2011 by Chris Brewer

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I’ll admit it: I like a challenge. So when Morgan, our Chief of Staff here at LIVESTRONG, challenged me to find a way to incorporate the great aspects of health, wellness, nutrition, prevention with our cancer fighting mission and Team LIVESTRONG, I was all in.  In fact, I am literally all in…

What evolved from this discussion is a 15 month project I’m calling Fittest at 50, trying to answer the simple question, “Can I get in the best shape of my life before I turn 50?” – and that’s December 30, 2012. But this isn’t some fantasy situation where I get to be a pro athlete for over a year, far from it.  It has to be sustainable and done within the norms of my social and business life, and I want to take you along with me for the journey.

We’ll share all the training through our friends at Carmichael Training Systems, all the nutrition / weight loss via the Daily Plate application from our friends at LIVESTRONG.com, and of course tell you how things are going here (pulling no punches) and how you can join in, especially through Team LIVESTRONG and our associated events.  We’ll have plenty of guest bloggers and interviews to share their perspectives as well as feature articles that can get us all moving towards an amazing year in 2012 and beyond!

A little about me and where I’m at currently.  I’m a 15 year testicular cancer survivor, having been through two rounds of chemotherapy and seven abdominal surgical procedures since 1996.  I’ve been very fortunate to have been associated with LIVESTRONG literally since day one back in 1997 and currently head up communications on the Development team. I would put my fitness level at a little above average, coming in at 6’2″ and 226 lbs as of this morning – note I was in the worst shape of my life about a year ago, maxing out at 254;  I think I’ll be at my best “fighting weight” at around 195.

But an even bigger question is, “What does it mean to be in the best shape of your life?” And while I am going to find that out personally, I’ll also be asking athletes and other inspirational people that same question, too, and share their thoughts with you.  It’s going to be a great ride and one I hope you’ll not only follow, but jump in with both feet!  We’ve got some cool things planned, more on that soon enough, and the first goal is a Big One for me – running the LIVESTRONG Austin Half Marathon on Feb 19, 2012!  LOTS more to come.

Me with my friend Steve Nagel
at the 2011 LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin