I experienced a couple of snafus in the hours before my recent social media presentation in Las Vegas. One of them came about due to my lack of foresight, but more honestly lack of time, to iron the clothing I planned to wear on that Sunday morning. Instead I rifled through what I could find that didn't look like it had been slept in or simply, not ironed --- one of my favorite shirts and a pair of boot cut jeans I bought this past spring that are typically reserved for my high tops or boots.

Eh, nobody has time for all that, I thought as I forced everything into my bag and packed up all my camera equipment and electronics in order to beat the mandated check-out time of 11 a.m. and start talking at 11 a.m.

My presentation began at 11:20 am and all I wanted to do was sit at the edge of the stage and talk the way a lounge singer does when they get intimate with their crowd. My only problem was that I was in a grand ballroom and although the crowd was intimate they were all sitting comfortably in the back and I would've been out of sight had I sat down on the edge of the stage.

Since I announced I was committed to losing 10 more pounds via my workingoutat40 fitness challenge I have since been sidelined --- primarily by myself. Over two weekends back to back I spoke at a conference in new orleans and then went to virginia beach. Both places are known for their food and both places put me in chill mode. Couple that with me no longer being able to afford the boot camp where I worked out daily. Now I'm working out on my own a couple times a week. So over the course of 3 weeks I've lost approximately 2.5 pounds.

But I've got two more weeks to go...

Today at 7am I ran my first ever 5K and it was AWESOME! I got the chance to connect with so many friends, run alongside them and celebrate with them afterwards as hot sweaty messes --- some more than others (I'm speaking solely of myself). The amazing thing about the experience is that it was something I said I'd never do. I took this up on a dare and because of the cause behind it and now that I've done it I'm not certain there is anything I cannot do! For those of you perched on the ledge of "Should I" when it comes to something you're being challenged to do, I say GO FOR IT! I am changed forever today moving forward.



And last but not least, I'm happy to announce someone has taken up the challenge with me. His name is Ty and he is someone I went to high school and college with though we never talked much then. Like me he is forty but instead of losing weight he is looking to get to marathon/triathalon competition-ready and be able to do 25 pull-ups and live to tell about it.

Tonight I'll be going to sleep thinking: I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can...

I know I will.

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Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter at @EPayneTheDad.

This morning I got on the scale and it registered the number 186.5. That is a solid 10 pounds less than I was when I started back working out at the end of June. I've changed my diet, I've changed my level of activity (outdoor boot camp, biking, swimming and some running) and it in turn has changed my attitude, enhanced my vitality and helped me to calmly navigate through things that normally got me all twisted up in knots. Not to mention, pants that were cutting into my waist, fit once more and the protruding bulge beneath my that had become commonplace in all my shirts is now gone. My only complaint/issue/acknowledgment, etc. is that I am not the young man I once was. Thanks to my 40 year-old willpower I'm working out harder than I ever have. But thanks to my 40 years-old body, recovering from my workouts has become almost as painful as the workouts themselves. C'est la vie.

But I've got 10 more pounds to go. And I'd like to lose them by my birthday, which is exactly 6 weeks away.

And I challenge you to lose them (yours not mine) with me.