Ryan Smith

Compassionate Conservative

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Faith Anticipates Glory
- Thomas Watson -

Why My Forty Third Year Was My Best One Yet

September 4, 2018 By Ryan Smith

My 43rd year was my best one yet and I’m going to tell you why, but first let me tell you why not. Not because of the money I made or a monumental career achievement or anything external that others would notice.


I’m Dying

My 43rd year was my best one yet because I came to the realization that I am going to die. No I don’t have cancer or some other deadly disease. Nevertheless, I’m going to die, of something, someday.

We always kind of know we’re going to die but I don’t think we allow that fact to affect our daily life. Well, this year did it for me. From now on every decision I make will be impacted by the fact that my days are numbered.

Some might think that means I’m depressed or that I will play it safe, but oh no, that means I’m going to live life to the fullest, take risks and do what I believe God is calling me to do – no matter the consequences.

Let me put it this way; if life is everything, I have nothing to lose. Everything I cherish wakes up beside me every day; my wife and children. If anything can be taken from me, they’re it. I pray I’m the first to go.

So for now I will do my best to be present daily in their lives as a husband, father, friend, coach or whatever new role life has in store for me. But most of all, I will model for them a fear free life.

I’m Healthy

My 43rd year was my best one yet becuase it was the year I learned to be healthy. I remember seeing the movie Surfer when I was 12 years old. All the actors were thin and in shape and I wasn’t. Just an awkward phase? Maybe, or maybe McDonald’s had something to do with it. Either way the sit ups I did when I got home from the movie theatre that night didn’t help.

Yes, I thinned out after my freshmen year of high school and remained releatively thin until my days playing baseball were over.

Then bad eating habits coupled with sitting in a cubicle all day, everyday, began to take its toll. I ballooned from 210 lbs to a whopping 285 lbs. I was 305 lbs at my heaviest.

Then several years after getting married I lost 60 lbs in six months by going on my “Spring Training” diet, which was comprised of rice, chicken and black beans.

The problem is I couldn’t eat only rice and chicken for the rest of my life, so after returning to my normal diet, I gained half of the weight back immediately; gradually getting as high as 275 lbs.

Learning To Eat Healthy

Then I met a man who told me to replace bread and starches with beans. So I did that for a year and lost 25 lbs. Then I met two vegans who taught me the nutritional benefits of a plant based diet.

I began eating a planted based diet 90% of the time with two cheat or reward meals per week, on Tuesday and Friday nights.

In two years, I went from 275 lbs to 222 lbs, with only moderate exercise I might add, including hiking and home based workouts, 2-3 times per week. The best part is I know why I lost the weight and how to keep it off.

In fact, I’ve been this weight now for two years and I can’t imagine eating any other way. I feel too good, have tons of energy and have no regret when I scarf an In-n-Out Double Double Animal Style with a side of french fries.

Below are the foods I eat and their percentage of my overall diet.

The following foods comprise 95% of my diet.

  • Black beans
  • Pick de Gallo (diced tomatoe, onion, cilantro)
  • Bananas
  • Plums
  • Grapes
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Rice
  • Apples
  • Watermelon
  • Israeli Cous Cous
  • Quinoa
  • Kale
  • Sweet peas
  • Pepperchinis
  • Cashews
  • Indian lentils
  • Avacados
  • Tapatillo
  • Parsley
  • Romain
  • Broccoli
  • Corn

The following foods comprise 5% of my diet.

  • Tuna
  • Steak
  • Chicken
  • Salmon
  • Tortilla chips
  • Hamburgers
  • Pizza
  • Cheese
  • Bread
  • Tortillas
  • Golden raisins
  • Refried beans
  • Salsa
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Ice cream
  • Donuts

I’m Free

I am financially secure, healthy, on no medication and have no physical ailments; none, nada, zilch.

I can do what I want, when I want, nothing and no one is stopping me. I’m free.

But how will I use this freedom?

Perhaps the most valuable thing I learned this past year is what really matters to me; being apart of others success stories.

Others includes my wife, my children, family, friends, colleagues and even strangers.

Yes, I’m free to live my life any way I want but I choose to live my life serving others. That’s my sweet spot, that’s me living life to the fullest.

I’m Excited

44, get ready because here I come.

Related

Filed Under: Faith, Family, Journal Tagged With: Death, Health, Life

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