The last couple of months have been quite difficult for me. 1. i got my new job which is great but pushed my working hours to consistently 65 hours plus per week 2. this resulted in relationship difficulties and 3. i had three muscle pulls in succession. Are these excuses? I dont think they are but i do admit they knocked me for six and for the first time in nearly 10 years i failed in an exercise challenge.

I have been wanting to resume this blog for a few weeks and you will notice that i have not started a new blog as i believe i have unfinished business with my first challenge (the fat loss and general conditioning), the reason why i am resuming my blog today is that i am now back in a solid mental frame - i still have stressors in my life but i am now more settled in my job and my relationship is great. The injuries that i suffered (torn groin, pulled hamstring and pulled muscle in my foot) are all healed and im ready to go.

I am sorry if i let some of you down, i know i have regular readers of this blog but i honestly had lost faith in myself for a while and found it hard to pick myself up - i hit bottom just like when i was obese.

I was speaking with my girlfriend last night and i said this is a beginning of a new era for me - the first was my fat years, the second era was losing all the weight and now im entering the third era where i will reach my exercising potential.

These are big words and statements from me today and i know some of you will not believe me, but stay tuned lets see if i can do it.

Russ