The title of this blog may seem a bit dramatic, but I believe it to be true. I approached age 42 weighing near 350 pounds. I was on medications for high blood pressure, chronic gout, and cholesterol drugs were in my future. Things did not look good. The age 42 is significant because that's the age of a friend when he dropped dead of weight and lifestyle related issues. In spite of my bleak physical picture, I considered myself active. I loved to fish, and I would spend hours trolling the Gulf Stream off the East Coast of Florida. After a day of rigging tackle, setting baits, fighting fish like sailfish, dolphin and wahoo and cleaning the boat at the end of the day; I was tired. I fooled myself into thinking that I was getting a workout. Then I got my first kayak. It was a short fat recreational boat, a Loon made by Old Town Canoe. It was one of only a few boats that could float my massive weight. I bought it so I could fish the shallows inshore when high winds and seas kept the big boat on the trailer. I could barely lower myself into the big comfortable seat, but It was fun. I found myself paddling more and fishing less. River trips, coastal trips, it didn't matter. I could have at least as much fun, with a boat that I could throw on top of my car, as I had with a boat that required a full size truck to get it to the water and burned 50 gallons of gas in an average day. It didn't matter if I caught fish. Every day was a good day. I found the kayak to be a magical vessel that could take me anywhere I wanted to go. I began traveling to new locations. I started kayaking with groups and met new friends. I rediscovered camping as a way to spend even more time on the water and with my new physically active friends. Soon, I found myself inspired by sea kayakers and their journeys to exotic coasts and the way they challenged rough seas and rugged coasts. I wanted to join them. I started to eat better. I took small steps at first. I cut out soda and other sugared drinks. I added more fruits and vegetables to my diet. I started to limit my portions, and I reduced my fat intake. In addition to kayaking, I started cycling and walking. My efforts showed results. My weight started dropping, 300, then 280, 270 my weight slowly continued to approach healthy range. I could now fit a slimmer sexier kayak, so I bought one. This one was a British style sea kayak. The boat inspired me to continued improvement. I took lessons to improve my skills and learned to roll my kayak. Now I weigh under 200 pounds. I've continued to develop my kayak skills and I've earned coaching and paddling certifications through the British Canoe Union (BCU). I haven't quit my day job, but I'm spending a lot of time coaching others in kayak skills. I'm planning a solo expedition to circumnavigate Vancouver, BC in July and August. The seven hundred mile journey will challenge my endurance, decision making and paddling skills. I expect it to be a fantastic life changing experience. I didn't get here overnight, but I'm so much healthier and happier than I was. Not bad for a former morbidly obese 52-year-old. In this blog, I'll talk about healthy eating, kayaking and other physical activities as way to achieve a healthy and adventurous life. I'll fill in some of the details of how I achieved, and continue to strive for, my weight loss and health goals I''ll write about my kayak adventures. I hope that by sharing some of my journey, I can be a small inspiration to others in a quest for a healthy adventurous life.