And then it began.

About a year ago, I came up with an idea for a family travel show. A host family (mine, of course!) would take mini vacations on a budget. We would only visit places that were off the beaten path. Amy would talk to people about fashion and entertainment. Delilah would find fun kid activities to do. She would also meet up with local kids and chat about what makes their community a fun place to visit, even when time is limited. I would spend my time chatting with local "colorful" characters who'd be able to talk about the heritage of their community. We thought it would be fun to try a film the show with a hand held HD camera. This would give a feel of a home movie to viewers. I first named the show Go, Family, Go, then settled with My Family Goes...

Initially, we thought we had something here. Most people who meet us figure out very fast that we aren't your run-of-the-mill family. And that's either a good thing or bad thing for them. The ones who like us, stay close and the ones that don't like us run away screaming flailing their arms. Either way, we thought we would be good hosts, or least try to be to the one who might think we were loonies?

Traveling around would be great for us, too. Amy and I love to travel, but this part of the show would be especially fun for Delilah as she LOVES to take short trips anywhere that has a hotel and pool. And if your a parent traveling with a kid or kids, having them enjoy themselves during the the going to and coming from part of traveling is almost as good as the vacation spots themselves!

Although we felt we had something here, we had two very real stumbling blocks. The first was how Amy and I felt about ourselves, more specifically we had gained some extra weight and it was depressing to us. This fact had started to generally become a topic in our day-to-day lives. We thought it probably would come across on camera, too.

Now, we had been vegetarians for a couples of years, but we never really committed to educating ourselves on how to lose weight in a healthy manner. It's one thing to not eat meat, but what about all of the other foods that are a detriment to the body? A lot of vegetarian food is processed, so are most products we eat today.

The second real reason was the hook. We needed something special. Something that completed the "package." Never would I have thought it would be an Italian motorcycle and sidecar, either!

I reserved a website domain, but shelved the My Family Goes... idea until the time was ready.

One day, Amy decided that we needed to go vegan...or as close to it. After educating herself on the pro's and con's (what con's are there really to eating healthy everyday of your life?), and decided this was the right thing to do. So in early 2009, we became vegans...or as close to it!

When we began, I weighed about 250lbs. This was the maximum weight I had been in life, and it was a heavy mental burden too. I was 39 when we began and would be turning 40 that same year. I knew I could not reach the weight I wanted, so I thought if I got down to 220lbs, I would be satisfied. Amy weighed about 150lbs. She had decided that 130lbs would be her goal.

And then it began. The weight started to go. Taking out any processed foods, starting our day with a smoothie made up of spinach or other lettuce and fruits, getting rid of all types of breads and bread related products, no cheese or dairy products, and finally, no more snacking. Oh, and limited any alcohol to the bear minimum, too.

For me, it went like this: 30 days = 10 lbs. 60 days = 25lbs. 120 days = 40 lbs. 9 months = 55lbs. 1 year = 70lbs!

For Amy, it went like this: 30 days = 6lbs. 60 days = 14lbs. 120 days = 22lbs. 9 months = 28lbs. 1 year =31lbs!

If you are keeping score, I now weigh 180lbs and Amy weighs 119lbs! Not that shabby for two crumbums, eh? People always ask us if Delilah misses meat. I say why, she eats it whenever she wants. We have taken cheese and other processed items out of her diet, but she enjoys bacon with grampa too much to give up meat 100%. But even the small change in her diet, help her slim down about 10lbs :) Rumour has it, that an occasional daddy sized-bite of her steak or bacon goes missing from time to time. I know nothing about this...so don't ask. And stop looking at me like that! As Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothing: Nothing!"

Back to about a month ago. I had paid for the bike. It was being shipped to us. We were all happy about it. But there was still a little part of me that thought, "Why am I doing this? Do we really have the money?" I'm going to drive the bike everywhere I can, but will my family go?"

Those last three words brought everything together. The weight loss, the happiness in our family, the Moto Guzzi motorcycle, the turning 40 and wanting to live and not just survive.

We lost all of the weight and were feeling great! Plus, it made us feel more social now, too. We love and respect each other so much that it sometimes confuses people who know us. Because we live, work, play, do everything together as a family...and still want more time together.

The reality of the Moto Guzzi motorcycle coming to us completed the package for My Family Goes... Because of course my family would go with me everywhere on the bike!