During the past eight years I’ve done about an 80 percent restoration on my 1962 Thunderbird convertible. It’s been a real labor of love. In that same time, I’ve also been restoring something that’s equally near and dear to my heart: Me. I guess you could say that project is about 80 percent complete, too.

Not that long ago, both of these beautiful machines took a real beating, broke down and pretty much stopped working altogether. My T-bird and I are oddly similar; we’re both born in the 60s, just five years apart in age, and both our bodies were neglected to the point that something HAD to be done. If left unattended, an early death was certain.

Luckily, after tens of thousands of dollars and years of hard-nosed dedication, we’re both working again.

It took a team of skilled professionals to get the T-bird back on the road; transmission specialists, body and chrome workers, painters, tuning experts and a ton of patience.

The same goes for me; coaches, nutritionists, a very long list of doctors and a dozen hours of hard work every week got me back on track. I’ve been tested, poked and prodded. I’ve been around more references to blood than a Twilight novel.

I like what this car has become today. It was an overwhelming mess at one time and I wasn’t really sure if it would ever be drivable. While it’s not yet finished, it’s definitely nice enough to enjoy. And, it looks pretty darn good for its age. If I get it checked out once a year, change the oil and put some premium in the tank, it continues to roll on like it always did.

Just over eight years ago, I was 50 pounds heavier. I wasn’t willing to get on my bike, go out for a run or even think about hitting the gym. I wasn’t really paying attention to my diet either. Now with a bit of hard work, the right fuel and my mechanics (my coach and doctor) taking a look at me every now and then, I continue to roll on. I’m not a finished product, but I’m definitely drivable. I’ll never be in a show on the lawn at Pebble Beach, but much like my car, I look surprisingly good for my age.

I often wonder what it would be like to put in the extra time, dedication and dollars to finish that car. I then wonder if I would take it out as often. I probably would worry too much about it getting scratched, dented or over-driven.

I think the same holds true for my fitness. If I put in the hours and dollars to go that extra 20 percent, things just wouldn’t be as fun anymore. “Oh, can’t go out tonight guys, I’ve gotta get up and ride another 100 miles in the morning.” Where’s the fun in that?

I figure 80 percent is not such a bad number after all, especially as I get older. So I don’t really turn heads like the car does, but I never really did anyway.

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What is “The Funny Side of Fit”?
Every month JB Hager takes a humorous slant on a different topic, sharing his experiences and funny fitness follies.

JB Hager can be heard on the JB and Sandy Morning Show from 6 to 10 a.m. on Mix 94.7 and seen on KEYE 42 from 5 to 7 a.m. weekday mornings.