ObesityHelp Live: Richard Kalasky’s Inspirational Fitness Session!
October 5, 2013ObesityHelp Conference: From Overweight To Endurance Athlete
I am here in the Mazatlan room for Richard Kalasky's workshop session. He started out the session by introducing himself and inviting the attendees to interact within his session. Richard is an Ironman and a marathon runner who coaches athletes that have overcome obesity and health issues to train and run in events from 5K’s to full distance triathlons.
Richard shared that he was formerly obese and weighed 348 pounds and had many comorbidities which included sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. At 32, he was on oxygen and went through 19 sleep studies. The studies showed that he stopped breathing about 32 times a minute! His doctor informed him that he could no longer continue to live at such a high altitude. (He lived on a ranch in the Colorado mountains.)
That doctors words were just one of the reasons Richard decided to have weight loss surgery. Because of his personal experiences, he now gives back to the bariatric community so that others so that they won't have to experience some of the things he had to endure.
Richard first had the Lap-Band (in 2009). He then hired a personal trainer named Gunner who had him doing inappropriate exercises that caused him to rip his port and then need another surgery to fix it. Since that time, he has had the port and band removed and underwent the vertical sleeve in 2012. He has since lost 160 pounds!
Richard's session was filled with many questions from members and a great slide show presentation! There was also much needed information, lots of inspiration, and even some giggles! It was nice to hear those LOL's in person!
More details about Richard's session later!
-Tammy
