Part Two
So, I'm the first to say I am not the poster child for success. I have gone from being MO to fit to what is now overwieight. I got to the point that I was running 12-15 miles a week and actually completed a 10K ( 6.2 miles) in under an hour. Not fast, but great for a guy like me. The fact is I am a big guy. I almost 6'3 and back in the day when I played football in college I was a very lean 250 pounds. I will never be thin and that is ok as long as I'm fit.
To share with you the three items I wrote down in October that have gotten me back on a positive path I'll submit the following:
3 Don't let failures define you. If you mess up, don't compound the error by letting it alter your path.
2. Eat better. Replace one meal a day with a protein shake. Eat good snacks, not additional small meals and eat a nice dinner. Get back to protein first.
1. Work out, Work out Work out. Rember the joys of the accomplishment of doing something along with the natural high.
As I said, I'm working on number one now and am already looking towards to what the next three will be at the end of this month.
I hope this can help some of you and it isn't my intent to be AWOL, then pop over here as if I am the light. I'm not where I want to be, but I also have given up on the idea that I will get to the point where I won't have to work on this issue. I know some people can, but I have seen too many people with various surgery techniques lose a ton of weight only to gain so much of it back. I lost over 260 pounds, and I have kept most of it off. I just need to work to keeping more of it off and I will probably have to do so for the rest of my life. But that too is ok, it is worth working on.
To share with you the three items I wrote down in October that have gotten me back on a positive path I'll submit the following:
3 Don't let failures define you. If you mess up, don't compound the error by letting it alter your path.
2. Eat better. Replace one meal a day with a protein shake. Eat good snacks, not additional small meals and eat a nice dinner. Get back to protein first.
1. Work out, Work out Work out. Rember the joys of the accomplishment of doing something along with the natural high.
As I said, I'm working on number one now and am already looking towards to what the next three will be at the end of this month.
I hope this can help some of you and it isn't my intent to be AWOL, then pop over here as if I am the light. I'm not where I want to be, but I also have given up on the idea that I will get to the point where I won't have to work on this issue. I know some people can, but I have seen too many people with various surgery techniques lose a ton of weight only to gain so much of it back. I lost over 260 pounds, and I have kept most of it off. I just need to work to keeping more of it off and I will probably have to do so for the rest of my life. But that too is ok, it is worth working on.
You're right, you're not a light... you're a BEACON! Wow, what an inspiring story. I LOVE the idea of organizing the 'stumbling blocks' - those issues that are in the way or keeping me in a place I dont' wish to be - organizing them, and then working on them one at a time. And the fact that you're dedicating an entire month to working on one issue before moving on to the next - or even attempting to work on them at the same time - is testament to your understanding of what you need to do for yourself to feel good. Ken, I didn't know you had lost that much weight! Wow! But this is the true test of success, don't you think? Losing it was so much easier than keeping it off. I can't thank you enough for answering my questions. I think about you all the time and wish you and your beautiful family nothing but the best, always. Take good care, be well. Maureen
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
I was not the reason you decided to go to the gym, you made that choice because you decided it was best for you.
For many of us, I think we have to get over the notion that we will get to the point of being done. I finally just realized that I'll never be done. Everybody, I mean everybody has some cross to bear in life and not one person's is worse then the others, they are just different. One of my crosses is that i will have to work at being fit. My wife on the other had gets asked by Dr's and nurses if she runs marathons because her BP and heartrate are so good. But she has other issues. So, bottom line, just keep plugging along. The easy thing to do is do nothing. And it can be as simple as taking a 20 minute walk around your neighborhood after dinner. Just do something!
For many of us, I think we have to get over the notion that we will get to the point of being done. I finally just realized that I'll never be done. Everybody, I mean everybody has some cross to bear in life and not one person's is worse then the others, they are just different. One of my crosses is that i will have to work at being fit. My wife on the other had gets asked by Dr's and nurses if she runs marathons because her BP and heartrate are so good. But she has other issues. So, bottom line, just keep plugging along. The easy thing to do is do nothing. And it can be as simple as taking a 20 minute walk around your neighborhood after dinner. Just do something!
Also, the gym isn't for everybody. I like going to the gym, no I love it. And as I stated as a Chrismas gift, we now have a family membership and our club is very family friendly. We enjoy going as a family. But, this is really about getting active. Walk, ride a bike, use DVD's, or maybe even Wii. I believe for those of us that have had a bounce back beyond the norm, excercise is the key. Increased activity can help with some eating errors plus I have found that i tend to make better choices when I active as I ask myself if the immediate gratification of something to eat is worth blowing 30 minutes of cardio work.
That being said, I used a new program last night on the stationary bike. It has a video screen and you can register so that the machine keeps track of your workouts and provides feedback. Also, unlike a lot of bikes, you have to actually turn like you are really riding a bike and shift gears as you go up and down hills. I got my heart rate into the proper zone in minutes and maintained it for 27 minutes straight. It was awsome and something I'll go back too in order to take a break from the treadmill and to keep things fresh. Plus besides a spinning class, this offers the most realistic training for bike riding. Riding in the winters of Montana can be tough, so indoors in my only option.
That being said, I used a new program last night on the stationary bike. It has a video screen and you can register so that the machine keeps track of your workouts and provides feedback. Also, unlike a lot of bikes, you have to actually turn like you are really riding a bike and shift gears as you go up and down hills. I got my heart rate into the proper zone in minutes and maintained it for 27 minutes straight. It was awsome and something I'll go back too in order to take a break from the treadmill and to keep things fresh. Plus besides a spinning class, this offers the most realistic training for bike riding. Riding in the winters of Montana can be tough, so indoors in my only option.
Awesome! My club is offering Tai Chi lessons and while I haven't been able to partake in it, I have heard from some who have and done it correctly that they have gotten a great work out. And this is really my point, it isn't what you do so much as that you do something. Again, back to my playing days, we used to carry a section of surgial tubing with us on the bus. It was amazing what kind of light workout you could do while traveling down the road. You can do simple things, just do something.
Again, I really don't want to be the one who is gone for so long only to pop back on scene and preach. My point is that I went being over 500 pounds when excepted for surgery down to a low of 239, and have gone past the three bills number only to drop it down again. I haven't set my goal to get back to 239, rather I have set my goal to get back to the level of fitness I had at 239. If in four months I can run under a 10 min mile for three miles and I'm at 260, it won't be an issue as I'll just keep working. For me it becomes a mind set. I eat better because I'm working out. I drink more water because I'm eating better and I'm working out. I walk taller because I'm being sucessful in staying on track.
I know there are limitations due to finances, injuries etc but you just have to look. I live in a city of 80,000, and even we have a community pool which offers water classes. Water classes can be great if you are having load bearing issues or you have problems walking. But again, I believe that if you are having problems and you are concerned about it, some kind of excercise is a key element in your plans to feel better. I realize that hanging out in a gym or health club isn't great for everybody. I love my club it has everything including a great juice and coffee bar. But, my sister for lots of reasons couldn't stand the thought of going to a gym despite having all kinds of knee problems and being told she needed to lose weight to avoid have two total knee replacements. She started Sweating to the Eighties on DVD and lost 80 pounds from home.
As I told my wife last night after I got out of the shower having returned from a workout. Sometimes it is a pain to go, but I have yet to say I wish I hadn't gone, but I have said I wish I had gone. Plus, it was damn nice to slide into bed at 11:00, still feeling the natural high of a workout, clean and sleepy.
For the rest of you reading this. Please take this as encouragement for making positive change. Like almost all of us, I was on the freeway of wieght loss. Some took an exit to a side road and have done just fine over there. I crashed and burned. I got back on the freeway only to crash again. I then got a bit lost in town, but now have gotten back on the entrance to the freeway. I'm sure I'll hit some bumps, but I know the freeway is the only way for me and I am the one responsible for keeping me there. I wish you all the best of luck.
Again, I really don't want to be the one who is gone for so long only to pop back on scene and preach. My point is that I went being over 500 pounds when excepted for surgery down to a low of 239, and have gone past the three bills number only to drop it down again. I haven't set my goal to get back to 239, rather I have set my goal to get back to the level of fitness I had at 239. If in four months I can run under a 10 min mile for three miles and I'm at 260, it won't be an issue as I'll just keep working. For me it becomes a mind set. I eat better because I'm working out. I drink more water because I'm eating better and I'm working out. I walk taller because I'm being sucessful in staying on track.
I know there are limitations due to finances, injuries etc but you just have to look. I live in a city of 80,000, and even we have a community pool which offers water classes. Water classes can be great if you are having load bearing issues or you have problems walking. But again, I believe that if you are having problems and you are concerned about it, some kind of excercise is a key element in your plans to feel better. I realize that hanging out in a gym or health club isn't great for everybody. I love my club it has everything including a great juice and coffee bar. But, my sister for lots of reasons couldn't stand the thought of going to a gym despite having all kinds of knee problems and being told she needed to lose weight to avoid have two total knee replacements. She started Sweating to the Eighties on DVD and lost 80 pounds from home.
As I told my wife last night after I got out of the shower having returned from a workout. Sometimes it is a pain to go, but I have yet to say I wish I hadn't gone, but I have said I wish I had gone. Plus, it was damn nice to slide into bed at 11:00, still feeling the natural high of a workout, clean and sleepy.
For the rest of you reading this. Please take this as encouragement for making positive change. Like almost all of us, I was on the freeway of wieght loss. Some took an exit to a side road and have done just fine over there. I crashed and burned. I got back on the freeway only to crash again. I then got a bit lost in town, but now have gotten back on the entrance to the freeway. I'm sure I'll hit some bumps, but I know the freeway is the only way for me and I am the one responsible for keeping me there. I wish you all the best of luck.
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