Two Years Down.

That is how long it has been since I started this journey for a healthier lifestyle. October 25, 2005 was a Tuesday and I had watched The Biggest Loser the night before, season 2 (it used to be on Monday Nights). I did not watch a single episode of season 1 because I just thought it was a show making fun of Fat people, and I was a Fat person. But friends told me I should really watch it as it was very motivating and they enjoyed it. And they knew I was a TV type of guy.

This particular episode Pete Thomas was given the boot. And if you watch the show you know that after you get the boot they break for a commercial and when they come back they show you how the person is doing now (the show is taped months before). And I could not believe the transformation Pete had made in that time period. I knew it would not be easy but I knew that I was going to make the change or at the very least try. At the time I weighted 330 pounds, my scale only went to 300 but I confirmed the weight a few days later when I joined the local gym.

I made an appointment to see my Doctor and asked for a referral to a nutritionist which he gave me. I saw her about two weeks later but to be honest with you in that two week period I had done so much research online that she didn’t really tell me anything I wasn’t already implementing. That being said for the $5.00 co-pay it was worth the visit to confirm I was on the right track.

So there I was I had an eating plan in place, I joined the local gym, and I had an EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE WIFE. All these factors PLUS the fact that I WANTED TO DO THIS was all I needed to get me going. I logged, in an excel spreadsheet all my meals and workouts. Recorded my weight about 3 times a day, yes I now know that is a little obsessive, but it worked for me. At the gym I would walk on the treadmill and lift weights. And with the food I tried to keep to 1500- 1800 calories a day.

The weight started to melt off me very fast. By 1/1/2006 I was down to 287 pounds, and by 7/1/2006 I was under 250 pounds. At this point I decided to give running a shot (I think I actually started in June 2006). I took the advice of some people I now met from Calorie King and started the Couch to 5K plan (from Cool Running). I remember thinking how hard that first workout was. Running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 was hard for me. But I stuck to the program and completed my first 5K on 8/13/2006. Man was I scared at this race, I didn’t know what to expect but my only goal was to finish the race and if possible run the whole race. I was able to do both with a stellar time of 32:13. I was hooked with running at that point and just looked to go further and if possible faster.

As I look back in my excel spreadsheet I see that on the one year anniversary of my healthier lifestyle I weighed 237.60 10/25/2006. I had lost close to 100 pounds in one year. The rest of 2006 saw one more 5K and an 8K.

Year two of the journey (you probably feel like it has taken a year to read this) didn’t see nearly as much weight loss but activity wise I upped the ante. I set a goal of running 1000 miles for 2007, I am a little off target but working towards it and I do think I will get the 1000. I started to ride my old Hybrid bike and then purchased a new road bike (well actually Kim got it for me for our 10th wedding anniversary). I haven’t ridden as much as I should but year 3 of the journey will bring many bike miles. I joined a new gym with a pool and have swam a little (not much in the last two weeks). And I completed my first Sprint Triathlon in September. And by the end of 2007 I will have ran close to 20 races including a half marathon that I completed in September.

Today I weighed in at 229.60 so although I didn’t do so great with the continued weight loss, that is going to be a goal for this year. I would like to be right around 200 – 205 pounds by early 2008. Truth be told I slacked big time on the tracking of food and that took its toll on my weight. I did get to as low as 217 but unfortunately was not able to hold that weight. Currently I am back to tracking and determined to lose the last 25 or so pounds.

If you get a chance check out this entry today from Sweet Baboo because I know that I identify well with what he is saying. And I couldn’t say it any better then he has.

Here's to year 3 with all you great people.

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