New Year Motivational Story

Greetings and Happy New Year,

I have gone back and forth within myself on how to begin this blog that I set up, until it finally dawned upon me to tell my own story. So here we go.

I am a 41 year old African-American male. According to the BMI chart, I am extremely obese for my height (6 ft 3 inches). I was diagnosed with Hypertension in 2005 and still I did nothing about my weight. At my heaviest (September 2010) I weighed 386 lbs. and still I did nothing about my weight. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2011 and still I did nothing about my weight. My breaking point came in Fall 2011 when my youngest son began playing soccer and I served as his Assistant Coach and had to run up and down the field during practices and games.

I began tracking my calorie intake utilizing My Fitness Pal in August of 2011, but I did not begin working out until September 2011. In September 2011, I weighed 359 lbs (I attribute the other weight loss to stress-not healthy) and set a goal of losing 59 lbs by March 31, 2012. I began walking on my treadmill for a minimum of 30 minutes each time and built up my endurance to the point I was walking at least 60 minutes each time. My goal at the time was to workout 4 times a week for at least an hour; then I increased my workouts to include two workouts a day and use my elliptical as well. As fate would have it, I burned out my treadmill (I need a new belt) so that left me with my elliptical, which I was not that comfortable using. My first few times using my elliptical, it hurt trying to make it to 25 minutes. Then I pushed myself to the point where I could do 45 minutes minimally. I have continued to challenge myself along the way increasing my time to 60 minutes or using the elliptical twice a day for a minimum of 30 minutes each time.

By the Thanksgiving Holidays, my weight was down to 337 lbs and sticking so I knew I needed to shock my system and keep progressing. Add to that, that my physician issued a challenge of my weight being at 320 lbs when I see him on January 5th. I increased the level of resistance and the level of incline each week from that point on. Christmas Eve night I completed 55 minutes at level 5 resistance and level 4 incline and as a result when I weighed myself Christmas morning I weighed 329 lbs. Between Christmas day and December 29th, I lost 2 more pounds dropping me down to 327 lbs. Again, my body started sticking again so again I knew that I needed to shock my system. I issued myself a personal challenge to complete 2 hours (continuous) on New Year's Eve. I have on 3 occasions completed 90 minutes at different levels of resistance and incline. On New Year's Eve at level 6 resistance and level 6 incline, I shocked my system by completing 2 hours (120 continuous minutes) and as a result I begin 2012 weighing 324 lbs. That is four pounds away from my physician's challenge with 4 days to go. More importantly, that is 24 lbs away from my initial goal with 89 days to go.

I do not take anything more than my prescribed medications, a daily aspirin, and a daily multivitamin. I monitor what I eat, when I eat, and remained focused on working out. In November, I increased my workouts from 4 times a week to 5 times a week. I continue to set goals and challenge myself even while working out. For instance, recently I wanted to see if my elliptical would read 1,000 calories burned, so I pushed myself until I found out. Another time I pushed myself until I reached 200 carbs burned. This is done to challenge myself since I know that I can do 45 minutes to an hour on a regular basis.

In total I have lost 62 lbs, but 35 of that is through my workouts and changing my eating habits. This will sound like a cliche, but if I can do it, anyone can do it. I hope my story helps, inspires, and/or encourages someone.

Before I sign out, allow me to pass on a few tips that I have gathered from Jillian Michaels that might help someone:

- Eliminate Cravings (easier said than done);
- Make Movement a Must;
- Identify Bad Habits and Change Them (easier said than done);
- Seek Support and Inspiration;
- Reward Yourself;
- Mark Your Calendar;
- Switch It Up;
- Get Inspired With a Workout Playlist; and
- Don't Give Up if You Mess Up!

Happy New Year and I look forward to your feedback!