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Had a short fitness exam today with a quick blood test. My numbers are looking really good. I think this exercise and diet change is really paying off.

Cholesterol: 137 HDL: 43 was 200/50 in May 2010

Glucose: 74 was 120 in May 2010

Blood preassure: 139/72 was 185/120 in May 2010

Resting pulse rate: 64 was around 110 in May 2010

I am excited by these rults and I hope they get even better.

Since I have started this health and wellness program I am continuously amazed by the number of people in real life and on the different social network sites that tell me how much I have inspired them. I am surprised by and love this. If you are one of those people, first of all THANK YOU! If I have, in some way inspired you, please pay it forward and go out and inspire others. Let your light shine. Post your results and let others see your progress no matter what good thing you are doing. It is amazing the support you will receive, even from those you aren’t even aware are watching you.

Thank you ask for your support. You have inspired me more than you realize, just by the simple act of clicking “Like” on a Facebook page.

I was initially inspired by watching “The Biggest Loser”. Those people were much larger than I and with even worse medical issues. I kept thinking year after year, if they can do it, why can’t I? Then after my “Heart attack evening” (see previous post), I got off my butt and started on my trek to improvement.

So, before I explain what I am doing to accomplish my goals let me give you some background:

When I started this, I had or have 2 severely herniated discs in my lower lumbar from an auto accident back in 1996. I was on medication for high blood pressure, underactive thyroid and acid reflux. I had ringing in the ears for the last 10-15 years that I had just learned to live with and I weighed in at 360 lbs. I could not walk across the parking lot without breaking into a heavy sweat and having my legs hurt extremely bad. It was hard just to walk or stand more than 5 minutes.

I started in my living room with a PS3 and EA Active Sports, grunting, groaning and swearing through the workouts, skipping a lot of the exercises I just could not do at first. Then I started the walking, first with some ladies from work and then with some from church. I would take anyone willing to go with me. They showed great patience. I was extremely slow at first and whined a lot.

I also changed my diet, I went from eating what I wanted and as much as I wanted and skipping breakfast, except when I would stop at McDonalds or Jack in the Box on my way to work. Instead, I started having a set meal for breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack and then dinner with the family in controlled portions, trying to keep myself under 1800 calories a day and most of the time succeeding. For breakfast each day I usually have an 11.8 oz. V8, a hardboiled egg and some kind of fruit. A package of string cheese for a morning snack. For lunch yogurt and Slim fast. For an afternoon snack I usually have some sort of protein drink (I like chocolate Muscle milk). I switch things up on occasion with a protein bar or a bag of chips (I like the Veggie Straws). I tried to keep the proteins elevated and the carbs down. When exercising a lot you do need carbs and lots of protein right after exercising.

Then I started the exercising and found I really enjoy swimming and bike riding. I read about some 5k run/walks and thought they sounded like fun so I signed up and it turns out they are a lot of fun, meeting new people. It doesn’t matter what kind of shape you are in or where you finish or if anyone is with you or not, they all cheer you on, it is great. I have now signed up and am training for a Sprint Triathlon. I would have never thought in my wildest dreams a year ago that I would even consider something like this. It is .5 mile open water swim, 14 mile bike ride and a 5k. I have done 3 trials on my own since then and have it down to 113 minutes. I would like to have it under 1.5 hours by the event in late July. I will also be going on a charity hike up to Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite with my company to raise money for a non-profit company named Howard Training Center, but more on that as time gets closer.

That’s about it for now. If you are still sitting on the couch, thinking you can’t do it, start with small things and get some successes under your belt. You will be amazed what they will lead to.

If you need support and I am available, I am happy to help out or join you.

Take care and get going.

Greg

I would love to be down at least another 50 lbs by the end of the year and to be able to say I actually “Competed” in a sprint triathlon. Coming up in July. I would also like to be completely free of my High BP meds.

Looking forward to a great year. Keeping the workouts and weightloss and all around activity going. Anything I can do to encourage anyone please let me know. Lots of fun activites taking place up here. Check in your area dna get out there and do things. 5k’s are a lot of fun.I have met some fantastic people. A great site to check for things in your area is Active.com.

Tried my first full Sprint Triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 14 miles on a bike and 5k (3.1 mile) run). I did ok on the swim and stationary bike, but only made it 1 mile into the run before both of my calvs and feet cramped up. Should not be to hard to build up for the July event. All in all it was a good workout.