i was 10 years old when it was at its worst. I could not take three steps without wheezing, without having to sit down, without my mom being there making sure nothing worse happened. I remember one day we were walking to a doctors office for an allergic reaction study. It was about a mile and half from us…up hill from our home. I remember my mom taking care of me, making sure I was ok. My mom did not drive, even if she could we only had one car and my dad used it to go to work. I must have stopped to catch my breath a bazillion times before arriving at the clinic. I was tested, and when the tests came back from my allergy test, the good news was I could live on the moon, as moon dust was the only particle to which I was not allergic. It was more than this, my nasal passages were not as straight as they should be and my sinus cavity was impacted, and would require surgery to fix. It was decided that I would get septoplasty to help alleviate the my breathing situation. I still remember when I had the follow up to take out the gauze that was basically casting my nose. It was like when you see the magic trick where the magician (or clown) pulls an endlessly long scarf from his pocket. Think of that, except it being your nose and it hurting.
I had the surgery in late December. My sister had gone to college and when she returned in March for a break, I had grown about 2.5 inches taller. I was moving…jumping, running, riding my bike…i was active. A few years later, when I got to high school, I made the basketball team, and during the training only one person ran the mile faster than I did. I rode my bicycle everywhere, probably scaring my mom nearly to death with the things I did…it probably would have given her a real heart attack if she knew every thing I was doing on that bicycle.
Fast forward to me after my first semester of college and my activity level dropped considerably. I gained a serious amount of weight from eating lots of snacks and driving everywhere…my bicycle at this point was a distant memory. About a year and a half later, i joined the United States Air Force (the reasons why are a different story…it was not for money). Again in basic training I was one of the fastest runners, and the only thing that kept me from graduating basic with honors was me having my hands in my pockets twice in a row while in uniform (you never catch me with my hands in my pockets. When I entered Basic Training I was 187 lbs, when I completed Basic Training I was 162 lbs.
Now here I am, at 254 lbs. The biggest shame for myself is that I made choices to get me here. I am not genetically predisposed to this size. Because of some great doctors, and by God’s grace, I was supplied with the ability to be fit, healthy, available for any situation. I have talked with a few friends going through the weight “issues”, and in those discussions, I have always said that my activity level has determined my weight. I read articles that say “eat less and you will lose weight”…and this is true, but only partially truthful. Eating less does not make you fitter or healthier…it just makes you thinner. But, the truth is that I do eat more than I should. I do not eat as well as I could, and I do eat continuously. Being active and eating well, makes you healthy and fit.
I want to walk up stairs and not be short of breath. I want to play basketball, football or soccer and be good at those again. I don’t want to be this size anymore, I want to be a reflection of the things I know and believe. I have allowed myself the excuse that I suffer from the “jeez I am a long way from my goal” syndrome, but not anymore. I know how to exercise…the gym is not an unfamiliar place. I know what I should be eating. I have been at the place physically where I want to be. Having said this, I obviously have not been putting into practice this knowledge.
So why all this information? Why share this publicly?…because I am holding myself accountable to anyone who got this far into this accountability document who would like to help. I will be honest when people ask what I ate, or what I did, or what I am doing when asked. People have achieved their wellness goals differently, so I will be open to advice and suggestions, and I will be thankful for your interest in my health and fitness. I will restart better sleeping habits. I will make wise food choices. I will make knowledgeable food consumption intake decisions. I will be active by going to the gym or getting involved in sports. I will pull myself away from activities that keep me sedentary. I will not try this on my own anymore..and with your help, I will not be in this state anymore.
