old dog learning new tricks

[megnaripd]

Player info:

Pat

Male

50 years old

245 pounds

5’11â€

 

My Blue pill Red pill moment:

                Rewind back to September 2014 (weight at the time: 300 pounds). One night my wife prodded me to check my blood sugar using her glucometer. I had done this before from time to time and it was always a bit high but usually explainable. So for laughs I did the finger stick, the number came back at 369. That I admit stopped me in my tracks but I had just finished an ice cream sundae for desert and again thought it was explainable. Taking a reading again after 5 hours sleep came back at 218, still way too high.

 

                I waited a few days and shooting for a decent fasting level, after 19 hours of nothing but water, sleep and black coffee my level was still 168. This was a watershed moment, a paradigm shift occurred, a fright that I can only explain as happening at the subconscious level. Let me explain.

 

                I have long described myself as a carbohydrate addict. Never met a sweet or buttered roll I wouldn’t try, couldn’t pass a bowl or bag of chips and let me tell you 15 seconds in a microwave does wonders for a two day old donut. I would graze through my day; bored … have a piece of buttered bread, tired … munch a candy bar, sleepy at the wheel … that’s what they made drive-throughs for, hungry … eat a peanut butter and jelly while preparing dinner. I caved in on all the classic excuses: “I guess I’m just supposed to weight this much, it’s natureâ€, “it’s a reflex reactionâ€, “I’ll reward myself for having had a salad for lunchâ€, “I’ll punish myself for slipping off the wagon againâ€, “it’s a craving I can’t resistâ€. I tried changing my diet without exercise to no effect, I tried exercise and wound up eating more to compensate, once again no effect. I once made it down to 288 but that didn’t last.

 

                However, after that round of responses from the glucometer my conscious mind said “oh S#!t, this is seriousâ€, I immediately dropped sugar in every form I could think of and went low carb. Being a nerd I started googling low carb diets and strategies, I learned a lot of good information. Here’s the funny thing, the mystical piece, I can explain the biology, physiology, physics and mechanics of how to lose weight but I could never get past the mental crave. In that Matrixesque “red pill†moment my carb crave left, no idea how or why but that very next day I could look at a bag of chips and look the other way, I could think “Do I want a piece of bread and butter?†then think “No, not really, have a piece of cheese insteadâ€.

 

I have had a gym membership for about 10 years but have only used it on and off again. I did manage to get eight years of Tai Chi training (my Druid roots) and for about two years I did several different martials arts classes with some success (that was when I once dropped to 288). In September of 2014 I started using the treadmill with regularity and with intent to reach aerobic heart rate for sixty minutes at a time. The member ship I have provides me with a trainer evaluation every 6 to 8 weeks which I never took advantage of. In October I finally started working with someone who knew what he was talking about and began my Warrior training. I never knew iron could be addictive but I’ll tell you one thing; progress is an awesome motivator.

 

Between low carb and regular trips to the gym (five to six times a week) the weight started falling off. I’m down almost sixty pounds now and still going, though nature has reduced the rate, instead of ten pounds a month, since December it is closer to 5 a month but still in the right direction.

 

Finding Dagobah:

                Back in late March my trainer added simple dead lifts to my routine. Once again being the nerd I am whenever I was presented with something new I would research it to make sure I was doing it correctly. That is how I stumbled across Nerd Fitness and the wealth of treasure, in the form of information and insight that was to be had there in. I joined within a week and have been reading articles, blogs and posts every day since.

 

You guys are fantastic, thank you

[Basement Cat]

Welcome to the rebellion!

 

Glad to hear you decided to level up your life, even if it came with such a scare! Good luck with your goals and keep us posted! And keep rocking that iron!

[Elastigirl]

Inspiring story. Congrats on all the weight loss so far.

[MoodyBeth2]

Such an exciting and motivational story.  My husband and I are on the early side of our tale, but I'm confident that we, like you will be successful.  I just want to give my personal seal of approval (that and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks) on the Whole 30.  That meal protocal has been integral in getting us off sugar, all grains and processed foods.

 

DH and I are feeling so good and looking so much better.

[orcwarrior]

Great story, Pat. Sounds like you have thoroughly crossed over from the dark carb side to the NF side of the Force. Congratulations on your perseverance and your progress!