About

This blog is an expression of my thoughts and motivations as I attempt to go from total sloth couch potato to triathlete.

 Read on for more background.
With the exception of a period of backpacking (for which always took allot of work and was exhausting) my inactivity led me to 320 pounds by 2000. I am not a skinny guy, I have a large build with 58 inch shoulders, but 320 was too much. I eventually lost some weight and got myself to 285 by lifting weights and doing a little bit of cardio.

Fast forward to 2008, I had gotten married and had gained all the old weight and allot more, hitting my highest weight of 365 pounds. From that period till 2012 I attempted to reign in my weight, with a series of off and on workout and diet programs. Nothing was consitent though and usually the health kick only lasted a month or two before bad habits prevailed. Overall I managed to slowly loose and keep weight off till 2011 when I got to 320 pounds. I began backpacking again and found I was in even worse shape and managed to get down to 310 pounds.

Unfortunately those pounds did not stay off and by February of 2012 I was at 320 pounds. I went to the doctor for a physical and to get a renewal on my Diabetes medications (just non-insulin type 2) I got the bigest shock of all. My blood pressure was 210/90. The doctor told me to do nothing and get my diet under control, removing/reducing sodium and caffiene as a primary focus. By the end of April it had gotten under control and I had started to eat right and do basic work outs.

The day that changed it all was a day at the end of April when I was over at my brother’s house and we began to discuss running and fitness and all my health issues. He mentioned a thing called the ‘Couch to 5k’ program and that tons of people have had success. I was interested and intrigued at the same time, especially since I never entertained or even thought I could ever do a 5k or run for that matter. After discussing it with the wife we decided to try it and began in May to work through the program.

Two weeks later I found my knees were having trouble and the doctor ordered me to do pool running till my knee got better. So we switched gyms, going to one with a pool and this changed everything. Just believing I could run a 5k and now having a pool, the silly notion of maybe doing a triathlon snuck into my head. I still have no idea why, but I all of a suddon decided I was going to do one and I was a man on a mission. I read(and still do) everything I could on triathlon. I researched early ones for next year that would give me a good yearlong trainging window and I put the plan into motion.

Me at 365 lbs in 2009

 

 

The picture that really made me want to change. February 2012 Hunting Island.