Although obesity runs in my family, I was fit and healthy as a teenager. My blood pressure was on the low side. I had the cardiovascular system of an athlete. I rode a bike, walked, ran, lifted weights, played basketball, and was generally quite active.
That began to change once I started driving at age 16. I no longer needed any physical exertion to travel. I needed a job to pay for gas, so I had extra money to buy junk food. Initially my weight gain was slow and I didn’t notice.
When I got married at age 24, I was obese, but I didn’t realize it. I assumed I was just a bit overweight. I denied being a fat guy for many years.
When I was 29, I moved to the Louisville area, and got a sedentary job. My new career path I began then (IT work) doesn’t provide any exercise. I began to feel my physical condition deteriorate, but I ignored it for another seven years. My blood pressure had worked its way up to what is considered normal, but is high for me.
By mid-2007 I was working a job I hated, my marriage was in bad shape, and I was suffering some pretty severe depression. After some online research I decided to try vitamins and fish oil for the depression. Although not a miracle cure by any means, it did help. I also quit my job, and was self-employed for a while before getting hired back on at a previous employer.
Once my depression improved, losing weight seemed the natural next step. I bought a scale (my first one ever!) in October 2007. After getting it home, I stepped on it (fully dressed), and I was well over 300 lbs. That was a defining moment for me. That’s when I knew I was going to get serious about losing weight.
I officially kicked off my weight loss effort on October 31, 2007 at a (naked) weight of 296.4 lbs.
I started this blog on November 11, 2007 to document my weight loss, and publicly humiliate myself into losing weight.
I have since divorced, which has been good for both my ex-wife and I. Since then I have married Kristy, a wonderful woman who is very supportive of my lifestyle change.
Rather than having a diet, I’ve decided to change how I eat in general. I cut out all soda. I’ve cut way down on beer. I track everything I eat in a spreadsheet. Nothing (other than soda) is truly off-limits. It’s all fine in moderation. I want a plan that I can stick with for life so that I don’t gain the weight back later.
I have changed the dietary aspect of my lifestyle change a few times. I’m still trying to find what works well for me, and can be maintained long-term. My current method is the paleodiet, but I’m having concerns about it.
To improve my cardiovascular health, and build muscle tone, I need exercise. I bought an elliptical in November 2007, but I found it boring. I had planned on running, but I have shelved those plans (at least for now) to avoid injury. I bought a bicycle in April 2008, and that has been life-changing. I have since gotten rid of the elliptical.
My goal weight has changed a few times, but it is currently at 175 lbs. If I later end up as 200 lbs of muscle, that okay too, but I doubt that will happen.