A New Us

A New Us? Well, no not really just
updated models

A couple of months ago my sister Teri posted on Facebook how she’d lost 29 lbs in 56 days. Along with the post, she added a photo, the one below:

Like me, Teri and I inherited our mother’s physique. One that’s easy to put on the pounds but tough to get off. Needless to say, I was not only impressed with the loss, but also the speed at which she’d lost. She was so impressed with the program she’s started coaching!

Right after our mother had died, I decided it was time for me to get back into shape. Starting at over 260 lbs in November of 2009 I began a year-long journey to better nutrition, exercise, and weight loss.

Over the year while spending about two out of every four months in Iraq, I started lifting weights, eating Paleo, and working on cardio fitness. Over time I morphed to kettlebell swings, snatches, and Turkish get-ups; then to CrossFit. At the height of my program, I’d do a kettlebell workout one day, followed by a CrossFit Workout of the Day (WOD) the next six days a week. Oh and just to add a bit of cardio I’d work out a couple of times a week with a stationary rower, elliptical trainer, or treadmill at about a 15-degree angle.

By December of 2010, I’d dropped to 185 lbs and was probably in the best shape of my life. Quite a contrast from a year before.

 

 

 

 

I need to add that Ilene and I both worked out at CrossFit Las Vegas and we were BOTH in awesome shape.

But then life gets in your way

The problem, I’ve discovered with that kind of program is sustainability. Each time I’ve lost weight and gotten back in shape it wasn’t long before I slowly, but surely started slowing down and putting on weight.

Working out once or twice a day is easy when I was deployed overseas and had nothing else to do with my time when not actively engaged at work. It’s also easy when you’re a five-minute walk from world-class gyms with every level of device and gadget to get you into shape.

In the real world where I worked from 5 AM to 6 PM then beat feet to a gym clear across town was…well, let’s just say not so convenient. First, it’s less exercise, then you add to that eating like you’re working out and it doesn’t take long to add a little here, and a little there. So much for the svelt 185 lbs.

So ten years go by, one total hip replacement, another hip replacement and here we are. Seeing my little sister killing it with weight loss was just what the doctor ordered!

I started the program a bit over four weeks ago and during that time I dropped 18 lbs. Better yet, I’m feeling good, not hungry, and learning how to live and eat healthily.

 

 

 

 

 

So What’s Different

Once again I begin the journey to get healthy…so what’s different this time?

Briefly, as I will go into further details in a later post here’s what’s different:

• • • • • A coach—this program includes someone to guide and encourage you on your goals as well as answer questions as they arise
        • A time-tested plan—the program’s been around quite sometime now and there are hundreds of examples of folks who’ve KEPT the weight off!
        • A lifetime program that has you:
          • • Lose unhealthy fat FIRST
            • DON’T workout UNTIL you’re at your healthy weight
            • Learn to eat healthy—for LIFE
            • Transition to a higher-calorie diet with added activity
            • MAINTAIN your weight—LONG TERM

So, Ilene starts the program on Thursday. Since she has less extra weight to lose than I, she’ll be into transition and maintenance well before I am.

And that’s good…why? Because in October we get back to cruisin’ the world!