My Story...

My journey is just beginning, although technically, it began two years ago in the fall of 2007. At that time I weighed 360lbs, with no real concept of what it actually took to be healthy. My wife, Stacy, (38 years old, at the time) made the decision that our lives needed to change after a visit to her doctor. She was told that she had every indicator of future heart disease, and if she did not make a change it would likely lead to a heart attack or worse.


So she decided we need to change if we wanted to be a part of our daughters’ lives for years to come. We began our journey by initially following the Body for Life fitness and nutrition model. Our saving grace during the beginning was the BFL concept of a free day: one day a week when we could eat whatever we wanted. We lived for that day; the thought of that day was at times our only saving grace.

We were already members of a gym, from a failed attempt at fitness a couple of years prior. I made the commitment to get up early in the morning and began working out. Stacy at that time was not working a 9-5 job, so she had the flexibility to go the gym whenever she wanted. Eventually, she hired a personal trainer and joined a training group, which proved to be her key to success.

I, however, felt it could be done on my own, with the help of fitness magazines. At 360 lbs, my fitness level was low - very low. I could not run, or even jog on a treadmill, so I relied on the Elliptical machine and strength training exercises I’d found in my fitness magazines.

The first four months showed significant progress and success! I was down 50+ lbs, and my wife's fitness strength and endurance was growing rapidly. Then December arrived, and my back had a mind of its own. It was amazing the damage a simple sneeze could cause. I will not get into too many details, but the long and short of it was I had two bulging discs, L5 and S1. I saw chiropractors and back specialists, trying to alleviate the pain and to regain the ability to walk without looking like an "S". I received an epidural injection directly into my back. The injection was a steroid designed to reduce the inflammation to take the pressure off of the nerve.

After a few months of continued physical therapy and another injection, I started to improve and was able to continue my workout program. During this time, I realized that it is not possible for me to only diet or to only workout, but rather one feeds the other. The question for me has always been which comes first? The nutrition (improved eating habits) or the workout? I discovered that for me, it is the fitness first. Maybe I did not want to waste all of my work by eating all my calories back. I do not always live my life that way, but I do know that without the fitness my chances of success are non-existent.

Golf has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. I tell everyone that there is a great golfer inside of me just dying to get out. I actually believe that it is true. Given the opportunity to dedicate the time to practice, I feel I can become a great golfer. However, I have not dedicated the time, partly due to my back condition. In March 2008, I had been rehabbing for three months and felt I was doing well, so I went golfing with some friends in Wendover. We golfed nine holes and I did not walk again for a week. I had lost 60-70 lbs and was down to around 290 lbs, but I actually feel that my back got worse with my weight loss due to the change in the physical structure of my body. While I have always had back issues, this time it was different, maybe it was because I was more active, I don’t know.

My chiropractor, Chad Lundstrom in Park City, had suggested that I look into taking a Pilates class to help improve my flexibility and back strength. I was resistant at first and did not really know what to expect. I was a member of Xcel Fitness, an incredible facility with a spectacular staff, which had a dedicated Pilates Reformer studio. So, I dug deep, found the courage, and signed up for a free introductory class. The class was designed to familiarize the client to what Pilates Reformer is and how to properly use the equipment. It was taught by Shelly Stringham Rudd, who took the time to make me feel comfortable, so I signed up for a real class. For one year, I worked out with Shelly and an incredible group of students twice a week. It was some of the best and hardest workouts I have ever experienced. During that time, I had the opportunity to take classes from numerous instructors, but Shelly was the one from whom I got the most out of each class.

So, after one year of Pilates, I was on the golf course again. It felt great! It was now the spring of 2009, I weighed 280-285 lbs, and I was working out 5-6 days a week. Eating was and still is the hardest part of my life to control. I love to eat! I love carbs and fat, end of story, and if it is fried it is mine. Not to say I had not made improvements, I had. I was eating some fish, learning to love sushi, eating and enjoying more veggies, but I was still hiding my food habits from those closest to me. I was maintaining, my core strength was improving, but I still did not have great cardio strength. I could kick butt on an elliptical machine, I was ok on the stair climber, but do not ask me to run, or even jog slowly - I could not. My strength program was ok, but I had no consistency. All things considered I was satisfied, especially considering I was golfing; I still give all of the credit to Shelly.

Then, April 2009 hit. This time, it was not a physical issue, but rather an emotional one. I was the COO/Controller of a sports retailer in Park City, Utah. The recession had hit our industry hard and sales were off by 50% or more across the board. The owner had done all he could to keep things operating, but it was decided that he had to make a change. He had enjoyed an absentee role for the first couple years since he bought the dealership, however the economic downturn forced him to reexamine his role. He needed to take over daily operations of the business and I absolutely agreed with the decision. I saw the numbers; I knew the reality. So, I continued to consult with him and offer him support in learning what the job entailed.

I am a creature of habit. I like my routines; and it is only then when I am able to find fitness success. Work out at the same time every morning, eat at the same time every day, snacks, shakes…all at prescribed times. That is how I lost my first 80 lbs and how I was able to keep it off. I did not like the situation of not having a routine. However, I took it as a challenge and continued to focus on my fitness as a priority. After 7 or 8 months I was finally able to find that rhythm and balance in my day and I am finding success.

One of the great things to come from my physical transformation has been the increase in my own personal self-confidence. When you can weigh 360 lbs and through hard work and dedication change your life by losing 80+ lbs, there is not much you think you cannot do. I am still over weight and I know it, but I do not feel it. I feel strong because I am strong, both physically and mentally. I carry that confidence with me even if I don’t feel it on the inside, and I show it on the outside. Maybe that is just part of my Secret beliefs, but if you act defeated you are defeated.

This confidence and focus on improving our fitness has led us down some never before conceived roads. Primarily, that of endurance sports. Stacy raced in her first triathlon last year in Idaho (The Spudman) and it was an awesome experience. I can honestly say I have never been more proud of her, and it has inspired me to enter my first triathlon this year. In fact, I am hoping to race at least 4-6 events this year, including The Spudman, if we are pulled for the lottery registration.

It is humbling to think that I will be running in a triathlon in just a few months. This, coming from a person who only six short months ago did not run, not even a little. But, with patience and a “one mile at a time” attitude, I am learning and getting stronger. I am not as concerned about the swim - I just need to work on my endurance in the pool. The bike, however, should be interesting, I hate to even spin, so I will learn - I have no other choice.

This blog is intended to track my progress, successes, and temporary failures in my journey. While the name of this blog is “My Own Journey to Ironman Kona” (or something like it), it is meant to show my ultimate goal - one that will not come easy and may not come at all - but in the next five years I hope to be able to enter an Ironman event and to become an Ironman (and the next day I will get my MDot tat). Join me on this journey and let’s see where the road takes us.