Madzdad's Diary

[Madzdad]

Hmmm, a public diary, this is an interesting concept!

Basically, with all the starts and stops I had had in the past, this change wasn't really a conscious choice which is possibly for the best. A little background, I went to the doctor at the end of last year, figuring I was about 365, but was shocked at 385. But as usual it was not enough to make a change, just keep up the "woe is me" bit. My seven (sorry almost eight) year old daughter (Madelyn) asked me about lent a few week ago and I explained it to her. I also realized that I had never given anything up for lent. I didn't want to go too overboard like "only eat what is proper" as that is too ambiguous. So I hit the two things that cause the biggest trouble with me, chips (always in the car) and candy.

I thought I was nuts at first, but it turned out not to be so bad. Considering that I usually ate at least one 99cent bag on the way to work, I thought it would be a very hard break. My kidlett, bless her heart, gave up ice cream! But it kept going, I started going to the Y where they can track everything you do using a system called Fitlinxx. Now I love to track things, so this was great. Started with the weights, added in cardio, treadmill at first no on the bike (finally warm enough here in CO) and really like it.

There have been a lot of big changed in my household in the last 6 weeks, my contracting job went perm, my wife left her job to be home for the kiddo and this change in me. They Y even has a fit kids class on M and W that my daughter loves, during which I work out. She likes to do the treadmill next to me after her class (ya think she's a daddy's girl?).

So far so good, down to 364, didn't lose anything this week, kinda torqed me off, but I suppose it is muscle and will just be for a bit. I should probably only weigh once a month instead of once per week.

 

[somesaymisty]

Sounds like your off to a great start. I think it's great that the Y offers a class for kids. Your daughter is going to learn some really healthy habits from you. Good job! Keep it up!

 

[Ocire]

Wow You're really on things! And yay, another male! That makes what, six of us I think I know what you mean about Lent. I gave up chocolate, kind of a spur of the moment thing. I thought it'd be bad but I haven't had a craving for chocolate since I started this diet thing. Good luck with your weight loss. Maybe get a ticker for your signature? If you click on the ticker's in anyone's sig or go to tickerfactory.com you can get one. They're really fun!

 

[zoila]

Congratulations on loseing 21pounds so far. Thats a really awsome start. Kids have a great way of motivating us dont they. Its really wonderful that you guys can spend time together working out. She will have happy memories associated with exercise instead of food and thats a great gift to give her. Keep up all your great work. This is a great place to come for support and motivation.

 

[Madzdad]

Pikes Peak or Bust!

Ten years ago I weighed in at 470. I had a gastric bypass done in Sept 1996 and rapidly lost weight. Unfortunately, a few months later I developed beriberi, which is a degeneration of the mylen (covering) of the peripheral nerves in my legs. This left me unable to walk. The doctors said it would be about 18 months to 2 years before I could walk again. I spent 36 days in the hospital on the rehab floor. Thanks to the meanist little physical therapist that ever lived and my determination, I was out of the wheelchair in 5 months and done with the walker in 3 more. It still took a number of years before I had complete feeling in my feet, but I could walk and was dropping weight like mad.

I had become a walking fool, I lived in Monument, Colorado at the time, at a high point between Colorado Springs and Denver, at an altitude of about 7300'. The county had turned the turn-of-the-century railroad bed into a really nice trail system from Monument south through the Air Force Academy to Colorado Springs (as of now it connects to trails turn run all the way through CoSpgs). I walked those trails every day for months. I got quite good at it and could easily keep a 15:30/mile pace. I could always see Pikes Peak to the south and wanted to climb up Barr Trail to the top. Barr Trail is a 13.5 mile trail with a veritical rise of 8000'. Not a technically difficult trail, but rated as such due to the length.

By the beginning of 1998, I trained like mad for it, taking 5,6 & 8 mile walks and hikes to get ready, by that summer I was 235 pounts (half the man I used to be). My daughter was born that May, everything was going my way. I had planned on doing the climb in early September. As the day approached I was getting nervous about it. My last training walk was a 10 mile hike though the AFA. At that point I got the realization or at least the belief that I was not ready for the climb. This devastated me, and I pretty much quit walking, bad habits sliding back into view. I had to start traveling the next year and for the next three years. My habits got worse and I put weight back on. I was able to come home for good in Sept 2002, but kept putting on weight till I discovered at the beginning of this year that I was 385.

Well this year, I gave up chips and candy for Lent and will probably make that permenant. I work out almost daily (getting there) and have so far shed about 20 pounds, built a large amount of muscle and feel better every day. I started thinking about the quest for Pikes Peak again. Last year, sheer determination and training got me through the first day of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, 26.2 miles. I blistered my feet so badly that I couldn't do the 1/2 marathon the next day, but I was proud of what I had done. Even though I lapsed again after that, I know I can train for such. I live northwest of Denver now and can still see Pikes Peak to the south, 14410' tall. Well, you know, it is time, I may still be 368 now, but I bet I can be about 310 by September and am going to do it, like the old pioneers and prospectors said when gold was found here - Pikes Peak or Bust!!!