PLEASE READ!
The story of FresnoBeeDude is very inspirational. He was living his hopes and dreams and was training for a Triathlon when in September 2009 he drowned and passed away. He was an inspiration to many. I hope you read his story and look at him as an inspiration.
RIP Steven, you are missed.
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A forum member just emailed me asking how I did it. I thought I would copy/paste my reply here. Maybe my story can inspire others? I don't post much nowadays on 3fc as I as just really busy between work and working out. Check out my myspace at www.myspace.com/edudeebonserf and don't forget to check the transformations pics
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Ok....here we go. How did I lose the weight? Determination/motivation/willpower. I have the desire to be "normal". I also want to live.
Let me explain.
Sometime in 2005 I had myself weighed on a truck scale (no vehicle, just me standing on this scale). Twice I was told I weighed 550. That put me in denial. Surely, the scale wasn't calibrated properly? Plus, with my "small" weight compared to a bigrig, maybe I was standing imprperly (not centered, etc). Just making excuses.
December 2005, I made a New Years Resolution. I will no longer eat fast food, and lose this weight. I am tired of being a quarter ton. I had low self-esteem, zero sex drive (who wants to be with a 500+lb man?!?!? - In my mind I saw that, years later I see couples who weigh around this). I bought a scale that went up to 550lbs off of eBay. On January 1st I officially weighed in at 510lbs. I signed up at the local gym. Did the exercise bike 10 mins a day (i got pooped, I figured that was good enough). I took OTC pills (trimspa, etc), ate 1 meal a day. In Jan/Feb an old friend and I decided to organize a 20 yr grade school reunion. I did not want my classmates to see me this large. I needed to lose as much as possible by May. I did lose 30lbs for the reunion. Around Feb I fell sick with the flu. I cancelled my gym membership.
Unfortunately during this time, I started to lose my vision. My eyesight became increasinly blurry. I blamed this on my lifestyle. Work 8 hrs a day at a computer, come home play 8 hrs a day on my computer. When sleeping, I would wake up with no feeling in either one of my feet or hands. In May I became VERY thirsty. I would drink, drink, drink. Unfortunately that made me pee, pee, pee! I got so tired of urinating, I tried to stop drinking water. My mouth would become so crusted/dried up, I needed water. It was a constant battle. By this time, the only way I could see is if the object was right in front of my face.
When I came back from my vacation/reunion, I checked myself into the health clinic. I told the nurse, "I think I have diabetes". After a couple of tests, we learned I was diabetic. I was also informed at my blood sugar/urine ketone levels that if I had waited 1 more day, I would have gone through a diabetic coma and died. I was admitted to the ER to bring my glucose under control. I spent 5 days in the hospital. The nurses brought me literature on diabetes, the diabetic food exchange diet, etc.. I was told to limit my caloric intake to 1800 calories. I got a pat on the back, and "Good Luck!"
When I was released from the hospital, I was determined to learn everything about everything. I purchased tons of books on Amazon and started to educate myself. I read books on diabetes, on dieting/nutrition, weight training, weight loss success stories. I visited my Doctor for the 1st time in July. I told him I wanted to go back to the gym, but didn't know what I was doing. I needed his advice. He suggested that I use the machines. One day work on my back, one day on legs, one day on chest/arms. Do 30 mins a day of cardio. I had no idea what all that equipment did. I asked a couple of people at the gym to show me how to use it. They were MORE then happy to guide me. I had no idea what to do, I just pushed/pulled for about say 5 mins or so. Eventually I paid a trainer to give me a better routine. I stuck with the routine for several months. During this time I took a interest in weightlifting. I wanted to learn more. So I thought I would seek out the expert. I bought Ahhnold's bodybuilding encyclopedia and read that sucka from cover to cover! I paid for another trainer session. She basically had me increase my reps/sets.
In the meantime, even though I was at my second home (the gym) on a daily basis, I strived to push myself fitness-wise. 5 months after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I registered for a 5 mile walk for ADA. Took 2 hours and 5 mins. I did this at 386lbs (yes 386, I was, what my doctor commented as, losing the same weight as if I got "the surgery"). My feet were burning.
After that I continued walking. Walked 3 miles a day to work, in the summer, in the heat. A friend at work told me about a friend of hers organizing a weekly walking/running club (people evidently were training for a 1/2 marathon). I asked to participate in this group. I showed up weekly, I would walk more then I did the week before. By the end of summer I was able to walk 13 miles. After a couple weeks, I learned that the person who organized this club was a personal trainer. I told her my situation. I told her that I was getting bored mentally/physically of doing the same old stuff daily. Initially she agreed to come to my gym and help me out. Instead, she got me into her gym, and gave me a couple months of personal training. She taught me how to push myself, about form, about exercise, etc. A seed was planted in my little brain at that time. I too, wanted to become a personal trainer. She gave me the guidance I needed for this.
I have a drive to become "normal" It may seem narcissistic but after learning what the "perfect" measurments are for a man (eg, anything more then a 40" waist you are at risk to getting diabetes, etc), this is what I set my goals at. Initially I wanted to be less then 200lbs, but because of my bodybuilding lifestyle, that is not possible. I am now wanting to be at 17% body fat (fitness level).
By the way, due to my desires to lose the weight, I am not on any medications anymore. My levels are constantly in the "normal range" (this includes cholesterol, etc).
November 2007 I walked that 1/2 marathon. I ranked 2nd place for my age group, and 135 out of 204 for the walkers. November 2008 I RAN that 13 miles in 3 hrs. I am constantly pushing myself in these events. I recently completed a 45 mile bike ride with my girlfriend (the friend who introduced me to that person who did the running club - I finally asked her out this past December) She/I have the same goals. She has done 5 century bike rides, as well as triatholons, and other events. We have done 5k/10k's together as well.
The trainer and I have become very good friends as well. She advised me on who to seek out my personal training certificate. I passed my test This January. I am currently studying to become a Lifestyle Weight Management Consultant. At 36 yrs old, I am going back to school in the fall to take up physical education.
Besides the appearance, I have changed in many, many weighs, er ways inside and out. That new years resolution was the greatest decision I ever made.
I do have a 14 page blog on myspace going over my advise on how to become successful. Common sense type stuff. The blog started small, because friends kept asking me how I did it. I constantly added to it when I had new thoughts. Worth a read. And of course, I have my transformation pics there as well.
Did I answer your questions smile?
Steven, ACE-CPT
