For some reason, I'm feeling compelled to de-lurk on this forum. I've been coming here for a really long time, but haven't posted because I'm not sure I can really add anything of value to this group. I'm still not sure I can, but I feel compelled to talk.
First, I should say thanks to everyone. The things I've learned from you are incredible. Thank you. Second, let me tell you about myself: I just turned 40, am married, and am dad to two great boys. Our boys are nine (Jakob) and just-about five (Aiden). My just-about-five-year old is kind of a mile marker for me in my fitness journey.
When my wife first became pregnant with Aiden, I weighed between 225 and 230 pounds and was basically a big fat slob (I'm 6-1). For lots of reasons (including a good friend's scare with Type II diabetes), I got fitness religion. After several false starts, I started TAP in December of 2002, and really made huge gains (I think I can say that Lou Schuler saved my life). By the time Aiden was born in early June, I was down to 160 pounds and in the best shape of my life.
We were all surprised when Aiden was born and we found out that he has Down Syndrome. The initial shock and three weeks in the NICU led me down the path of giving up some of my fitness gains that summer, and then I veered the other direction of working too hard. By the end of the year in 2003, I was down to 150 pounds and really scrawny. I guess that took its toll, too, and I pretty much fell off the fitness wagon. I gained weight back slowly over time, while trying to get our life back in order and dealing with the challenges of Aiden's diagnosis.
I had fits and starts over the next few years, and started several programs including Book of Muscle and NROL, with some varied success, but nothing seemed to stick and I couldn't finish anything, however.
Other than fitness, out lives were pretty good. My career took off (I'm the director of operations for a manufacturing company), and we became better parents than we ever thought we could or would. We have lots and lots of challenges we never planned on, but it's been a blessing.
At the end of 2007, though, I was creeping back up to 200 pounds, and mad at myself for giving up the gains I had worked so hard at. I got a copy of TNT for Christmas, and started eating on Plan A at the beginning of the year. I didn't start the weight training program until several weeks later due to an accident on Jakob's snowboard (40 year olds shouldn't snowboard, apparently), but I've now completed 10 weeks of the back in shape workout. I am down to 170 pounds and look and feel great. I did take this week off from the weights because I was feeling run down, but I'm going to be back at it next week.
If you made it this far, let me thank you again for your help and advice through this forum. I read lots of stuff, and this is a great place with really fantastic people. Thanks for letting me tell my story. I must be at some kind of milestone with my original transformation, and it just feels right to post something here. I think I'll try to post more often in the future, where I feel I can add some value.
I am so glad you decided to de-lurk! What a great story.
Sounds to me like you'll fit in great with this crew. You ought to consider coming to the fitness summit where you can meet many of us in person, along with learning something really cool and new about fitness and nutrition.
Thank you all! I'm really glad to be here. I am giving some thought to coming to the summit, but I think some work-related conflicts are going to get in the way. I'm currently scheduled to be at a customer site through the end of the day on the 30th, but things always seem to change.
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
I think it was Mahler who said (I'm paraphrasing here) "You don't have to post something profound. We're all friends here, so why not just pop in and say, 'hi!'"
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Just wanted to say welcome aboard and add my voice to the consensus that even if you are not a fitness rocket scientist, you can still be welcome here and still provide motivation for others and yourself by posting.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
Just adding my welcome to the others, James. Thanks for sharing your story - I'm glad too you decided to de-lurk. I think, given your many experiences, both with fitness and otherwise, you have much to contribute. If you're able to make it to the summit, it would be cool to meet you in person. Again, welcome!
Rob
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"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right." - Henry Ford
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw
Welcome to de-lurk mode! Thank you for sharing your story with us. Now that you have de-lurked I hope you will be posting more! There is a great thread "kids pic thread" in the off tpoic section if you would like to share pics of Jakob and Aiden.
I am not a "fitness" expert and when i first joined here I was reluctant to post because it seemed that every knew much more than I did and I could not really contribute.
a couple a thousand posts later and everyone still knows more that I do, but I have had fun and made some good friends here!! So get posting!!!
Welcome!!
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Welcome mate....By the way, asking a question that no one else did is also a contribution.
Get post happy!
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
Time to de-lurk
Linear Mode
