The Road Runner

It has been a few of months since I have updated my health situation and for that I am sorry.  That being said, the last few months have been phenomenal.  Since I last updated everyone in late March, I have lost another 40 pounds bringing my weight loss total over the past eight months to 103, surpassing the number the doctor suggested I lose.  I hope to be able to lose another 47 over the next four months.  I already am at my lowest weight in the past fifteen years and hope to get back to my early high school weight by the end of October. 

I returned to the doctor near the end of April and received great news.  The doctor was ecstatic over how well I was doing and how much weight I had lost.  She officially took me off of my diabetes medication because I had my sugar right where it needed to be.  Also, my liver functions were perfect.  I can't even begin to tell you how good that made me feel to hear those things.  But one of the coolest things she told me was that she could tell that I had been exercising because I now had the heart rate of a runner.  My check-up went so well that she told me not to come back for six months instead of the normal three.

Perhaps the coolest thing that has happened over the past three months is what I was able to do on May 4 and June 8.  These are the dates that I ran my first 5Ks.  I was pretty nervous about the first one.  It was the first time I ever ran outdoors.  I had done all my running on the treadmill so I had no idea of what to expect that morning.  I made a huge mistake in the first quarter mile and was not able to recover until almost halfway through the course.  The run started off with a small hill and I hit it at a dead run and by the time I came down the hill on the other side and made the turn onto the main road, I was gassed.  It took me probably 15 minutes after that to find my rhythm.  I finished the race with a time of 42:35 and to be honest, I was greatly disappointed.  I was hoping for something in the range of 38:00.  But my wonderful wife, Kristy, reminded me that what I had done was still a major accomplishment.  I had done something I had never been able to do in my life and that was something to be proud of.  So after sulking for  a few minutes, I was able to get my mind right and appreciate my accomplishment.

I took advantage of the five weeks between the two races to change my training methods.  I had intentions of doing more outdoor running but a busy schedule and weather did not allow that to happen so I had to do all of my training on the treadmill again.  The two things I tried to work on over this time was more elevation and not holding onto the handrails of the machine.  In the end, I think modifying my strategy paid dividends.  I began the race on June 8 with a much better pace and was able to run the entire race without stopping a single time to walk.  Granted, most of the running was the "lineman's shuffle" but it was still running and I finished the race in 41:19.  Again, I was disappointed with my results but after a minute of sulking, I received a gentle reminder from the Almighty that he was with me and that I had achieved something fantastic.  To say the least it was a calming experience and one that I really needed. 

As always, I know where to go to give thanks for the miracle that is happening in my life.  I would be nothing without Jesus in my life and even though there have been times I have neglected Him, I plan on giving Him the proper praise from now on.  Isaiah 40:31 tells us, "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  That is exactly the way I felt on Saturday, June 8.  I had placed my hope in the Lord, I ran a complete race like I was on the wings of eagles, and I did not grow weary.  Until next time, I hope you all keep the faith and God bless!

Changing Focus

As many of you have noticed, I have been on hiatus.  Well, what better day to get back in the groove than Thanksgiving.  Nothing gets me excited like stuffing myself to the gills and wallowing in misery the rest of the day.  Of course, that was in years past.  The days of gorging myself and living in gluttony have come to a screeching halt.  As you will notice, the focus of my blog is going to shift slightly.  I am still going to comment on the goings on in the world of sports (I have missed so much in the last six weeks that has been worthy of discussion) but I will also be discussing recent developments in my life and with the holidays upon us I will have some holiday-themed items as well.

As for the days of gorging myself and wallowing in my own gut-busting misery, there is a reason they have ended and I wish it were just because I had finally decided to whip my tail into shape.  The real reason for this lifestyle change is a negative doctor report.  Suffice it to say I have never felt so miserable in my life as I did when I left the doctor's office on the days of October  10 and 18.  By the time it was all over, I had to deal with certain facts that I was not ready to deal with.  I have been diagnosed as a diabetic with high cholesterol and a messed up thyroid.  Not great news but better than the initial thought that I had heart problems according to an EKG that I failed with flying colors.  (Thankfully, after a stress test, we discovered that the ticker was just fine).  My newly discovered ailments left me feeling out of sorts and struggling to grapple with my own mortality.  I was glad that I was not as bad off as originally thought but I still had major issues to face and daunting obstacles ahead. 

It was at this moment that I decided to turn things over to a higher power and pray for my health to improve but more importantly to find the resolve to face the challenges that lay before me.  I have been guilty in the past of not putting God first in my life and only turning to him in times of desperate need.  Well, this was a time of desperation and my daily life was going to have to undergo a major overhaul so what better time to rededicate my spiritual life as well. 

On this day of thanks, I am very thankful for my health and that I was able to discover these problems before they became too serious.  I am proud to say that in the 43 days since I initially went to the doctor, I have now lost 30 pounds.  I hope to be able to lose another 20 before going back to the doctor in January.  I am also pleased to say that after eating my (paltry but satisfying meal, complete with pumpkin pie), my blood sugar checked in at a cool 98, well within the parameters that the diabetic specialist laid out for me.  Today was a great success in my book.

This ordeal, while difficult, has been a great life lesson for me.  I have played with fire for too long when it comes to my eating habits and now it is time to pay the piper.  I know where the responsibility lays for what has happened and I am well prepared to do whatever it takes to take care of myself so that I can be there for my wife and kids.  And when things get tough, I know that I have a Savior that can lighten my load; and for that I am truly thankful.

So, for those of you who look forward to my sports posts, I am not finished opining on the day-to-day of the ball and stick games, but I hope you will stick around to read about other happenings also.  I really enjoy writing and various topics and I appreciate each and everyone who take time out of your days to read about what I see through my four eyes.  God bless you all and take care of yourself at this most wonderful time of the year.