A Changed Man

Last December when I lost my job, I was fat, out of shape, and depressed. See the top picture? Yes, I was smiling, but inside I was miserable.

I decided to do something about it.

At 48 years old, I decided if I didn't do something drastic now, I would slide into old age just another grumpy elderly man, someone who could have done better, but ended up being just like everyone else.

This year I've taken charge of my life and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I no longer "work for the man," instead earning income through my own business. Further, I really like how I look, which has increased my confidence as I "do my own thing" professionally.

I believed like many others that weight gain and declining fitness are inevitable symptoms of the aging process. In my mind I knew a better future awaited me, but I had lingering doubts and fears. We Americans receive a steady stream of messages that say we're all going downhill after 40, and that we need a cocktail of prescribed medicines so that we can keep our blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, enjoy regular sex, and even pee like normal. Yuck--no wonder nobody wants to grow old.

Feeding into this same sentiment is a multibillion dollar dietary supplement industry that promises consumers that by ingesting expensive pills, consuming protein shakes and shooting up with various hormones and steroids, old age can be pushed back, if not conquered. And since we're willing to take pills for just about everything else that ails us, we buy these products as well.

I knew there was a better, less expensive, healthier way to approach middle age. See the second picture. That's me six months after beginning a new lifestyle that included daily aerobic exercise, weekly work with a professional physical trainer, and improved dietary habits. Since I train with a partner, the cost for me is about $50/week. So, my "new body" actually "cost" me $1,200. At the same time, my blood pressure and cholesterol levels are so much improved that I'm on no medications. And, increased physical activity has raised my testerone levels naturally, which means . . . well you can figure out for yourself what that means.

So let me tell you about my "new" body. My weight dropped 30 pounds (from 190 to 160). My waist shrunk six inches (from 37 inches to 31 inches). My chest has also reduced--from 42 inches to 40 inches, but I'll take a nine inch drop any day of the week (chest minus waist) over a five inch drop. What's even more amazing to me is that I weigh the same now that I did when I was in college back in 1982. I thought weight gain is inevitable with slower metabolisms when one ages. Apparently that's not true.

And my diet--I'm not on any diet. I just eat more carefully, making sure to have a nutririous breakfast every day, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day, and limit late night snacking. I still eat meat and potatoes, sausages, popcorn and ice cream. I just control my portions.

My story is uplifting--a person need not be defeated by circumstances, but instead can overcome adversity with hard work, determination, and a good attitude. My message to anyone who reads this blog is there was no magical formula, no crazy diet or exercise program, no expensive machine, no visit to a motivational speaker, no death scare, no voice from heaven that empowered me to make this change. My motivation came from inside me--and it's inside you, too.

I can say for everyone reading this, if I can do it, you can too!