Hello, CR4! I'm
merph. I'm a 29-year old Computer
Science student at the State University of New York in Albany.
This is my first blog, at least for a site with an established user
base.
Unlike NaturalPro, I am not a bodybuilder. I am not an athlete. I'm not even fit, though I'd like to think
I'm headed in that general direction. Until
I began my "journey," I was an example of the stereotypical sedentary, fat
American male. In the spring of 2009, I
weighed in at 335 pounds. I was a mess…
my weight had finally reached the point where it was adversely affecting my
life beyond being unhappy with my appearance.
I would get winded walking up a couple flights of stairs, have pains in
my calves just walking around, and suffered from heartburn for at least two
years.
How Did I Get Here?
Once upon a time, I was a sick, skinny kid. I had my tonsils
removed when I was seven, and since then I've been slowly growing; the vertical
growth stopped during high school, but the horizontal growth didn't.
As a child, I didn't learn healthy eating habits and I
wasn't very active. While other kids
were out playing baseball in the neighborhood, I was inside playing Nintendo. These
habits stayed with me into adulthood. I
was never happy with the way I looked, and often thought of dieting. My weight gain was gradual, but over time I
amassed a large collection of clothing that no longer fit me. I didn't see a noticeable difference in the
way I looked in a mirror, but I did see it in pictures. Instead of doing something about it, I was
lazy; I became camera shy instead.
Of course, I wanted to lose weight. I'd buy "low-fat" foods and think I was
eating healthy. I didn't pay attention
to, and had no knowledge of nutrition in general. I wasn't motivated enough to do anything
serious about my health. Looking back on
it, I can't believe the way I used to be.
I consider myself a fairly smart person, and it pains me to see how
ignorant I was.
Making a Change
I found the motivation I needed to make a major lifestyle
change in New York City this past May.
My wife and I walked around Manhattan
for hours with some friends while we were in town for a wedding. I had dealt with pains in my calves from
walking before, but it was unbearable that night. Every step I took elicited a sharp, burning
pain as I plodded along for three to
four hours.
I started eating healthier and being more active in
June. Since then, I'm proud to say that
I have lost almost 100 pounds. I have
more to lose in order to reach my goal weight, but I'll get there. I used to think that losing this kind of
weight was an impossible task. It's
not. It's amazing how simple it is.
When people see what I've done over the past eight months,
they always ask me, "What's your secret?"
There is no secret – the answer is available in hundreds of books and
who knows how many web sites; it just takes motivation to make the right
choices.
Why Blog?
In terms of fitness and nutrition, I am a voice from the
complete opposite end of the spectrum than NaturalPro. With my blogging here, I
hope to share what worked for me and discuss some of the hurdles or issues that
I've dealt with along the way. Maybe I
will be able to help someone else to turn their life around from a fitness
standpoint. If a fat, lazy person like
me could do it, anyone can.
History
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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