11/14/2011: Ok so I have to preface anything written from now forward with a few fair warnings t any potential reader. One: I am a fun loving personality with a pension for self effacing humor. Please understand the context with which you read. I truly believe that you have to be able to laugh at yourself and take the Van Wilder inspired "Don't take life too seriously, because you'll never make it out alive" to heart. Because I feel that I learn so much every day from someone, something, event or experience, I find the not so earth shattering revelations I encounter to be humorous once I come to grips with them. Because of that the sarcasm is purely light hearted and fun spirited directed at me, because that is who I am.
And so we begin... This is 7 days into my program and I have already encountered and cleared personal hurdles that make this journey one I want to remember. I began my journey with an off handed conversation that took place between a good friend of mine and I about my struggles with food, weight loss etc. He mentioned a program entitled " New Outlook" operated by the Aultman Health Foundation, medically monitored, reasonably priced for the resources afforded one in the program and supported not only during the wight loss, but well after to teach you how to maintain your goal weight long after you reach your goal. After hearing about its premises I decided to give it a shot.
I went in one week ago and had blood work, EKG, urinalysis, measurements, and weight recorded and had my nutritional plan mapped out with a dietician that listened to my weaknesses with food, and applied a program that I could follow with minimal disruption and allow for tastes of most of what I like. The program allows me two 9oz beverage meal replacement shakes, 8oz if fruit (usually a banana),one 8oz cup of Danon Lite n Lively brand yogurt (100 calories or less), 6.5oz of lean meat a day, 4 tsp of peanut butter on one piece of whole grain wheat bread for my starch and fat intake, and anything up to and beyond 3 cups of vegetables a day. Along with the nutritional plan I am to work out 4-6 times a week for an hour of cardio, mixing up the exercises for maximum benefit. Once a week I have to report for weight and measurements to be taken and to meet with the dietician to ensure the program is working at its maximum potential for me and I with it. After it there is a 30 minute seminar on different aspects of achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
I'll admit a significant amount of anxiety walking though the door last week having to look myself in the mirror and admitting a change was needed. You have to be realistic enough to realize that change is necessary. And being recently married and considering having children means I have to be healthy enough to help conception happen as both my wife and I are over the age of 30, I'm 34. Also I am embarking on a new career in a health conscious industry, and really feel experience in athletics as part of my past needs to be represented by healthy mind in body in the present to represent myself, our brand - The Canton Marathon. As I left with my plan I felt empowered and supported and home and in he field and started the next day.
As I head in to be weighed for the first time I must admit I'm excited as I have passed up directly two of by biggest weaknesses burgers and pizzas directly in the first week and laid the foundation for what will be a tough but gratifying road to be traveled. I'll post my progress by tomorrow And pics of me at the beginning of this journey so all can put face with name and printed blog posts so everyone can see I do exist, and really do have a significant amount of weight to lose and habits to change. Feel free to comment on the posts and offer your own insight if you've traveled similar roads in your life. But most of all enjoy "Fat2Fit" for what I hope will be entertaining, sometimes funny, sometimes honestly stressful but on whole a trip that describes someone taking control of all of his life and doing it for not only a job but hopefully for his family too!
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