Looking for some accountability and support.

Here's my first step at disclosure. It's the easiest one, but one that I trust.

I started working out this morning. My friend reccommended the Body for Life program, which I altered to fit my nutritional needs. Many of you know I've had a hard time keeping up with the exercise after my chemical myocardial infarct (non-mechanical heart attack, brought on by strep throat....sucks ass to have had).

I started with planning out my day last night, then did my upper body workout before the kids woke up this morning. I completely failed my last rep when my daughter woke up (2 yrs). She was smiling so cutely that I lost ALL concentration. I've gotta start earlier just in case, and learn to work through that pit-stop.

This has been a hard year for me, and I hope to change it around now. I did SO GREAT the first year until my heart attack. I went from 310 lbs down to 188. I ran three miles every morning but Sunday. I worked out with a personal trainer three days per week. Now I've gained about six pounds back, and haven't ran more than a few days in succession since last July. I feel terrible about my body, my resolve, my strength, and my ability to stick with a program...but that's going to change as of today.

On the bright side, for not working out for nearly a year, I could have gained a lot more than six pounds back. I'm thankful for my ability to eat well. I did begin eating more empty food than I should, and will. I remained active, just not athletic.

Thanks. It's my turn.

First off I don't know how much if any damage was done to your heart muscle but at any rate it sounds to me like you have done amazingly well for having had a heart attack.

Second thing is to keep in mind why we get these surgeries in the first place. We get them to improve our health and I would say you tested tested that theory when you had your heart attack. I think you gotta ask yourself if you would have survived the MI before surgery.  

Luckilly I have a very strong, very healthy heart. This was proven by my history of incredibly good cholesterol levels despite my weight, and a heart cath video that shows it! Never drank, never smoked, never did drugs. Those all help immensely.



I'm a bit of a mind-boggler in the heart-world. In fact, I'm being looked at by the American Heart / Lung Assn. Other than the fact that a TINY bit of tropomine was released (thus indicating some form of heart damage) there is no recognizable damage done to the physicality of my heart. The damage comes in the fact that it took a year of testing to figure this out. That year of testing stripped my confidence in my body away. I know LOGICALLY that I'm completely fine to work out, it's emotionally that I'm working on.



I took a stress test a few weeks back where I ran on a treadmill then did EKG's etc. Since the purpose was to help me mentally, after the normal run-time, the doctor said to just keep going until I felt it was ok to stop. Every couple of minutes the incline raised, and the speed increased. Needless to say, he finally stopped me after about 20 minutes of bonus time. I had run almost two miles! I just need to get it in my head that I'm ok. It's starting to form in there somewhere

"I know LOGICALLY that I'm completely fine to work out, it's emotionally that I'm working on." That's kind of where I'm at. Only for a bit of a different reason. Having ALWAYS been the fat kid, I became sort of a professional at skating out on things.  Don't get me wrong - I always did my best, but if it was something (usually running when I was in high school) that I knew I wouldn't be able to do, I'd find a way out and be able to make it look like I tried. Not proud of it, but there it is. Now, here I am looking at 40 in about a month and a half, and I'm healthier than I ever was, including back in high school.   I just had a surgery, and once I'm healed up, I already have time lined up with a personal trainer (eighty-some odd sessions at minimum) so I can learn to work out properly.  My wife and I are going to buy a good pair of bicycles, and start riding on days we're not working out.  (She works out at Curves - she just had gastric bypass in January and is already down 70 lbs.  I had my gastric bypass July of '06, and am down about 380 lbs.)  We're already walking (I'm pushing the limits of what I'm supposed to be doing while recovering from my surgery). However, I'm nervous.  I've never been that much into exercise.  I want to do it.  I can visualize myself doing it.  But I'm nervous. So - bottom line - I can relate.  However, as I keep telling myself - we just gotta suck it up and get through it.  There's no easy way around this, except to go straight through. Good luck!

"This is Bidwell Park...Whoooooo...I am calling you to come visit meeee...Whooooo."

YAY! I took the kids and the dog to horseshoe lake this morning in Upper Bidwell Park. How do you know this place? Chico's a GREAT place to live.

2 1/2 years at Chico State...CSU Chico.  Some of my best memories were riding or jogging in the park.  Get me a Grad Burger next time your at the Graduate...Wait forget that...That's how I got to be 300#.  Brian

Well guys a week or two ago I posted something we started and kept doing on the Tennessee board to support, motivate and keep us accountable. some days we get two post some days we get twelve. But simply we post IGOMBT (I GOT OFF MY BUTT TODAY) or even if you didn't then some post IDNGOMBT (I DID NOT GET OFF MY BUTT TODAY) it was a easy way to jump in and get as detailed as you want. But the catch is I don't want it to be Bob's Thing! I want it to be who ever wants to post first starts it going. I did it the first two times then waited to see if anyone was interested and it seemed to die off and thats OK! It is what is and will only work if others are interested. So if you think its worth doing I'll start it again and if it dies it dies. C'ya Bob