GOAL!!! 400 Pounds To 199 In 14 Months...Morbidly Obese To Triathlete

Pics from triathlon 3/14/09

It has been an amazing journey. As an obese person, there are very few times I could say I attained any real goal, today my journey from Obesity has officially been conquered! After swimming 3500 meters this morning, I got on the scale and for the first time in 18 years, I weighed in at 199 pounds.... 1 pound under Goal. It is hard to believe that I once weighed twice as much as I do today, and that was just 14 months ago!!! For my 14 month anniversary, I ran a triathlon, just a short sprint, ended up taking 4th place in my division out of 61. I have ran 2 x 26.2 mile marathons in the last 3 months along with some 5k & 10k races and I have 5 Ironman Triathlons on the plate for 2009. I am living proof that hard work does pay off, and sticking to the plan, and pushing yourself everyday can and will change your perspective on life. I am no longer "Fat" I am no longer the biggest person in any given room, or at any given place, I am no longer the guy who people stare at and feel sorry for, I am no longer the guy who gets kicked of roller coasters because he doesn't fit, no not that man at all, instead, I AM AN ATHLETE! An athlete that does one of the hardest endurance sports in the world... Ironman. This year I will become an Ironman, and again will accomplish something that not-so-long ago felt impossible. Your outlook is really what turns the impossible to the possible, and there is no doubt in my mind now that if I put my mind to something, I WILL see it through and accompli**** This is a time of reflection and gratitude for me. A time to think of all the obstacles and challenges that I have overcome, a time to think of everyone who has played a part in my journey, whether big or small, a time to thank my Heavenly Father for the chance I have been given to start living a more healthy, more rewarding life, and a time to especially thank my family, especially my wife, Christie. She is the glue that holds our family together. She is the one that has sacrificed so much in this process as well. There have been countless days that I have worked out 2 & 3 times in a day, gone most of Saturday mornings training, etc... and she has been the one to take care of the little ones. She is so amazing and I love her more than words can express.

     In closing, My hope is that I can be a source of inspiration to at least 1 person out there. That one person who feels like there is no hope, that person who is affraid of failure, and feels hopeless, that person who thinks they are not of any worth. To that person or persons, my heart goes out to you, because that was me 14 short months ago. I challenge everyone *****ads this to look deep within yourself, realize you are of such great worth, you have the power within you to do anything you put your mind to, and most of all YOU DESERVE TO BE HAPPY! Go out and face your fears, go out and tackle your dreams, push yourself to your limits, and most importantly, hold your head high knowing the whole time that change is coming and as sure as the sun sets this evening it will rise again in the morning. Today IS the first day of the rest of your life, make this and every day count, and may you always recieve the happiness and blessings you so rightfuly deserve. Thank you for reading and for always being sources of inspiration for me...

























 

Hey Dan,

I have to say that anyone reading your story wouldn't have a choice than to be inspired. You have certainly inspired me. I am a big stress eater and I have been really down the past few days, so you, along with a couple other people, are helping me realize that these few things that are not going right in this point and time aren't necessarily the end of the world, they are just minor inconveniences. Life goes on.

I am very intimated when I go to the gym, therefore I don't always try the equipment that I would like to try and I don't even do my whole routine (which isn't much mind you), because I'm afraid of failure.

So, I'm going to somehow save your message and refer back to it from time to time because you've started out from scratch and ended up the way you hoped to be.

Thanks for the message and for posting your pics.

Wow!!! You've had a wonderful post-op journey so far and I'm sure that you will be an inspiration to many men.  I suggested that they save this thread somewhere on their computer so they can repeatedly come back to it for inspiration.  One of the good things about the Men's Forum now is that something that is posted today may say on  the top page for several days thus affording many men to read the post without going to prior pages.

You lost weight for all of the right reasons.  I'm sure that your wife is pleased with your progress.  Now you can help with chores around the house and be a good husband and father.  I hope you will continue to post here.  There are many men starting exercise programs and you may be able to give them advice about training.  Thanks for telling us your story.

Dan, put those pictures on an MP3 player and keep them with you.  I have a similar story and the story wasn't real to people without the pictures.  I'm not a guy who carries pictures, but I have my music with me most of the time, and duh  MP3's  hold pictures. 

When people see the new you they can not even imagine the old you without pictures.  Your story is the inspiration that will change someone's life, keep telling it.

Be proud of yourself, we are proud of you and your accomplishment.

Robert Brown

Robert, thanks for the great idea about putting the pictures on our MP3 players or IPOD.  I never carry my pictures with me anymore and it really is hard for people to relate to where we are now in terms of our weightloss if they can't see where we all started from.  GREAT IDEA.  Totally awesome.

Thanks, TazRN

Your story is an inspiration.  I may not shoot for the triathalon, but I too want to be athletic.  I want to be an outdoorsman - a love I have had all my life.  I don't want to just go camping (which was hard to do for years with my sleep apnea) but rather I want to go hiking, canoeing, hunting, etc and enjoy the great outdoors with my family.

thanks for the inspiration Dan

Thanks for sharing all of this.  I loved reading about your successes and seeing the pictures of the new athlete.  You motivate me. 

Congratulations on your loss and you have gotten your wish to inspire at least one because I am inspired by your story.  Very motivational!

Merlin

That is awesome my brother.  I am very proud of what you have accomplished.  I am having some of the same experiences/rewards you are talking about with working out, exercise, running, etc.;  You are definitely going to be inspirational for many guys on the forum.  I was really taken back when you mentioned your wife and how she puts up with the extra workouts all week long and then taking care of the kids also.  I am in the same boat and can sympathize with you quite easily on the workout issues.  My wife is always ribbing/elbowing me about how I am now married to the gym and not her anymore (she is being sarcastic as hell, but she really means it - I love her dearly for putting up with me). 

Keep up the great work.

TazRn

Congrats on an awesome accomplishment.  You've done a great job - keep on keepin' on!