A new Journey

After many false starts, I am once again taking the first step of a long journey towards making a healthier me. As I had mentioned before I am doing the Couch to 5k program again.  I am also going to the gym more consistently than before.

The most important step I have taken, is hiring a nutritionist to help me properly eat and manage my weight.  I was very excited to get started and I like everything so far.  Eating has always been a challenge for me, but with some help, I know I can get it under control.

I am not focusing on a weight loss number, and I am not going to constantly weigh myself.  I will do a weigh in periodically, so I will have some idea how much success I am having.  When I weight myself earlier this week, I was saddened to learn that I was back in the 400+ range.

My starting weight is 402lbs.  How much lower will it be??

What a scare

I had a bit of a health scare around the Bunny 5k race. The week leading up to the race I was having a harder time breathing and I seemed to be out of breath whenever I was exerting myself (going up the stairs, brisk walking etc.) I figured it was just the start of a chest cold, and would get better in a few days.  During the 5k I was really struggling, and was out of breath the whole time, but I just ignored it and kept going.

I still was having trouble breathing on Easter, so I went to the Doctor. A few weeks ago, we had changed my BP medication, and that change was causing me to retain a lot of water. All of that water was constricting my heart and lungs causing my breathing issues (I heard them mention Congestive Heart Failure.) That scared the crap out of me !!

They put me on a new diuretic, and I feel much better now. And the follow up tests (EEG and x-rays) came back normal.  I had caused myself and my family a lot of worry and anxiety.

Time to make more changes !!

The Tortise finishes the race

The Bunny Run 5k is over and WE DID IT !!!!   My wife and Daughter both finished the race and I did as well.  I won't say I ran during the race, I was one of the last people, but I  finished it !!  I had a few issues during the race (more on that in a later post) but I made it to the end. I am very proud of all of us for sticking to it and working hard to finish a goal.

I want to thank and congratulate all of our class mates in the Couch to 5k program. I also want to give a special shout out to Tommy Snodgrass, and all his helpers, meeting me at the finish line and helping me finish the race meant the world to me, and my Family.

I have signed up for the Spring / Summer Couch to 5K class, I plan on running my next 5k in June. So stay tuned.