I grew up in a single parent household and my mother worked her tail off to provide my brother and me with a good and satisfying life. My mother is a certified dietician which would lead one to believe I grew up a healthy and fit young man. However, due to my mom's great work schedule demands as well as unwillingness to work out I ate extremely convenient food which often presented itself in the form of McDonald's, Burger King, etc. This took a tool on my body and by the time I was in 8th grade I weighed an embarrassing 354 pounds. I was so large playing football was essentially erased I went out and practiced but never really played due to my inability to move.
I entered my freshman year of high school big as ever and would have continued on my path had it not been for one day after school. Upon the suggestion of my high school football coach I went out for wrestling in hopes to shed some weight. I had been wrestling all season which up to that point was 3 months and had lost 15 pounds although not much to you that was an amazing amount to me. Then it happened I was practicing getting the tar kicked out of me as usual and my left leg snapped like a twig. I laid there in pain unable to move. After I had spent a couple days in the hospital and been sent home my mom bought me a magazine called "Men's Health and Fitness" I flipped through the pages staring in amazement at this men who had lost weight and kept it off. In that instant I had made up my mind, I was going to lose weight.
I went on a strict liquid diet and once allowed began rehabbing every day and what started out as fun became a necessity I worked out every day for 3 hours after school doing anything and everything I could. The rehab process was grueling and time staking though when all was said and done I had lost 113 pounds and was in the best shape of my life. Although, I will never look like one of the pictures in Flex magazine I understand the journey I have been on and no one can take away my love for exercise and true understanding of its value.
Until next time...
Wow! This is an amazing story--and all the moreso because it is about real life! This would make for another awesome epiphany. I really appreciate your sharing this and can understand how magazines like "Muscle & Fitness" must have inspired you. My youngest brother got into a fitness streak after watching Arnold's (I won't try to spell his last name) "Pumping iron" (the video). Thanks again for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely an incredible story of transformation and determination! It is stories like this that give me hope and let me know that I am in the right field for helping people out, hopefully children in the future. Though you were not an adult when you wanted to become healthy, it is refreshing to see that you did not try extreme quick fixes unlike the rest of the world wanting gastric bypass or taking diet pills.
ReplyDeleteIan, I really liked your story, I would have never guessed you weighed that much from looking at you now. It definately takes an incredible work ethic and strong determination to lose that much weight so I commend you. I feel that "convienent" eating is a pretty big issue especiall in high school and college. Busy schedules force people to not have the necessary time to do their eating which results in the fastest meals possible. Unfortunately these quick meals are not designed to be the healthiest. This is something I think fast food chains should look into and maybe develop a better menue. Congrats again!
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