Well, it’s been a while. For those not in on the first part of this journey, I’ll give a short recap. About five years ago, I was banging on Death’s door, begging for him to let me the fuck in. I was miserable. I weighed 275lbs and was dealing with chronic joint and back pain.
I ended up in the ER, requiring surgery to remove my gallbladder. However, my blood pressure was too high, 237/115, for the surgery to be done safely. So, I waited in the hospital for 3 days, until my BP came down to a safe range. During that time, I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I made it through the surgery, did my best to ignore the diabetes, and went about life miserable, in pain, and cranky.
A year later, I still had high blood pressure, diabetes that I was ignoring, I remained overweight, and my doctor said I was months, if not weeks, from a major stroke. So, I decided to get my shit together. I started dieting and working out. In the end, I lost 75 pounds, reaching my goal of 200lbs.
Life was much better at this point. I had a job where I worked three days a week and was on-call the other two. I was working out and riding my dirt bike on the off days. Also, most the back and joint pain was gone.
Then, things changed. Our major projects at work were winding down and business was slow. I had been doing some cool stuff, writing apps for iPads, shooting and editing video, and other cool stuff, but was starting to worry about the future.
Meanwhile, a friend had been bugging me to come work for him. So, I jumped ship. The new job was great, but I was busy – really busy. I was now working 5 days a week and was exhausted on the weekends. I quit going to the gym and stopped riding my dirt bike again.
Well, within a few months, the company was acquired. My friend left the company, and things got busier and more stressful. Our business model changed, everyone’s focus was changed, and then we were acquired again. To make a long story short, we had a crappy year that resulted in layoffs, at the beginning of this year. Those layoffs included me.
Meanwhile, I had completely ignored my health over the last year. I gained 48lbs and, once again, had been ignoring my diabetes. Once again, I started feeling like crap. Well, that’s over for now. This last December, I started paying attention again and since then I’ve already lost 18 lbs.
I’m feeling better, but really need to get off my ass and back to the gym. However, the motivation just isn’t there yet. So, for now, I’m looking for a carrot…
I'm on a lifelong quest to find the perfect balance between strawberry smoothies and pizza slices. A self-proclaimed gym enthusiast who believes rest days are just as crucial as leg days—especially if they involve NASCAR racing. I lift weights, but only so I can justify my love for chocolate cake. When I'm not at the gym, you’ll find me riding dirt bikes or capturing the thrill of motorsport through my camera lens. Join me as I navigate the highs and lows of fitness, where progress is measured in reps, and cheat meals are a form of self-care.
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