O O Ø O O O O
Moving Fat Along The Highway
The last couple years have been a pretty mixed bag for me health-wise. Two years ago today I was getting ready to run my first half-marathon after nine months of training. Ignoring my PT’s advice, and played in the first Ultimate game of the summer league , and tore my soleus. After a summer of rehab, I strained my lower back in a fall Ultimate game, putting me on the couch for a week and out of anything physical for another two months. Of course, me being me, I went and played another game and sprained my ankle.
Two years ago I was 185 pounds, had a resting heart rate of 54, a body fat percentage of 18, lifted every other day, and ran about 65km per week. Oh how times have changed. Injuries, a job that kept me on the road and eating out of hotels full-time last year, and general apathy led to gaining 40 pounds, higher cholesterol and resting heart rates, and wheezing after running up the stairs. Something had to be done.
First and foremost, I gave up Ultimate. Then, I gave up my #5 combo with a large coffee from the house of Ron, and all other fast food in general. My diet’s changed for the better with the fat reduced substantially, and the fruits and vegetables are going down fast and furious. I’m tracking everything that goes in and out on a daily basis, where “out” is caloric expenditure, not that other “out” because, well, ewwww. Finally, I’m running three times a week, cross-training once or twice per week, and lifting again. I’m back on track.
The big question is “Why?”
I’ve told myself it’s because I need the stress-relief that the endorphin rush gives me. I’ve convinced myself that cutting my alcohol intake to a maximum of four drinks per drink will make me happier and healthier. I’ve watched a quarter of my weight gain go down the drain, and figure that the other three-quarters will melt away as time goes by. As it does, I’ll reduce my risk for heart disease, bringing my blood pressure down, and lower my cholesterol.
All good things, but something was missing.
I was moving fat along the side of the road… err… running tonight through my neighborhood. I was soaked with sweat, and breathing harder than a 976 junkie. I looked like a mess, and felt marginally better. As I ran, I crossed paths with a very cute fellow runner who flashed a brief look of pain and then a huge smile. It was a tenth of a second connection, but it was awesome.
I now remember the real reason I’m doing this.
Kev Needham
May 2, 2006
OOØOOOODCCLIV
May 3rd, 2006 at 8:15 am
did he have a nice butt?
May 6th, 2006 at 9:33 am
I’m pretty convinced that changing my alcohol intake to “four drinks per drink” will make me happier too…I’m not so sure about healthier, though. So if the docs recommend two drinks a night, that’s eight drinks on the Kev training plan? SIGN ME UP!
May 7th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Darn Priior took my comment ;-0