When I started the Doctor of Chiropractic program, I was 365 lbs. Over the next three quarters, I lost 75 lbs. at a steady rate of 25 lbs a quarter. Then the weight loss stopped. It stopped despite my eating and exercise habits continually getting better. Fast forward about a year and a sister in the LORD finally put my symptoms together: Mold Toxicity was the tentative diagnosis. After several tests, including toxicity challenges, the VCS test, and a couple blood tests, the diagnosis was confirmed. After some investigation, we concluded that it was my apartment (with its water damage and mildew and falling tiles) that was the source of the exposure.
This past fall, 2009, I was frustrated because I found out about all of the mold stuff about a month after I signed a lease renewal. The apartment complex isn't trying to let me out of my lease without forking over what amounts to $1,700 in fees. I was very frustrated. That, coupled with some personal issues that were deeply distressing caused me to just kind of "pack it in." The last two months of 2009, I ate horribly and very rarely worked out.
One of the things that God is working me on is learning to fight again. There was a certain area of my life (and many of you know EXACTLY to what I refer) in which I had not been trusting God. I was very vulnerable to attack in that area, and when I was, I WAS! Anyway, I am learning to really put that area of my life on the proverbial altar and die to it.
As a result, I am now working on my physical health again. I am rebuilding the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am starting this blog for some accountability and hopefully some encouragement from and to you! I am going to graduate in less than two years as a Doctor of Chiropractic and one of the most powerful things that I can have is a TESTIMONY of being morbidly obese and coming to a place of massive health and fitness. Rebuilding my temple = Building my testimony = Building the Kingdom!!!
Here is my two-pronged approach to increasing my fitness, that I plan to employ this quarter:
- MaxFit: a friend of mine, Dr. Fred Roberto, has taken several concepts (surge training, muscle confusion and functional fitness) and melded them into one awesome workout program. It is in the testing phase right now, and I was in one of the test groups. I was not a good test group participant, though, as the test group started last November and we've already covered that (clearing throat). Thankfully, I have a friend and sister in the LORD who has committed to being my workout partner in the MaxFit workouts three days a week. For some reason, I do so much better in being consistent with my workouts when I have a partner. This is something I have been sorely missing since my last workout partner, Amanda, and her husband moved to Texas.
- Running: I have had a desire (though obviously not overwhelming) to begin to run for a while. I decided that I am going to start doing that. My goal is to run my first 5k on April 17th, 2010.
Sunday, 1/10/10
The first MaxFit workout. It is a 90 day program, 3 times a week, 39 workouts... (38 workouts left to go) :-)
I really pushed myself during this workout. Pull ups, staggered squats, Isometric lunges, hammer curls to military presses, and tips... YIKES!!! My shoulders were burning and my hamstrings were sore. I mean SORE, and only an hour after the workout. LOL Dr. Fred... my legs don't like you right now! But, one day down, and I am really trying to not look at the MOUNTAIN that I see before me in my body fat percentage and the numbers on my Tanita body composition scan. I haven't had one of those in a while, and I can't get to Dr. Fred's until Wednesday, but I will get one then.
Monday, 1/11/10
First run day. I am in worse shape than I thought. My original plan will have to be tweaked. I still plan to do trainings of the same duration and the same 50/50 run/walk pattern, but the intensity will HAVE to be changed. I'll be happy to see how my lungs and heart respond to the stress I am now putting them through. Good stress ;-)
I started out by running at 6 miles an hour. My goal was 5 minutes. I made it 3. Then I walked 3 mins at 3 miles an hour. After that, I alternated jogging at 4mph and walking at 2mph. I did that for my total time goal of 15 minutes. I am seeking God to not be discouraged by that. I thought I was in better shape than that. Oh well. When I said I was setting up my program to assume that I was not able to run AT ALL, I didn't know I was so close to literal. I guess running this 5k will be a bigger victory than I thought.
All in all, I realize that I am going to have something in my arsenal that most doctors cannot have: the ability to look at a morbidly obese patient and say, "I have been where you are. I KNOW it can be done. I am here for you, if you want it!" I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and see what seems to be a mountain of fat and feel trapped in your body. Thankfully, I have faith, and I have a God that lives inside me who is a mountain mover!!!
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