Hello

rodneywittner

Rodney here. I am 62 and live in s/e Washington state. I started my healthy lifestyle change one year ago. I joined Weight Watchers for Men, the online version w/ a coach. I started going to the gym, doing cardio consistently, 6 days a week. I was using the WW web site and following the plan to the letter. In April, I bought a FitBit Charge HR and started using it religiously. A couple of months ago, I started using the MFP website.

When I started WW one year ago, my health was a mess. I was obese, my BMI at 35. My Dr. said I was pre-diabetic, had an extremely high LDL cholesterol level and high blood pressure. I was taking 1 cholesterol med and 2 meds for the HBP.

Family history is not on my side. My mom had Type 2 Diabetes, and died of a heart attack at 65 shortly after retiring. My older sister had Type 2 and it eventually killed her at age 65, after having both legs amputated at the knees about 5 years prior. I was headed down the same road, it was not looking good. I decided it was time to make some changes.

So that was my driving force. Any my wife. She says she wants me to stick around for a while. We've been married for 35 years.
Starting weight: 232.8 lbs. (I am 5' 9")
Current weight: 167 lbs
Pounds shed: 65.8 lbs
Current BMI: 24
I am no longer pre-diabetic, blood sugar is in the normal range.
BP is pretty much normal.
Total cholesterol went from 315 to 153, also in the normal range.
With the doc's concurrence, I quit taking the cholesterol and BP meds months ago.

February 3rd was my one year anniversary. So I set last Friday as my goal weight day, with a goal weight of 168 lbs. I went to the WW Center for my weigh in and the scale says..... 167.2 lbs. GOAL! Yes! I set the goal date and made it happen.

Last fall, I started adding some running to my workout regimen. Just a little, like 100 yards at a time. I hadn't run a step in probably 30 years. I kept on, and eventually was running 3-4 miles. On Thanksgiving morning, I ran in our local "Turkey Trot" and completed the 5k run in 32 min. 28 seconds. Certainly not a record setting performance, but I did it. Without stopping. I ran the entire way from start line to finish line. I am planning and training for a 10k run later this month.

My Dr. says the changes I have made are remarkable. I feel fantastic and have more energy than I did 30 years ago. I feel pretty good about it and am pretty damn proud of myself. Now, the real work starts. Maintaining my new weight and staying fit. After all, it's a life style change. It's permanent and there is no finish line. It's forever. My motto is "Better Every Day."

Have a great day!

Rodney