A Fitness, not weight loss, success story (still in the making)...

HoneyBadger302

So this is a long(ish) tale, but if you're bored, read on:

After finally moving on to the professional desk job around 2009, I started to put on weight, something I had never had issues with in my life. As time wore on, and I didn't change my habits (I typically ate "healthy" so what was there to be concerned about?) the weight continued to creep on until I reached an all time hight of ~163. I had zero fitness and wasn't working out regularly at all. I couldn't fit into my fattest work pants, and something needed to change.

This was mid summer 2015, my first year racing my motorcycle. I didn't feel like I had the time to workout, but I knew I could control what I put in my mouth, so I started tracking calories and measuring my meals. I dropped nearly 20 pounds by the end of the year, but my racing was suffering due to my lack of fitness, so going into 2016, I decided to work on getting fit again.

My weight went up a bit as I started working out, slowly building up from my complete lack of any fitness. My racing improved, and the 2016 race season ended on a pretty good note. I was keeping up with the fitness and finally feeling like I was returning to being "fit" again. I still had fat to lose, but it was very slowly coming off and I was happy with where I was headed both in terms of weight and fitness and my racing.

Then, on 12/3/2016 while in a dirt bike class, another rider hit me and crashed into me. I ended up sustaining what is called a "pilon" fracture - rare fractures, that are hard to treat, and known for being problematic. I had no idea what I was in store for. Needless to say, being on crutches and living alone, things like going to the gym pretty much dissappeared. At first I lost a lot of weight (some was fat due to a lack of appetite, a lot was muscle), but as my appetite returned, and the stress from my leg (which was now on surgery #3) kept increasing, the weight started to come back. Honestly, I didn't care, I had too much to worry about. I knew I'd have to deal with getting it back off later, and I was okay with that.

By November 2017 my leg was improving enough where I could resume working out. Knowing the 2018 race season was a mere 4 months away, regaining muscle and fitness was a top priority over losing the extra weight. I was able to return to the gym and regular workouts, building up from a simple plan and moving on to intense workouts. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my overall fitness returned, although my leg will be ongoing work for a long time to come.

The weight has started to slowly drift in a downward trend, but with a focus on recomp rather than weight loss, it's slow. The changes in my appearance, however, are not small.

This past weekend was our first race of 2018. I went in with expectations focused on technique and implementation of the lessons from my coach, with no expectations in terms of finishes or laptimes. I knew I'd be back to square one with my riding, and wanted my mind set on the right goals to start the year after my devestating 2017.

I'm happy to report that the weekend was a success for me. My leg, which all of last year had been a major problem, was hardly an issue. In fact, the only issue is a lack of feeling in my foot which makes it hard to feel the peg and shifter, but some seat time and muscle memory will take care of that. Other than that, it wasn't a concern the entire weekend.

My fitness wasn't an issue either, and at the pace I was running, I didn't feel winded or worn out. A few things to focus a bit more in the gym, but I was actually really, really pleased at my lack of being "worn out" during my races.

Overall, it was a great weekend, and most importantly, I had FUN riding and racing again. My times were back to where they were 2 years ago (basically erasing all the progress I made over 2016), but I set myself up for a good year, kept my focus where it needed to be, and my work over the winter paid off big time!

SalinitySally

Yikes. I like to go fast. In a car. Good job.

solieco1

Great read and great determination. I love the pictures! I'm inspired to get back to doing Epic Sh!