My Wife Deserves This...

My wife is a wonderful women and has loved me unconditionally for our entire life together. We have a spectacular marriage, but I have never been in good shape, and I always felt like she deserved a healthy husband. It took a long time, but I finally had the epiphany I needed.
In July 2011, my Dad invited my family and my brother and his family to go on a vacation to Yellowstone. We rented a condo at the base of the Grand Tetons in Teton Village. One of the days we were there, just my brother and I went on a hike into Cascade Canyon, above Jenny Lake in the Tetons.
That hike was the beginning. While on that hike, I realized how much I enjoyed hiking into places of such beauty, and knew that I wanted to keep hiking any chance I could get. I also realized that I would not be able to do that at 5 ft 10 inches, 220 pounds and 30% body fat.
When we returned from that vacation, I already had a plan to lose weight. I knew I had to do it through diet and exercise, and I knew I wanted to have a three-tier goal:

1. Lose 15 pounds. This would put me in the overweight range on the BMI charts rather than obese. I considered this to be the bare minimum I had to do for the sake of my family and my own health.

2. Lose another 15 pounds. This would put me at 190 pounds which was the lowest weight I had ever reached as an adult. This is something I really wanted to accomplish; if I could achieve a stable weight of 190, I would consider myself a complete success.

3. Lose yet another 15 pounds. This was the dream. I really didn't think it was possible, but I thought I should dream big or go home. 175 pounds. Me? Yeah, right.

I started tracking calories and doing a lot of walking. Sure enough, the weight started to come off. I passed the first tier goal of 15 pounds by the end of September. By December, I had lost my second 15 pounds. In February 2012, I started doing P90X, at least most of it. I kept that up until June, when I asked a track coach friend of mine to help me learn how to run. Over the summer I did a fair amount of swimming and biked everywhere, even to go grocery shopping.
When summer ended I stopped biking and swimming, but instead started to run distance. I am registered for my first half-marathon at the end of this month.
So after the end of this 21 month journey, I had a pleasant surprise yesterday. At my work we have annual wellness checks performed by the local hospital staff.

My weight is 171 pounds.

My BMI is 25.0.

The scale measured my percentage body fat as 10.4%. I'm not sure I believe that, but it hardly matters. Last year at the same time the same scale measured me as 13.0%.

The best part about this is how I feel. I feel better than I have since college, and I am more physically capable than I have ever been. Period. Here's some of the things I can do now that I never thought I would be able to do:

20 decline pushups
20 wide-fly pushups
20 butterfly pushups
4 pullups
6 chinups
Run four miles in less than thirty-six minutes
Run twelve miles in less than two hours

The most important thing to success in my experience is to simply continue and to not let yourself go backwards.

My profile pic is current, I haven't posted any before pics yet.

I have been reading these success stories for a long time now, and they motivate me. Hopefully, mine will do the same. Thanks everybody.
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Replies

  • Bighiker2
    Bighiker2 Posts: 100
    Your story is great and the profile picture shows a man in shape! You did it! I am so happy for you and your family. My husband and I are hikers, so I understand your desire to be healthy so that you can continue doing the things you love!

    Amazing job! :smile:
  • loricshields47
    loricshields47 Posts: 134 Member
    what a great journey!! congratulations.....
  • Great job!
  • wllwsmmr
    wllwsmmr Posts: 391 Member
    Aw this is really lovely :) Congrats on all your achievements, your dedication is admirable and inspiring!
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    Fan-freaking-tastic!
  • Alpha12
    Alpha12 Posts: 251 Member
    Great post. Congrats on your achievement!
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    What a great set of goals you had, and you smashed through them all!

    You should feel so proud. =)
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
    Well done and congratulations to the lucky lady!
  • fitfreakymom
    fitfreakymom Posts: 1,400 Member
    You deserved it to good job
  • MrsDrk
    MrsDrk Posts: 153 Member
    Great job, and it's wonderful to read about spouses who love one another :)
  • RunWinterGarden
    RunWinterGarden Posts: 428 Member
    Awesome work! Enjoy the first half marathon, the feeling of accomplishment at the end is the best!
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    VERY well done. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story.
  • grdnr03
    grdnr03 Posts: 547 Member
    congrats on your success, and thanks for sharing!
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    In the voice of Peggy on the Capital One commercials..."you inspire me" Seriously, Nice job, I am in very much the same with the same stats. I am down to 194 and I hope to accomplish what you have. BTW, thats a nice Ric.
  • niftyafterfifty
    niftyafterfifty Posts: 338 Member
    Well done!
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Great story and great job! Congratulations!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Awesome! Although you say your wife deserves this, it sounds like you really did it for YOU! And your wife is reaping the eye-candy rewards :wink:
  • h0rserunner
    h0rserunner Posts: 26 Member
    Great story. I love that you explained your motivation for your success as well. Keep it up!
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    Fantastic job, dude!
  • nashsheri33
    nashsheri33 Posts: 225 Member
    well done!

    the sky is the limit! keep flying!
  • Nikki31104
    Nikki31104 Posts: 816 Member
    I think setting small goals makes it so much easier. It seems less daunting that way. You did an amazing job. Congratulations!
  • donna1432
    donna1432 Posts: 87 Member
    Keep yourself reminded of your WHY!!! YOU can do it!
  • jennydoesketo
    jennydoesketo Posts: 16 Member
    Fantastic!!! :)
  • BrennLinn
    BrennLinn Posts: 178 Member
    What a great story! You rock!!
  • Krissy366
    Krissy366 Posts: 458 Member
    That is fantastic!! And not only does your wife deserve it - you do, too!! Congratulations on your success.
  • JeanMBK
    JeanMBK Posts: 728 Member
    Great job! not only does your wife deserve this, but you do!
  • mattschwartz01
    mattschwartz01 Posts: 566 Member
    My wife is a wonderful women and has loved me unconditionally for our entire life together. We have a spectacular marriage, but I have never been in good shape, and I always felt like she deserved a healthy husband. It took a long time, but I finally had the epiphany I needed.
    In July 2011, my Dad invited my family and my brother and his family to go on a vacation to Yellowstone. We rented a condo at the base of the Grand Tetons in Teton Village. One of the days we were there, just my brother and I went on a hike into Cascade Canyon, above Jenny Lake in the Tetons.
    That hike was the beginning. While on that hike, I realized how much I enjoyed hiking into places of such beauty, and knew that I wanted to keep hiking any chance I could get. I also realized that I would not be able to do that at 5 ft 10 inches, 220 pounds and 30% body fat.
    When we returned from that vacation, I already had a plan to lose weight. I knew I had to do it through diet and exercise, and I knew I wanted to have a three-tier goal:

    1. Lose 15 pounds. This would put me in the overweight range on the BMI charts rather than obese. I considered this to be the bare minimum I had to do for the sake of my family and my own health.

    2. Lose another 15 pounds. This would put me at 190 pounds which was the lowest weight I had ever reached as an adult. This is something I really wanted to accomplish; if I could achieve a stable weight of 190, I would consider myself a complete success.

    3. Lose yet another 15 pounds. This was the dream. I really didn't think it was possible, but I thought I should dream big or go home. 175 pounds. Me? Yeah, right.

    I started tracking calories and doing a lot of walking. Sure enough, the weight started to come off. I passed the first tier goal of 15 pounds by the end of September. By December, I had lost my second 15 pounds. In February 2012, I started doing P90X, at least most of it. I kept that up until June, when I asked a track coach friend of mine to help me learn how to run. Over the summer I did a fair amount of swimming and biked everywhere, even to go grocery shopping.
    When summer ended I stopped biking and swimming, but instead started to run distance. I am registered for my first half-marathon at the end of this month.
    So after the end of this 21 month journey, I had a pleasant surprise yesterday. At my work we have annual wellness checks performed by the local hospital staff.

    My weight is 171 pounds.

    My BMI is 25.0.

    The scale measured my percentage body fat as 10.4%. I'm not sure I believe that, but it hardly matters. Last year at the same time the same scale measured me as 13.0%.

    The best part about this is how I feel. I feel better than I have since college, and I am more physically capable than I have ever been. Period. Here's some of the things I can do now that I never thought I would be able to do:

    20 decline pushups
    20 wide-fly pushups
    20 butterfly pushups
    4 pullups
    6 chinups
    Run four miles in less than thirty-six minutes
    Run twelve miles in less than two hours

    The most important thing to success in my experience is to simply continue and to not let yourself go backwards.

    My profile pic is current, I haven't posted any before pics yet.

    I have been reading these success stories for a long time now, and they motivate me. Hopefully, mine will do the same. Thanks everybody.

    I love the mountains and hiking but I'm unable to engage in the activity just yet. It helps to hear stories such as yours because I remember that transformation is possible. At my lowest weight of 215 pounds 11 years ago I could tear up the trail. I'll get there again, but this time to the ideal body weight of around 188-190.
  • WolffEarl
    WolffEarl Posts: 379 Member
    Yours is the kind of story that inspires and once again reaffirms that goals, consistency and motivation is a winning recipe for success. Well done.
  • petersonabt
    petersonabt Posts: 518 Member
    Such an amazing story!! :) way to go getting your healthy on!!!
  • murphey21
    murphey21 Posts: 126 Member
    Well done! Congratulations! Remember though, as much as your wife deserves it, you deserve it too and should prould of yourself and the accomplishments you made! Great job!
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