Over weight to triathlete

Today is my first day on the MFP community site. I'm not normally a very open person and don't share very many personal things; but when I read through some of the inspiring letters left by you it inspired me to do the same so here goes.

I was always a fairly active kid growing up. I played sports like most of the other kids in my neighborhood and never had a major problem with weight. When I was 18 I join the military and proudly served in the Army for four years.

When I got out I started training in martial arts for something to do. I trained for about 10 years and eventually earned black belts in three different systems. Along the way I met the woman who would eventually become my wife and we settled down to start a family.

Around the year 2000 I quit training and focused on work and providing for my family. Over the next 12 years I went from being a lean 215 pound guy to being a fat, 280 pound, doughnut eating cop. I didn't like myself, my job or my future.

Then just after Christmas of 2012 I received a phone call from my older brother. He called to tell me that he was in the hospital and he was going to have a heart cath and a stent put in. My brother was always the healthy one in my family. He exercised, ate right and took care of himself. This was a wake up call for me.

I told my wife that I needed to do something and I needed to start right away. I began researching and found MFP and purchased a quality HRM.

I had fitness equipment in my basement that was mostly used to hang clothes and collect dust lol. I cleaned it off and went to work. Over the next year I lost a little over 60 pounds and was probably in the best shape of my life, with the exception of when I got out of basic training.

In January 2014 I was at an aquatic center where my 9yo daughter was taking swimming lessons. I saw a flyer hanging on the wall that advertised triathlon training. It was for a local "sprint" class triathlon that was taking place that July. When I told my wife that I wanted to do it she looked at me smiled and said okay, because she knows once I get something in my head she can't stop me.

Going into my first day in the class I thought I was in pretty good shape. Then I got in the pool and swam my first length. It was only 25 yards but I thought I was going to die LOL. I kept plugging away and eventually I was able to swim 50 yards without stopping, then 100, then 200 and by the time of the race I was swimming a mile and a half continuous.

I read somewhere that when you enter your first triathlon you shouldn't won't worry about your time just surviving. I quickly understood that when the race began. For the first five minutes of the swim I was kicked, pushed and shoved under the water and felt fear like I never felt before. After regaining my composure and refocusing I completed the swim, went on to do the bike and drug myself through the run. When I crossed the finish line the look on my wife and daughters face filled me with more pride than I could have ever possibly imagined.

Today I'm starting out to prepare for another season of triathlons. I'm planning on doing two this year. The same Sprint class that I did last year and an Olympic class which is twice the distance. And again, when I told my wife she just shook her head and said okay, god I love her.

I hope my story inspires someone to Achieve their goals.