How I came to be here......my story

4aces61 · February 2015

Ok so here's a lil history as to how I came to be here. Up until the end of 2013, my weight fluctuated between 250-300lbs. Here is a pic from 1994, the last time I was in good shape. 210lbs age 33.

Although the following pic was from a couple summers ago, it pretty much sums up how I looked. My heaviest, 300lbs. Oh and I'm 5'8" tall, age 53.

I decided at the end of 2013 it was time to get my act together and do something about my health. High blood pressure, diabetic, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. So I made a new year resolution that 2014 would be the year to get healthy, not only for myself, but for my family. My wife introduced me to MFP, and I really liked it. The tracking, accountability it made me have. After measuring/weighing food, I was amazed at how much I was actually eating. So the quest was on. LOTS of cardio for the first six months, averaging 10-15lbs per month loss. One month I hit 19lbs for a loss. In June, I started back into lifting weights, while still hitting the cardio hard. By August I was down to 205. I went from a very tight 44" waist to a very comfortable 34" waist.

I changed up my diet, added some calories and more intense weight training. I did pick up 10 lbs, but was not around my waistline. So now almost 7 months later, (since August) I'm still maintaining a weight of 215lbs. Here's a couple pics from the gym how I look right now. I'm still not as lean as I would like to be, but I'm still a work in progress. All the above illnesses are now gone. I see an endocrinologist every three months to keep tabs on my health. I feel better then I have in a very long time. I currently get up at around 2:20 am, at the gym by 3, out by 4:30 then off to work by 5am. (I'm a train mechanic, very physically demanding, and this has really helped me in doing my job more efficiently) On the weekend I sleep in haha, get up around 4:30 to hit the gym. I like to get it in early and be done with it.

Thanks for checking out my story.

p444cod41 · February 2015

Bernie I loved your story!very well written!im impressed

arditarose · February 2015

holy cow. you look great man!

pensierobello · February 2015

Amazing! Well done!!!

LauraFincher · February 2015

Well what a great accomplishment, you look great!! Congrats!!

julie2407 · February 2015

You are awesome

Well done!

socalkay · February 2015

Amazing! Overcoming high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea with diet and exercise is so inspirational. Great job!

Emilia777 · February 2015

This is amazing, thanks for sharing your story! Working out so early before work is really fantastic, major props for your discipline.

Do you mind if I ask what weight training regimen you use? My dad is also working on getting in better shape and I’d love to show him your post for inspiration and as a guideline. He likes weight training and doesn’t think much of the cardio thing

dawnna76 · February 2015

Great job! My husband works for the railroad too and more often than not I meet a lot of unhealthy coworkers of his. Start a new trend!

4aces61 · February 2015

Emilia777 wrote: »

This is amazing, thanks for sharing your story! Working out so early before work is really fantastic, major props for your discipline.

Do you mind if I ask what weight training regimen you use? My dad is also working on getting in better shape and I’d love to show him your post for inspiration and as a guideline. He likes weight training and doesn’t think much of the cardio thing

Thanks everyone.
Emilia, it's no set workout. The cardio was a minimum of an our a day for the first 6 months. No weights, then I slowly added the weight training, usually 1 major body part, every-other day and cardio. On non weight days, it's cardio and abs. Can be from anywhere from 4-6 days a week, depending on how much over time I have worked which can sometimes be a lot, 48 hours in the last 2 weeks, 13 straight days. This past week I skipped two days cuz I was just too tired to get out of bed. I keep my work outs changing about every 6 weeks as to not get stale, but to also keep my body guessing and not fall into a plateau, which sometimes ends up happening any way. I usually do about 5 sets of 10 reps per exercise, and depending on the body part can be 5-8 different exercises. Does your dad need to lose weight, if so, he's gonna need to start liking cardio lol.

mkaye713 · February 2015

You look fab

Yodee · February 2015

Great job! That's one of my goals too - reducing the medical issues

AdelaideNat · February 2015

Wowwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! Well done

Thanks for sharing and thank you for your support this past year, you keep me pushin' and stickin' to my goals, no matter how small - Nat

larryc0923 · February 2015

Amazing and inspirational story!

Liftng4Lis · February 2015

Excellent work, way to get it!

jadumz · February 2015

Love a good 'hey look at me, I got fit' story!

jennifer_417 · February 2015

You look great! Congrats and keep up the good work!

Will210 · February 2015

Awesome work! Thank you for sharing. I agree on the cardio. I have read/listened to more than a few diet guru's who say cardio is not necessary and will hurt your progress and it's better to do HIIT 3 times a week. But I think these guys never had to lose over 30 pounds. I think once you are over a certain threshold - cardio can be a key to dropping weight. Once you get below that threshold- then make weight training/muscle growth more of a priority. Just my 2 cents - obviously you did things right. Well done.

Emilia777 · February 2015

4aces61 wrote: »

show previous quotes

Emilia777 wrote: »

This is amazing, thanks for sharing your story! Working out so early before work is really fantastic, major props for your discipline.

Do you mind if I ask what weight training regimen you use? My dad is also working on getting in better shape and I’d love to show him your post for inspiration and as a guideline. He likes weight training and doesn’t think much of the cardio thing

Thanks everyone.
Emilia, it's no set workout. The cardio was a minimum of an our a day for the first 6 months. No weights, then I slowly added the weight training, usually 1 major body part, every-other day and cardio. On non weight days, it's cardio and abs. Can be from anywhere from 4-6 days a week, depending on how much over time I have worked which can sometimes be a lot, 48 hours in the last 2 weeks, 13 straight days. This past week I skipped two days cuz I was just too tired to get out of bed. I keep my work outs changing about every 6 weeks as to not get stale, but to also keep my body guessing and not fall into a plateau, which sometimes ends up happening any way. I usually do about 5 sets of 10 reps per exercise, and depending on the body part can be 5-8 different exercises. Does your dad need to lose weight, if so, he's gonna need to start liking cardio lol.

Thanks so much for the info!! I really appreciate it. I totally hear you on being too tired: my dad is a millwright and does a lot of overtime as well. As for cardio, your experience just might do the trick to convince him it can be effective. He wants to drop at least 50 lbs, so there’s no way around it.

As a side note, I do find that I lose weight faster (or at least inches) when I do weights together with cardio. Low reps and heavy weights are my best friends.

Again, congratulations for your success. It is a true inspiration

.

trina1049 · February 2015

Congratulations! You look fabulous and so happy to hear that your medical issues cleared up. Keep up the good work!

CraigShift · February 2015

Congrats Bernie, I know it is not an easy journey. Freaking awesome man!

TnZMom · February 2015

Congratulations! You look awesome.

leechadcrowe · March 2015

excellent achievement mate add me as friend need some good advice and motivation

craignev · March 2015

Awesome work! Congrats on your commitment and success.

happygalah · March 2015

Wow, amazing story and accomplishment!

happygalah · March 2015

Will210 wrote: »

Awesome work! Thank you for sharing. I agree on the cardio. I have read/listened to more than a few diet guru's who say cardio is not necessary and will hurt your progress and it's better to do HIIT 3 times a week. But I think these guys never had to lose over 30 pounds. I think once you are over a certain threshold - cardio can be a key to dropping weight. Once you get below that threshold- then make weight training/muscle growth more of a priority. Just my 2 cents - obviously you did things right. Well done.

Yeah this for sure. I was reading an AMA journal article where it said cardio was best for decreasing the fat around your organs; which is pretty important when you have 50, 100 or so to lose. Plus the benefits of strengthening your heart.

bketchum1981 · March 2015

I find the cardio debate interesting. I'm sticking with 70/30 split btwn cardio/strength. I think there are benefits to both and sticking with bit until the mystery is solved. Great work! Really shows and inspirational!

determined24girl · March 2015

You look awesome! Great job! but.... when do you sleep??

sun_fish · March 2015

Amazing transformation, congrats!

mhoeff1 · March 2015

lOOK AT YOU !!! Wow you have done an amazing job getting your health back in control:) I just started doing an hr of cardio at 80 to 85 % of my max heart rate. And I sure dont like it but tomorrow I will be getting it done with a better attitude about it lol I have 50 more to go. I would rather just lift but I was told that I have to do the cardio for an hr and on an empty stomach at least two hrs before my next meal Keep up the great work!!!