It's never too late.

hooltwl1957
hooltwl1957 Posts: 31 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am a 57 year old married man who gained Over 130lbs in the 26 years I have been wed. I know what your thinking, "his wife must be a great cook" but u would be wrong. I love my wife with all my heart but she is not the type of woman that cooks very often and if she does the food is average at best. My weight climb was a gradual increase from 180 lbs in my twenties to 347 lbs by the time I reached 57. My weight has caused my health to deteriorate to the point Where I could not walk more than a few steps without becoming short of breath and sweating perfusely. About six years ago I had to have a bilateral knee replacement because the excess weight I was carrying caused my knees to deteriorate causing me excruciating pain. I was put on heavy narcotic pain killers to allow me to walk, which caused me to become dependent on the pain medication. After having my knees replaced, I fought my way free of the opiate dependency that the so called pain management doctors kept prescribing for me. A few years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes also caused by obesity. Well I thought it was too late for me. I just knew I was going to die soon but I tried to not think about it. Then one day I was at work when I started having chest pain, this is I thought I Would never see my family again. My wife would be left by herself and I would never meet the grandchildren who I know aren't far away. I stumbled into my office and reached for the phone to call for help, I went to the emergency room and was told I had a mild ischemic attack but it didn't cause any damage to my heart muscle. The cardiologist told me Next time I could die if I didn't do something. Well the time had come, I opened up the my fitness pal app that has been on my cell phone for a year and got down to business. I started to watch my calories until slowly I began to lose weight. Once I lost enough weight to breath a little better, I started to walk my dogs at night. A duty that I have been unable to perform for the past few years leaving it to my wife. The pounds continued to drop and I took out the bike I bought 15 years ago and started to ride. After a few months of riding and walking, I dropped 65 pounds and today I continue to eat right and exercise everyday. I have another 102 lbs to go and it seems to be coming off slowly but surely. I never told my wife about my Emergecy Room experience and When she reads this she will know the truth. I wrote this so everyone who doubts their ability to live a longer, better life, I want you to know, you can but first u have to start. Good luck to all my fitness pal friends. Just remember , u got this!!!!

Replies

  • TriCardinal
    TriCardinal Posts: 48 Member
    Really inspiring story- thanks for sharing :)
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    edited August 2015
    I wish everyone in your situation could understand your story. I hear it all the time from people when I tell them what I'm doing (counting calories and walking) that they've either gotten too heavy, have a bad heart, a permanent injury, thyroid problem, etc. and therefore can't do anything about their weight. If you're able to breathe, eat, speak, and make decisions on your own, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other, even if it's figurative. You, sir, have got this! (and good luck with your wife! My bf would kill me!)
  • lisajahn3
    lisajahn3 Posts: 35 Member
    You are so inspiring! People need to hear this!
  • BeeSting12
    BeeSting12 Posts: 6 Member
    Keep up the hard work; sounds like the hard part is over. Great inspiration & thank you for sharing.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    Good for you! Thanks for posting your story. Be sure to collect the pictures of your weight loss journey so we can see them in the Photo Success folder. I have a pittance of weight to lose compared to you, but still need to do what you've done and count calories and keep exercising. There's no easy way around it for any of us.
  • MrsCaitlinBeltran
    MrsCaitlinBeltran Posts: 241 Member
    Thank you so much for posting your story--You're incredibly inspiring and have such an amazing fighting spirit!! I wish you well on the rest of your journey :)
  • parkerpowerlift
    parkerpowerlift Posts: 196 Member
    What a blessing! Good for you, sir! I am thankful that you were given another chance, after being in that emergency room! Super scary, but you used what could be deemed a negative and used it to catapult you into becoming the best version of you! We don't know you, but we all are proud of you!
  • hooltwl1957
    hooltwl1957 Posts: 31 Member
    hooltwl1957 wrote: »
    I am a 57 year old married man who gained Over 130lbs in the 26 years I have been wed. I know what your thinking, "his wife must be a great cook" but u would be wrong. I love my wife with all my heart but she is not the type of woman that cooks very often and if she does the food is average at best. My weight climb was a gradual increase from 180 lbs in my twenties to 347 lbs by the time I reached 57. My weight has caused my health to deteriorate to the point Where I could not walk more than a few steps without becoming short of breath and sweating perfusely. About six years ago I had to have a bilateral knee replacement because the excess weight I was carrying caused my knees to deteriorate causing me excruciating pain. I was put on heavy narcotic pain killers to allow me to walk, which caused me to become dependent on the pain medication. After having my knees replaced, I fought my way free of the opiate dependency that the so called pain management doctors kept prescribing for me. A few years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes also caused by obesity. Well I thought it was too late for me. I just knew I was going to die soon but I tried to not think about it. Then one day I was at work when I started having chest pain, this is I thought I Would never see my family again. My wife would be left by herself and I would never meet the grandchildren who I know aren't far away. I stumbled into my office and reached for the phone to call for help, I went to the emergency room and was told I had a mild ischemic attack but it didn't cause any damage to my heart muscle. The cardiologist told me Next time I could die if I didn't do something. Well the time had come, I opened up the my fitness pal app that has been on my cell phone for a year and got down to business. I started to watch my calories until slowly I began to lose weight. Once I lost enough weight to breath a little better, I started to walk my dogs at night. A duty that I have been unable to perform for the past few years leaving it to my wife. The pounds continued to drop and I took out the bike I bought 15 years ago and started to ride. After a few months of riding and walking, I dropped 65 pounds and today I continue to eat right and exercise everyday. I have another 102 lbs to go and it seems to be coming off slowly but surely. I never told my wife about my Emergecy Room experience and When she reads this she will know the truth. I wrote this so everyone who doubts their ability to live a longer, better life, I want you to know, you can but first u have to start. Good luck to all my fitness pal friends. Just remember , u got this!!!!
    sarah_K_parker wrote: »
    What a blessing! Good for you, sir! I am thankful that you were given another chance, after being in that emergency room! Super scary, but you used what could be deemed a negative and used it to catapult you into becoming the best version of you! We don't know you, but we all are proud of you!

    Thank you
  • hooltwl1957
    hooltwl1957 Posts: 31 Member
    Thank you
  • hooltwl1957
    hooltwl1957 Posts: 31 Member
    caitlinbeltran216 wrote: »
    Thank you so much for posting your story--You're incredibly inspiring and have such an amazing fighting spirit!! I wish you well on the rest of your journey :)

    Thank You
  • hooltwl1957
    hooltwl1957 Posts: 31 Member
    Thank You

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