Joining a New Community

prmiller1954
prmiller1954 Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself
My fitness journey began when I was 62. Prior to that, I grew up as a non-athlete, sporadically becoming involved in some athletic goals, but those were more like "speed bumps" along the way of my becoming an academic. I lived overseas for some time, and while I was there, I gained weight and become what is called, "morbidly obese," well over 250 lbs, probably even around 260 lbs, wearing 3XL clothing on a regular basis for about 10 years. Then, in 2017, I suffered a "cardiac event" and survived it. In ER, the physician took my wrist, looked me intently in the eyes and said, "The Universe has just given you a gift (a second chance at life). What are you going to do with it?" That was my wake-up call, and in the years that followed, with three very special people, we worked together to get my weight down to 170. I participated in a Body Transformation Challenge, and received a gold and silver medal, lowering my weight to 160 and my bodyfat percentage to 14%.
Because I was a non-athlete, leaning out revealed that there really wasn't any muscle, so this next part of my fitness journey is having an excellent nutrition lifestyle and working out to gain muscle. I would love to have that "blue ribbon" of fitness, a set of six-pack abs, but my entire body needs that "blue ribbon" treatment. This is why I am here: to be part of a community with whom I will be more accountable with my fitness journey.
I'm not sure if pictures are allowed here, but if they are, I will be glad to post my 2017 "before" picture and my current 2021 "after" photo, but isn't every day a "before" picture, and the next day is our "after?" Glad to meet you all.

Replies

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    I sincerely love all of your story- sans the cardiac event that started it all, of course. Thank heavens your ER doctor cared enough to say that.

    Photos are welcome here. I’ve shared a few doozies myself.

    You sound like a candidate for recomp. You might find some of the this board useful:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/goal-gaining-weight

    And check this out:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat

    I started weight training about halfway through and am very happy I did.
  • pafinkssteffes
    pafinkssteffes Posts: 18 Member
    Love your story. You were born in 1954? Very inspiring
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,600 Member
    Yes, photos are allowed, and I'd be delighted to see yours: What a wonderfully inspiring story you have!

    You and I have some history similarities, though mine isn't so impressive, and some of it happened in a different order. I did health crisis (stage III breast cancer & treatment, at age 44-45), getting very active (training regularly, competing) soon after that, but stayed fat (mostly class 1 obese) until age 59-60. I lost about a third of my bodyweight then, have stayed at a healthy weight since, still active, now age 66.

    @springlering62 gave you some good links up there a post or two. Don't let that "gaining weight" one fool you: That's the part of the Community where the strength training folks hang out, whether they're losing, gaining, or maintaining alongside the muscle-increase and strength-increase goals. Good folks, good content.

    I love your perspective that each day leaves behind a "before" and creates an "after", so it's all what we make of it.

    Wishing you continuing success!

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