This weekend will mark my two year anniversary of committing to major changes in my life. Memorial Day Weekend 2018, at 38 (male), I was 257 lbs (at only 5'8") with numerous worsening or emerging health issues including severe sleep apnea, fatty liver, high blood pressure, respiratory issues, ED and the list goes on. I decided enough was enough and went for a 2 mile walk. I walked again the next day and every day after. If it was raining, I went to a mall and walked. Not long after, I joined the gym and started making changes to to my diet. My goal weight was 215 lbs. That was the number I decided I could live with.
I reached my goal weight in September 2018 and it was just a no-brainer to keep going, with my next goal weight being 185 lbs. That fall, I began running. First it was for 5 minutes, then 10. Later that month, I completed my first running/walking 5K on a treadmill at the gym in 43 minutes. Running quickly became a regular thing.
In early spring 2019, I achieved my second goal weight of 185 lbs. I ran my first 5K on 5/18/19, finishing in 25:16 and grabbing 22nd place overall as well as winning the (evidently not very competitive) 30-39 male division. After that I immediately began focusing my training efforts on longer runs, spending the summer training for a half marathon. Along with that, my dietary priorities began shifting from weight loss to managing my macros to improve running performance and achieve my body composition goals. My fitness goals similarly shifted from weight loss to strengthening and conditioning for running. In addition to running, I added weights, a mini elliptical trainer and cycling to my cross-training rotation.
So here's where things stand today. I weigh exactly 150 lbs. All of my health issues, including the sleep apnea, have been cured. I don't even snore anymore. I ran two half marathons last fall. I had a couple of marathons planned this spring and trained hard for them this winter, but sadly those were all canceled. I am currently participating in a weekly 5K virtual race series and have placed in the top 10 in all of the races so far. I set a new PR in yesterday's race at 20:40 and am waiting on the results with hopes it might be good enough for a Top 5 spot. Next goal is <20 minutes.
My weight is still trending downward ever so slightly (+/- 5 lbs lost in 2020), but I am effectively maintaining. I eat 2000 calories/day plus 50% of my exercise calories. I am still searching somewhat for what will be my "normal" in terms of a maintenance diet. My performance-minded diet is lacking in fat and I am working on that (suggestions are welcomed). Yesterday afternoon I ended up snacking on over 500 calories (all within my limits, of course) and I think the big reason was that I'd eaten <10 grams of fat all day. I ate half a plate of Chinese takeout for dinner and didn't feel a need to snack at all last night. I think that says a lot.
So anyway, that's my story. TL;DR: Two years ago at age 38 I was 5'8" and 257 lbs with lots of worsening health issues. Today, at age 40, I'm 150 lbs, have no health issues and finishing in the top 10 of the races I run.
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