gutless wonder
I recently sent an email to Men's Health magazine to see if I could get in there 'gutless wonder' section and perhaps win a set of runners or something - The following is what was sent:
Hi guys,
I've read a tonne of your 'gutless wonder' stories and thought - "that it was probably about time i should send something in about myself..."
It all started around the end of 2004. I thought at the time that my weight was OK (107kg) I mean life was OK and I felt content to keep rolling on...
A friend from work had a blood pressure tester at her desk and I had asked for a go - she reckoned the reading was pretty high and that it might be worth going to see my GP to get a full check up - So i did and sure enough i did have high blood pressure... I got the whole BMI lecture and was told to lose twenty kilos! This came as a total shock as I'd always convinced myself that i was heavier than the average only because muscle weighs more than fat... I couldn't believe it - but after reviewing photos taken of me at a 04 work xmas party - it finally sunk in... Yeah, I was fricken massive and it wasn't the muscle - something had to change...
I started by cutting out the shocking amount of chocolate bars and strawberry milk that I consumed on a daily basis. I also embarked on a training regime that consisted of riding to work and walking at lunch. I guess because I hadn't done of lot of exercise before, the results came early, which in turn motivated me to keep going and in late 2006 I completely dropped riding and walking in favor of running only. I started running all the time - 5ks, 10ks and a weekly long runs of up to 15ks - I went in a 10k fun run with a mate and it dawned on me that I just might even be able to run a half marathon. I started training for the 07 Canberra half marathon but pulled out due to a knee injury 2 weeks before the race - After my knee got better I continued to train and went in this year's race - and ended up doing it in under 100 mins! (1:37:35) It was so totally worth it... Who knows, I might even be able to have a go at a full marathon next...
I can finally look at Men'sHealth without cursing the cover model and now, instead of thinking "I wish i had abs like that...", I think "Nice work - I'll have to send in a photo and get on the cover too..."
Instead of my life being 'just OK' and rolling on, I'm driven - I get up excited and look forward to my next big run or workout. My mate's can see that I'm excited and it motivates them to get into exercise too, whether that be running or surfing or whatever - The momentum just keeps on building and when I see mates progressing (and they see it too) I get so juiced! It's fricken awesome! That is, I think, what makes me tick...
My family's getting into it too - My wife's hitting the gym and looking fantastic and my kids are getting excited about just getting outside more...
No it hasn't really been a 'biggest loser', 'lose it in 12 weeks' approach to get to where I am but more of a 3 and a half year journey to get from the disgusting 107kg I used to be, down to what I should be, now at 85kg. I look better and I feel better and it's also nice to get compliments every now and then when I catch up with friends I haven't seen for a while because they can't believe how much better the new Ben looks compared to the old one.
my advice to some one else who wants to lose the lard:
- Get motivated. Find out what motivates you and use it to work towards a goal like entering a race or just looking better for your partner, etc.
- Get a training partner. Find a mate who also wants to get fit. You'll automatically push each other as well as keep each other motivated when one of you is having an 'off' day...
- And finally, stay with it. That' whole "it won't happen over night..." is true - It won't happen over night but it will happen if you work your arse off!
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