Thursday Thoughts

Today, my thoughts revolve around health. I have been blessed to have grown up in a home that had a very strong belief in nutrition and supplementation. Don't think that I haven't enjoyed my fair share of fast food, junk food, sweets, etc. I love those things as much as most other people enjoy them. The one benefit I had was that regardless of how I have eaten throughout life, I have supplemented my body with vitamins. So even though I was feeding my body with crap, I was following it up with good.

Throughout High School eating that way was totally fine, because my metabolism was running high and hot. Once I got married, as with most people my metabolism went into the gutter and I began to put weight on. The weight started adding up, without me really noticing it at all. It wasn't until I went in for a physical that it all came into focus. My doctor (whom I really like because he is a straight shooter and says what he thinks) came in at the end of my appointment, and said "we all love Dan, but we could use less of him!" Those words will always be burned into my mind, and that was the moment I decided to change my life.

At the time, I was at 200 pounds (I'm 5'9") so I wasn't outrageously overweight, but I was not in a good place. I took a look at my lifestyle and what needed changing. I was enjoying 7-11 daily, and drinking 2 to 3 Super Big Gulp (40oz) of Dr. Pepper, along with the occasional chocolate doughnut. On top of that, I wasn't working out and I was eating late night junk food put those habits together and that's what created my excess weight.

So after the doctors appointment and some self reflection, I decided a change was in order. I started off by limiting late night snacks and not getting a daily doughnut. After a little bit, I felt like I had that dealt with so it was time to move onto the big boys. I limited my intake of soda initially to 1 Super Big Gulp per day and that was a bit harder. Once I had that habit, I tried to move down to 1 can of soda a day and failed miserably. I tried this multiple times and consistently failed. After some self reflection I realized I had to go all in, because the "taste" per day was too much for me to handle. I decided to quit cold turkey and I have to say...it was brutally hard! The headaches were insane and I experienced withdrawal from the caffeine and sugar for sure. After a couple of weeks the headaches dispersed and I have never looked back! Now to exercise, I decided to start running. Initially my per mile average was around 12.5 minutes. At that pace, it was hard, I was breathing heavy, and I felt terrible.

Fast forward to now, I hover around 170 pounds (I'd like to be a bit lower) but a lot of that weight is muscle. I drink root beer occasionally, eat fast food occasionally, and still love junk food and treats. But, I also know my limits and I am pretty consistent with working out almost daily. My family would be more than willing to share that when I don't workout, I get grumpy.

I thank my doctor for helping me see the changes needed. I try to eat healthier, and I make sure to supplement myself with vitamins because I know I don't get everything I need from the food I eat. Life is short, and I don't want to be unhealthy and not be able to enjoy everything life has to offer. How about you?

Click HERE to go and take a quick quiz where you will end up finding out what supplements are suggested for YOU! Let's make a healthier life for you.

Here is my BEFORE, photo, and I'll have to update with a more current photo.....once I get a full body photo! I have a lot of shoulders up, but not many full body.