I’m Back to Being Me!

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As I bent down to tie my shoe, I had to breath out to reach the laces. Before I was done tying the other shoe, I had to sit up and breathe. My belly was in the way, and was forcing me to not be able to breath while bent over. I sat up, and cussed inwardly. That’s enough! In my younger years I had raced Moto-X, I had been into body building. I was in martial arts and was a black belt. I had played all sorts of demanding sports. And now I couldn’t even tie my shoe without coming up for air.

After my son was born I quit the gym to spend more time with family. 2-1/2 years later when my daughter was born I had gained 20 lbs and had stopped working out all together. And now, 3 years after that I couldn’t even tie my shoe. On top of that, I had a lower back injury caused by coughing. Yeah, that’s right, I coughed and my back when out. What the…? I stepped on the scale. 238lbs.

Now I was dealing with the voice inside insisting I could never get back to where I was. It was too hard, I didn’t have the time. I didn’t want to give up good food. I didn’t want to feel guilty if I missed a week of working out, or ate something I wasn’t supposed to. At 238 lbs, I felt tired, guilty, ashamed, and unmotivated.

A co-worker told me about Mark’s books, Primal Blueprint and Primal Endurance. I bought the audio books and started listening to them on my way to and from work. “Inspired” is the only word I can come up with. This sounded achievable. I could do this. It was time to get healthy for my kids, my wife, and myself.

I followed the books. I ran, biked, worked out, and played. I played hard. I bought a HRM and used it often. At first only able to walk to stay within my aerobic zone. I stayed with it.

I stuck with the Primal eating for a month, and dropped 15 lbs easily without once feeling like I had given anything up! I ran 3 miles at the beach the next month then played with my kids all day. The month after that I ran 5 miles in just over an hour averaging 138BPM, then did yard work and played soccer with my kids all day, no crash, no cravings for carbs. I ate a steak with veggies that night with friends. They said “Allen, you’re looking great! You’ve lost a lot of weight. Are you cheating on your diet today?” I just grinned. “Thanks, I’ve lost 35 lbs, and it’s not a diet.”

I’m not back to where I was. I’m back to being me, and I don’t care where I’ve been. I’m here now and I’m loving it. Thank you, Mark.

Allen Weed

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Filed under: Fitness