So Why do I Exercise?

I needed a challenge in my life. I was unhappy with myself and always felt tired. My self-esteem was starting to take a beating as well.

Being born with spina bifida, a birth defect that resulted in paralysis of my lower spine and my legs, one could easily understand the tiredness. However, growing up, I was always fairly active compared to others born with the same disability. Many others resort to solving their mobility issues by using a wheelchair. I only needed to use a wheelchair when I had leg surgery as a teenager.

If you knew me personally, I guess you might say that I was already a fairly successful person, if you choose to measure success by the standards of the secular world. I approached life with a "can-do" attitude. I would tell you that my best quality is that I'm stubborn by nature, while others would cut me some slack and tell me I'm "strong-willed."

Yet, as I approached my mid-thirties, with working long hours, the calories were piling up, and the meals were coming later and later in the day for me. My family doctor began to wave a red flag in my face. At 37 years old and 5"8' my weight crept up to almost 240 lbs. and I began taking high blood medication. My metabolism was slowing down and I would need to work harder to feel good about myself.

During the spring of 2001, I finally decided to take a tour of a health club in the downtown area. I always thought that health clubs were meant for the rich and famous (e.g. movie stars such Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt). While touring the club, I began to realize that I could walk on a treadmill if I really wanted to. The members of this club looked happy. Some appeared to look fit, but not all of them. I wanted this life. I wanted to drink from this fountain of youth. So I put down my $40 a month and joined the club.

Here I am now today. 50 lbs lighter. My blood pressure now well in control and taking half the dosage. Stronger. More muscle. More confident. More stamina.

In spite of all of that, I still would like to shed 30 lbs more to get where I should be according to the weight tables in the medical literature.

And that is the purpose of my blog ... to check in with you hopefully weekly to inform you of my progress toward my goal of losing the final 30 lbs. Through my random thoughts, it is my hope that I can inspire you to improve your own health or achieve some other goal that holds meaning to you.

I'll check in with you and share with you what is on my mind in the course of my weight loss or health improvement journey, whatever you want to call it. I also hope to bring a sense of humour to the task at hand.