Running Towards Health

1. What made you realize that you needed/wanted to make a change in your life to be healthier?

I realized I needed a change when I saw the numbers. I saw my cholesterol go through the roof, my blood pressure was climbing, and I was so unhealthy that my liver was showing signs of disease due to my bad habits. My genes aren’t good but my habits weren’t either. I was eating whatever I felt like without any concern for what it was doing to me.

2. What was the hardest part about making the change?

The hardest part was planning ahead of time to make sure I made healthy decisions instead of letting my bad habits take over. My job is always changing with no routine and I’m constantly traveling by car. So I studied the fast food menus to find low calorie options while on the road. Kwik Trip sells fruit. It’s cheap, healthy, and convenient. Fast food places have low calorie Turkey Burgers. Just pass on the fries. Find what works for you.

3. What has been the most positive/biggest result since adopting your new lifestyle?

All of my numbers improved. I went from having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, light liver damage, and high blood sugar levels. Within 4 months of running and eating better, everything was back to normal. I was able to lose 30 lbs. and keep it off. The best side effect was I had to buy new work clothes. The old ones didn’t fit and I was more than happy to replace them. I was also more confident and don’t hate shopping nearly as much as I once did. I’ve also had more energy than I ever could imagine. I feel like the energizer bunny.

I’m really excited for the example I’ve set for my 2 year old son. While watching the Olympics he looked at me and said “Daddy look, they’re running. Connor and Daddy go running? I go put my shoes on!” It was 8 o’clock at night and I convinced him to wait until the morning. We set out for the high school track and did a lap. He finished and I asked if we should go home and see Mommy or do it again. He looked at me, smiled, and excitedly said, “Do it again!?” I was so proud he did 2 laps at such a young age. He’ll be eligible eligible for the 3-6 year old division next year. You’ve been officially warned!

4. Is there anything you would share with others who are struggling with reaching their fitness goals?

Stick with it. I started and stopped running each year for 4 years. I finally wanted it enough and fell in love with it. Once I started to see some changes I was more motivated to stick with it. A key for me was surrounding myself with a healthy community. A lot of people laugh at the idea of being on Twitter but it’s a great resource for healthy recipes and you can interact with people that have or are trying to go through the same transformation as you.

5. What would you say is your “recipe for success?”

I like to keep a food diary. There is a great website called www.myfitnesspal.com. You can log your food and see how many calories you are eating throughout the day. I had no idea how many calories I was actually eating in a day. After using it I have not had a Qdoba burrito unless I’ve run 15 miles or more. They even have an app that lets you scan a bar code with your phone and it loads the nutritional for you. I learned quickly that all the exercise in the world can’t outdo a horrible diet. Sometime I’d train in the morning, sometimes I’d train at night. It all depended on my ever-changing work schedule. Just get it done. But start slow. Nothing is more deflating than an injury. And no one told me that soreness goes away. It takes a couple months but it really does pass.