Marshall Ramsey

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Today’s weight: 209 lbs.

Two weeks left in Fit4Change and not all of the days are workouts.  I’ve lost 34 pounds on their books and I’d love to break 40 pounds total for the program.  That’s three pounds a week.  Doable — but considering how I have been plateauing lately, one that I will have to really focus on.  That means tweaking my diet. And adding more exercise into the mix. My spin bike that I bought will be the new component. I’ll ride it every night before bed.  I’ve also added nightly pushups and sit-ups.  Last night I did 50 of each.  My goal is to do 100 every day.

My oldest son was sore last night from the race. I’m sure my middle son is, too. I’m not.  But that still doesn’t mean that I’m not going to rest my legs today.  No long runs. No sprints. I will mow the grass and wash the car.  And thanks to my workouts, doing both will be much easier.

We went to the grocery story yesterday afternoon (yeah, I know how to party).  It was funny, but the stuff that I used to crave when I went in there (like Little Debbies, sweet rolls, sodas, and other processed foods) did not look good to me at all.  I kept getting attracted to the produce section thinking, “I’d love some fruit to snack on.” or “What can I add to my diet?”  I had to smile.  Twelve weeks has changed me more than making me skinnier.

The challenge for me has been changing my diet, adding exercise and changing my behavior and still being able to pull of a 60-hour-a week work schedule.  My bread and butter (which I really don’t eat much of anymore) is my creativity.  My creativity was being propped up on sugary drinks and food.  By cutting them off, I was risking cutting off my creativity.  And I’ll admit, it has been a struggle.  The fatigue also affected it, too.  But over time, I got more energy.  And that energy burned cleaner and allowed me to handle the long hours I’m putting in better.  Am I totally there yet? No.  People poo-poo my weight loss and tell me I shouldn’t lose any more.  But they don’t understand why I am doing this.  To quote my cousin, “I am living like no one else so I can live like no one else.” At the 10th of 12 weeks, I realize that I’m not running a spring on this one. I’m running a marathon. This is a lifetime change. And I’ve only made the first steps.

BEFORE: October 2011. About 240 pounds.

AFTER: March 2012. 207 lbs.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Today’s Weight: 207 lbs.

After a surprise pardon from exile, I did eight stations, including some intense core work.  I did fine — My push-ups and sit-ups this week paid off. We also ran on the treadmill, did suicides (anyone who has played sports knows about suicides), did lunges, step-ups and worked in the weight room.  We also did 100-yard sprints on the track and did what was called an “Indian run” (we ran as a line around the track with the last person sprinting to the front over and over.) At one point on the treadmill, my heart rate was over 200 bpm.  That’s pretty high for an old fart like me.

I got a great workout. And my soaked shirt proved it.

The end of the program is near. So I have to decide what’s next. Do I join a gym again? I intend to keep running and will start training for the next half-marathon I can find.  The last day is March 30 and I don’t get weighed by Patrick House until April 28.  (That’s when I have to weigh 195 lbs.)  I’ll get there before then and intend to get below my goal weight.  I’m not tackling linebackers anymore.  I don’t need to weigh over 200 anymore.  If I weighed 175, I wouldn’t cry.

Since Halloween 2010, I have gone from running a marathon to being obese to now being back in very good shape.  I couldn’t have done it without my wife’s insistence and support. Without the challenge from Patrick. And without Paul LaCoste allowing me to join his group and then pushing me harder than I thought I could be pushed.  I’ve come a long way — and have a long way to go.  I faced a challenge — and rose to it. That gives me confidence I’ve lost over the past year.  Now I know I can do whatever I put my mind to.