A FitBit And Personal Wellness – My Story of Millions of Steps
M2In 2010 I went in to have my knee checked out and the result of that visit was the news that I would have to get a replacement. At that time I was in a lot of pain and my mobility was limited. In the presurgery physical, I also got the news that my blood pressure was high and I weighed 382 lbs. and the doctor recommended that I start to work on losing some weight and getting into better physical condition before I do the surgery. I had known this particular orthopedic surgeon for a number of years. He had done work with many of my athletes and my son. I trusted him completely and he knew me at a much smaller size. The last time I had visited with him personally was in 1988 when I weighed 192 pounds.
The impending surgery did get me to do a couple of things. I did start to swim in a pool where I lived and I started to eat much better. When I did my surgery I weighed 372 pounds. It was an improvement and then there was the surgery. I purchased a pair of walking sticks and started to use them. School got started and I still stayed working out in the pool and I started one of the popular diets that I saw advertised on television. This kept my weight relatively stable but no great decrease in weight occurred. 2014, I am about to retire, and I officially resign from my position on February 4, 2014. I went to my lake home and tried to decide what I was going to do with my life.
I started walking on my treadmill and doing planks. I also started to play golf once the spring came. Still no significant weight loss. After five months I decided I would move from Minnesota back to North Dakota so I could be closer to my family, in particular, my daughter and grandson. I lived relatively close to Lindenwood Park in Fargo, ND. One day I decided to walk to the park. I made it to the entrance of the park and I was winded and exhausted. At the same time as I did walk I was listening to a podcast that featured Hal Elrod. Hal is the author of “The Miracle Morning.” The walk and the book are what helped me make a very conscious decision to change my life. I had heard about the FitBit and I knew of a few people who were wearing them so I took the plunge and purchased one. On Dec. 15, 2014, I decided it was time for me to start walking and I knew the goal was 10,000 steps per day. My weight was pretty close to where it was when I had surgery. 10,000 per day was the goal. I started eating healthy and walking at least two times a day sometimes three times per day. Morning, noon and night, the battle had been engaged. In December of 2015, I weighed 315 pounds. 10,000 steps per day, eating right and keeping a positive mindset was really helping. November of 2015, Breezy, the Basset Hound, came into my life a rescue dog that my son, Patrick had and who was a great friend of mine when I was with her at Patrick’s home. With two babies and three dogs, there was a need to downsize in the number of organisms under their care and I happily brought Breezy back to Fargo. Breezy was my walking partner on practically every walk each and every day until she passed in April of 2018. When Breezy passed I weighed 262 pounds. You see the value of exercise and a small tool called a FitBit plus healthy eating and a Basset Hound who went from 55 pounds when she came to me to 51 pounds in about a year. Both the dog and I were much healthier because of taking a step. Even with bad knees, I could have still walked… I gave up a lot of life by ignoring how important good physical health played in my total wellness.
I am still on that journey and my goal stated to the world is, “I will weigh 192 pounds again as a 68 year old male… in 2019” I will be tracking and sharing my progress in the Becomers closed Facebook Group. The journey continues and if you would like to join me make sure you click on that link when I post it up on the web page very soon.
Additional information posted on September 9, 2019: I continue the journey and I know I will not reach the goal I stated in 2019. I will get there in 2022. I can see it and I know the approach I need to take to get there. So the journey is still engaged. It truly is a battle with the loss of Breezy, the Basset Hound, who was a really big part of the journey… my constant loving friend who never passed judgement other then an encouraging nudge to get out the door and get it done. I lost Breezy in March of2019 and that was really difficult on me it was the loss if a very close friend. In August of 2019 I tore a hole in my right calf reinjuring a leg that was first badly damaged in 1988 and 1989. It had healed in 2006 and was badly scarred. I reinjured it and the healing has taken awhile. I am back on the journey and I am making progress. COVID and being inside nursing the leg did not help my weight situation. In July of 2021 I was back again to 360+ in weight and I was now carrying a diagnosis of Atrial Fibrilation which complicates the journey… high blood pressure also part of what was going on… fortunately in July of 2021 I connected with a very good doctor who helped me make all the connections that my previous doctors had not… what we are doing together as a team on this journey is working and I am confident that it will happen… certainly it would seem to be a long story with failure… failing is part of everyones joureny and when I work with my clients who are “The Becomers” the becoming gives us to fail and get back up again and again. I am very fortunate to have a very good support network and I hope to provide my clients with a way to build that network in their own lives… The Becomers story continues….
