Blog
Frank Beer
March 13th, 2008
Two months in the books, and things are going OK. I have lost over 25 pounds and I am feeling pretty good. Now the hard part begins. I am doing great on the eating side of the challenge. But I have to make a better commitment to exercise. I have been working out a couple of times a week, primarily with my physical trainer, Jeff. He has been terrific. I have learned many ways to attack certain areas of my body. In particular we have worked on my shoulders, which suffer from arthritis. By strengthening the muscles around them I will be able to get back to participating in sports such as basketball and softball. I have completed my personal trainer sessions. But have become a member at the Mercy Fitness Center and will work out more regularly. I am shooting for four to five days a week. I originally planned to work out at home. But I have found old habits are hard to break. So a membership at the center will work better as I can make “appointments” to work out. I really do enjoy the time I spend there.
Working on my diet has been going well. I am finding that I am eating about 2200 calories a day. It seems to work for me that if I eat three meals a day, avoid snacks and eat primarily healthy foods that the pounds have been coming off. I have avoided fried foods and those that are high in fat and sugars. And I am making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables. But I have also treated myself to small indulgences about once a week. I will eat ½ a piece of cheesecake. But in the past I would have probably had 2 pieces rather than one. I also have had to work hard to drink enough water/fluids each day. I am working on this.
So as I said earlier, two months and 25 pounds is good. But the hard work is ahead of me.
Dave Lewis
February 19th, 2008
I’ve got to say, I’ve been really pleased with my progress so far. In four weeks, I’ve lost 11 pounds! It came off pretty easily…so far. I’ve been watching proportions, drinking more water and less soda, and have started working out — which my doctor has been on me for years to do.
The working out part has not been as hard on me as I thought it would. I’ve been doing mostly cardio stuff so far. I’ve had problems with breathing, and the cardio seems to be helping my lung capacity. I’ve done some weight training as well, and I’m sure that with the treadmill, the elliptical and the weights, I’ll be able to start building up the muscle.
Mercy Light is great. Positive people and a common sense approach to getting healthy. It’s just what I needed! Don’t forget to make a pledge to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at K-State...I need some friends to help out!
Frank Beer
January 27th, 2008
My experience with weight loss has been a lifetime journey. Outside of a period during high school and again in my mid-20s, I have always been overweight. Since I have reached middle age (47), I am feeling the effects of my extra weight more and more. I get tired quickly, my joints ache (particularly my arthritic shoulders) and I just generally don’t feel as good as I think I should. So about a year ago, I decided that I have to do something about it. And that should be enough. But…
I know myself well enough that in my busy life, I always have a reason to put it off. So, using my competitive nature, I hatched an idea. While watching the TV show the Biggest Loser (yes I admit it, I watch reality TV), I saw how the competition prompted folks to work past their excuses and get on with it. So, I thought, why not me? I also envisioned a charitable angle to this and thought how good it would be if my weight loss could help someone else.
In November, after pitching my idea to several folks and getting no response, I mentioned my idea to Dave Lewis, as he and I have often commiserated about our “weighty” issues. He was receptive to the idea and mentioned it to the good folks at New Boston Creative Group, an advertising agency that works with the folks at Mercy. As this was late in the year, we moved pretty quickly to get things rolling.
I was attracted to Mercy LIGHT because their program is exactly what I need to make this work for life. It is not a fad or programmed diet. It is a well-rounded program that works on changing your life habits, thereby allowing the weight that is lost to stay gone! I have tried all the fad diets with little or no success.
On January 15, I attended their orientation session to learn more. And on the 17th my first appointment with one of the folks on my team began with Dr. Gardner. This also marked the point of my official weigh-in. Although I have never seen a scale read 290 pounds, I have been close. We started at 288.5 pounds. WOW! Not a good number. I then filled out the paperwork involved. This actually told me a lot about myself. And I could immediately see things that could be improved. In the past week I have met with Jeff, my physical trainer and Teresa, my team dietician. We have discussed what has gotten me here and what we need to do to get down to my goal weight. They have been great. There has been no chastising for how poorly I have managed my weight up to this point, just solid encouragement that makes me want to move forward.
The biggest issue for me will be getting physical exercise. I have always struggled to do regular exercise. And getting started with this program is no exception. In the first 10 days of participation in the program, I have only worked out about four days. This has to get better. And it will.
As with any diet, the first pounds to lose are the easiest. And I will go in to my first weigh-in on January 29 hoping to have lost at least 10 pounds. I know they’ll get harder from here on out. But I am committed to the task. I have four kids at home. Two are in college now and two are in elementary. I want to be as much or more active with my two young boys as I was with my older children. And to do that will take work on my part.
I think I have found a vehicle in Mercy LIGHT. I now have to motivate myself to take advantage of this opportunity. And I look forward to sharing it with others out there and hope that you will consider pledging to the effort. The KSU Johnson Cancer Center is doing wonderful work in trying to find a cure for cancer. And hopefully the funds we raise can help wonderful things happen.
Stay tuned!
