milwmarc

My Health History.

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This Blog is being written as a way for me to work through my health related issued for the past 37 years. So I can learn from my history and share why I’ve made the choices I’ve made. Cliff notes version. I made bad choices starting in grade school for food, then in High School I started to work out more, but at 16 got very sick with the first case of Lymes Disease in Wisconsin, many experimental drugs, treatements and LOTs and lots of steroids to help with some things.

My background:
8th grade. 215 lbs. Roller-skated on roller hockey team. Biked 12 miles to practice 3 times a week.

9th and 10th grade, I biked and rollerskated a few times a week every week. Roller skating and roller hockey. No formal sports,

Age 16, First case in Wisconsin to be diagnosed with Lymes Disease (took 9 months to diagnose). Went from 255lbs to Over 340 lbs in very short order. I woke up on my 16th Bday and couldn’t hear at all. Very scary. Then a week later I lost my sight. At that time didn’t know what was wrong with me so they put me on massive doses of prednisone to help control a hearing loss associated with the lymes disease and a sight impairment. Experimental drugs for a few months, 21 spinal taps to help with brain fluid pressure and the check white cell counts. In and out of hospitals for 12 months Most of those months were spent in the hospital for long times. Longest time was 57 days straight. I have a picture in my albums of what I looked like at 16. Drivers License shows the damage large doses of steroids did to me for my health.

Age 17 proper diagnosis of lymes disease. Got health under control but still at 315 lbs. Started biking and swimming. Got down to 280lbs.

18. College. 4 years, biked, swam played on racquetball league 3 days week all 4 years of college, exercised and tried weight watchers. Lowest weight at

21 years of age lowest weight 250.
Started in workforce with less free time ballooned back up to 290 by age 22.

22-27 biked, swam and tried Atkins diet, Weight Watchers & Jenny Craig. Never lost more than 15 lbs.

28 1st son was born, Les free time tried to eat right ballooned to 310

29, Hired personal trainer for twice a week for 1 hour in my house did from age 29 to age 33. Tried proper diet again, started training for Triathlons.

30 280lb, exercised daily

31 270 lb exercised daily. **Very intense** 6 Sprint Triathlons this year” Lots of training..Started Atkins diet..did atkins for one year at age.

32 254lbs. Lowest Ever! Atkins diet, Extreme workout for triathlon training. Knees and shoulder started to hurt too much to do triathlons after this year. Pulled back on Exercise as 2nd child born. Went off Atkins to see if I could maintain weight as too hard to cook for a family of 4 Atkins style.

33. 270 lbs. Could not afford trainer any more. Back to the Gym Swimming at Gym, Trying to eat balanced meals

34 3rd child born, 280 lbs. swimming 30 minutes 3 days per week. at gym,. Went to Spin Class at Gym twice per week for 9 months for 1 hour. Consistently got Heart rate 145-165 for one hour. Went back on Weight Watchers. 1 year attended meetings weekly I gained weight! Winter play hockey 3 nights a week couple hours with our kids on our pond

35 Started research into Lap Band. Gained weight gave up on Weight Watchers, 290lbs. by end of year 295. Continue to try to eat balanced meals. My core food was Subway healthy menu, weight watchers, lean cuisine meals and, dinner with family, typically chicken or pork with vegetable. Busy year with 3 kids. Exercised twice a week maybe 20 minutes a day, all I had time for. Winter played hockey 4 times a week 2-3 hours a week with my 2 boys on our pond…intense. Still gaining weight and joints hurting more.

36 top over 300 again beginning of year. Started back to trying Atkins in January and February, couldn’t do with 3 kids, March Started exercising again 3 days per week. Swimming, biking and strength training. Waste still getting bigger, In May I tried “Every other day diet”, every other day ate only 500 calories, regular days 2,500 calories. Lost 6 lbs but then gained it back to largest size again at over 315 lbs.

In 2008 I sold my real estate company and took my first “regular job” working for a bank as a Reverse Mortgage specialist. MUCH less stressed. I exercised, Hockey few hours per week January, February, March. April & May started biking again, twice per week. June, July and August. Biked 20-30 miles per week, swim in our pool laps on static line 30 minutes 5 to 6 times per week. If not in pool 1-2 times per week do open water wave lake swimming long distance 45 minutes. Very instense swimming But I still gained weight. In August of 2008 I was at 317 lbs

What I learned about myself.
Having been so terribly ill at the age of 16 I quickly learned a lot about my body and new when I recovered from Lymes disease that diet and exercise were an important part of my health.

I was a very large child since age 10. My entire family is obese as are my relatives, most smoke and drink. Diabetes runs in my family on both sides touching my Grandfather and father. Mother and father BOTH have had their knees replaced. Mom has had 8 back surgeries as a result of poor health and weight. Dad is having epidurals now in back to help with pain from being overweight.

I never have been a drinker. I may have 6 beers in an entire year. I do not drink hard alcohol or wine as they both leave me feeling lousy for days. I don’t know if that is a symptom of being sick so young but it has kept me from ever drinking.
I have never smoked. I have seen the affects of it on other friends and family members.
I do not binge eat, nor have I ever.
For years I would count calories and weigh food with no success.
My downfalls would be sweets, Ex. I love chocolate milk and we have it around home with kids. Probably 2 glasses a week
Friday and Saturday I typically did not watch what I eat. However I do not overeat all day as my family and I are EXTREMELY active people. Indulgences are pizza and Friday fish fry. Sunday I try to eat healthy again.
I do not watch TV. I will watch usually one to sometimes 2 movies per week late at night.
I Own 2 franchise Sportclips and have a full time day job as a consultant for Wells Fargo I am probably in front of a computer screen anywhere from 6-to sometimes 11 hours per day.

My weight was now impacting my life, joints hurt, I just FEEL my weight everywhere on my body especially when in front of a computer, driving and when exercising or ESPECIALLY playing with my kids.

I became very concerned about my health. History has shown that diet and exercise alone have not helped my overall health. As I exercise more at my size I am more prone to stress injury, when that occurs I can exercise less. It is a cycle that I determined to break. I started my journey to Gastric Bypass back in August and got approved for it back in January.
March 26th I had my Roux – Y surgery. I plan on using my blog as a way to keep my diary for my own history and to learn from. The surgery went great, the last 3 days of recovery were definately not exactly what I expected.

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It's A Good Life