Beginning The Journey: My Fitness Blog

              No Christmas Cheer

It was on a cold afternoon in December of 2016. My daughter and I had been late hanging up Christmas decorations, and now I found myself on top of a ladder hanging Christmas lights on the front of our roof. As I progressed down the row, the ladder slipped on an icy step and I came down, hard. I felt the pain hit in my ankle and I knew that something was wrong. I could not get up and I knew my physical condition would not prevent me to hobble my way out of this. Fortunately my daughter was able to help me get into the house, where I was able to tend to my wounded foot. Over the next several months, this injury healed; however my physical condition did not heal: I was seldom active and very obese. 

Continued Problems

Then in the spring while I was outside doing yard work, I rolled my ankle again and injured the same foot again.  What followed was a summer of surgeries that kept me disabled for many months. I was placed in a boot and had to use crutches. It had almost been a year and I knew that I needed to get in better shape or else my body would not only be able to sustain my health, but also be unable to perform basic routines. In November of that year I weighed in at 230 pounds. Something had to change. 

No, I'm not the one in the center; I'm at the far right. 

An Invitation to 

Change

During that same year I received an email from Intermountain Medical Center. They offered me a chance to live a healthier and higher quality of life. The challenge they offered me was to be taught by university nutritionists, exercise coaches, and medical professionals. It was the perfect opportunity for what I needed in my life. How could I say no? I would also enhance my motivation to succeed by competing with 15-20 other high school teachers from across the valley. 

The Challenge

 Introduced

As I began my initial examination, I was given a stress test, as well as other diagnoses:  blood tests, glucose, body fat, cholesterol, Triglycerides, weight and blood pressure. Dr. Viet Le, (Physician’s assistant) was extremely thorough and followed up exam results via text and other concerns with his personal phone number! Several weeks later we were treated like celebrities as Fox News came out and introduced us in our challenge, in front of our spouses, principals, SBOs and others.

The Challenge Currently

One of the first quotes I heard in our initial meeting was from a common saying that originated from a famous Chinese proverb. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” The quotation is from Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching ascribed to Laozi, This saying teaches that even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point; something which begins with one first step. My first steps have me now attending weekly nutrition classes regarding the food I eat, receiving coaching instructions regarding exercise goals, and learning instruction on how to shop for food and dispel cognitive distortions with health and food. For example, I have learned that no magical combination of foods, avoidance of foods, increase in the intake of certain foods, or special diet plans (no matter how bizarre) will make me lose weight. The only way I can lose weight is to eat fewer calories than I burn in my daily activities. 

How could anyone not want to be active outside in a beautiful environment like this??

Onward

I now feel stronger physically and motivated mentally to continue this journey. I have lost nearly 40 pounds from 10 months ago and have now traveled 164.8 miles since Sept. 1 (The distance between Salt Lake City and 20 miles south of Fillmore).  Only 835 miles left to go. See you next week.

-Kevin Harward