Sometime in 2014, I found myself outside the 24 Hour Fitness location near Denny Way in Seattle. It was 3 a.m.. I felt like I needed to do something about my fitness.
There have been two times where I have lost significant weight. At the end of 1999, I was 330 pounds. When I moved to Seattle in 2001, I was down to 250. In August of 2009, I was at 350. By March of 2010, I was down to 295.
At the beginning of 2015, my weight was up to 360 pounds.
In December 2014, Gold’s Gym was sending out mailers. These mailers had offers for 7 day trials and 4 Personal Trainer Sessions for $30.
These offers were enticing. It seemed like everyday I was in the grocery store underneath the gym. It just kept calling me. During the holidays, I was talking to my brother about the mailers and maybe about joining a gym. He offered to help me out financially if I decided to join one. Mid January I got another mailer.
On my next day off, I stopped by the gym. I was given the tour. I liked what I saw and I was sold on the 90 day challenge. I did the personal training sessions and signed up for more. Whenever I work out now, I can hear the trainer's voice saying, "Straighten your feet."
This year I am turning 40. I want to be in better shape for my birthday this year. And for next year, I want to be in even better shape.
It is a slow process. There are many challenges to overcome. But I feel that every day, even if I only do a little workout, I make progress.
On January 31, 2 weeks into joining the gym, I went out to Spokane for my grand niece’s first birthday. I had a beer at the birthday party and since then I have been accidentally sober. February, March, April. Almost halfway through May, and still no beer or alcohol.
For close to 30 years, I have had trouble with my left knee. I know that exercise helps it but I wanted to do more than just adjust it. I want to retrain it so it stops bothering me as much.
For the past two years, I have been having problems with my lower back. I felt that working out would help that issue too.
