From 400 lbs to Plant-Based Ironman

From 400 lbs & Disabled to Thriving Plant-Based Ironman & Ultrarunner

Walking out of the doctor’s office (Billy), reality had finally sunk in. He was not going to be around for another year. His wife and kids would very likely not have a husband or father within the year. His blood pressure was 255/115, and was on three medications to bring it down. His cholesterol (300) and triglycerides (279) were off the charts. Aside from a heavy load of prescribed medications, he was also self-medicating and struggling with addictions of all kinds. His weight became so out of control that the doctor could no longer weigh him in his office. He had trouble breathing and suffered from severe sleep apnea. The excess weight was too much for his already destroyed joints to handle. He was constantly on crutches, canes, and immobilizers. He was cast and fitted for very expensive leg braces that would hold his legs from buckling. His wife was actually putting his socks and shoes on for him in the morning. Nothing was working, his life was spiraling out of control. HE WAS GOING TO DIE. Through a series of diets, he would cycle between losing some weight and then gaining it all back again. It was a vicious cycle. The more he hurt, the more he medicated; the more he medicated, the more he hurt, and as a result, he had lost his passion for life. He was just surviving, hoping he would wake up the next morning. He was committing a sort of slow suicide.

Divine intervention, Perspective is an amazing thing!

He made some phone calls and started the process to get a gastric sleeve. He had done the research and this sounded like the best option. he was scheduled for the meetings and pre-op tests. he had to get clearance from his primary doctor. This was just a formality, or so he thought. His wife was skeptical, but as an addict, he had become a master at manipulation. He thought by taking her to his doctor, he would assure her of what a good decision this was. He explained that he had ok’d everyone that had ever asked for the surgery. He said many people have had success with it. However, he would not sign off on the surgery for me. he was enraged, to put it mildly. he was not healthy enough and he thought that his joints would become worse if he had the surgery.

So there he was, my last hope had dwindled. He have no idea what transpired in his head that night, but I am convinced it was Divine intervention. He opened a notebook, wrote tomorrow’s date at the top of the page, and directly underneath wrote “this is the first day of the rest of your life.” he got on his knees and asked the Lord to give him enough strength to change just one small thing a day. Underneath that he wrote my first goal for the day: “Get up from chair 2x.” It was strange to be writing things down like this, but he did it anyway. He figured if he could get up from a chair once, he could do it twice and the next day, he made that goal happen. Every day, he added just one small change. Sometimes it was to just to walk up four extra stairs, but it was always a little more than he did the day before.

He started to log his food, but he really had no idea what real food was. In time his food choices started changing. He started to eat things that made him feel better instead of putting him into a food coma. After many hours of research, including documentaries like Forks Over Knives, Vegucated, Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, and The Gerson Miracle, he gained an entirely new perspective on food. In fact, that new perspective on food soon led to a new perspective on every single aspect of his life. Since he started to focus on change, his life has completely flipped upside down. He now hates going to sleep because he's afraid that he is going to miss something. He has climbed mountains, hiked on the Appalachian Trail, cycled 100 mile centuries, run 5Ks, 10Ks, a bunch of half marathons, and a couple full marathons. He eventually completed an Ironman 70.3 and believe it or not, he completed a 50K, and a 50 mile ultra marathon on some crazy trails. Imagine, he is supposed to be in a wheelchair, and his doctor now refers patients to me for advice! How cool is that?

The take-away.
The best part of this whole thing is this: Billy's wife has been by his side every step of the way. She has done nothing but support him, and she has been his rock. She too has had some major changes in her life. As he changed his lifestyle, she changed hers as well. She has lost 80 pounds by eating plants too! They love life together and are making memory after memory. He know thanks the Lord for his health and happiness every day. He is grateful for the second chance he has had been given and he has been on a mission to not only appreciate it but to pass it on to anyone that will listen. It’s not magic, but it is quite simple: Just do a little more than you did yesterday.

… Just do something. The results will Come!!!!

Call Steve, In-Training Sports | 561-281-8330
In Training Sports
www.intrainingsports.com
Personal Trainer, servicing West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington and Jupiter Florida
3131 Village Blvd, #305
West Palm Beach, FL 33409