Name: Dan O'Connor
Age: 30
Height: 6'3"
Weight: Over 400lbs
Shirt Size: 4x-5x, depending on who makes the clothes. In big man's clothes, its all guess work. Size 22 neck. Size 72 Chest.
Pant Size: 54-56 Waist. 30 Inseam.
Likes: Hot Wings, Bacon, Hamburgers, Utz Potato Chips, Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, Duke Basketball
Hates: Hippies, Lettuce, Legumes, American Beer Commercials, Ranch Dressing, Fish, The Southeastern Conference
Things that have embarrassed me in the past: Family Photographs. Kids starring at me in restaurants like a circus freak. Breaking chairs in public places because I am too big for them. Busting buttons from shirts. Almost crushing an Asian couple on an airplane.
Things I am afraid of: Seats with arm rests. Friends inviting me to amusement parks (I don't fit on the rides anymore). Using the bathroom on an airplane. Being a bad example for my kids. Walking around the neighborhood with my wife, for fear of pain in my calves, and losing my breath. Riding on airplanes (but only because I don't fit in the seat).
Things I want to improve in myself: I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to feel better. I want to be able to get outside and do something without fear of exerting myself. I want to have the confidence to do anything.
Things I want to avoid in the future: Taking my weight into consideration for lifestyle choices. Heart Attacks (This is a big one). Being lazy. Buying clothes a size "too big" just so they feel looser. Being mistaken for John Candy, or John Goodman, or any John for that matter.
Things I want to accomplish: To be able to play a whole match of soccer. I want to be asked to play in friends basketball games. I want to walk the parking lot at Beaver Stadium without losing my breath. I want my wife to think I am even sexier than I already am.
How I will reward myself: The purchase of one of the best looking soccer kits of all time, Celtic FC. A blow out the budget trip to England (Airfare has already been promised to be donated, for the loss of 100 lbs...)
Stay tuned, coming up on the program, we visit Bopper's closet to see his demons, and Bopper goes back to the Gym (GASP), Tune in next time, campers, on this same Bat Channel.
4 comments:
yo playa.
just a few words of encouragement.
you have to realize that the hardest thing about massive weight loss is realizing that is must be a) a long term goal/process, b) a complete lifestyle change.
my college degree is in exercise science, which includes both the physiology of exercise and the psyche of exercise and health.
i first think you should throw out the body mass index if any doctor suggests it to you. it is in inaccurate scale that doesn't take into account any degree of muscle mass and typically forgets the height of the individual. second. i want you to throw out any fad diet idea.
STAY AWAY FROM ATKINS.
you are already at risk for type 2 diabetes, and even pushing your pancreatic cells to the point of failure. which believe me, as a type 1 diabetic, you will never recover from.
manage your diet. control portion sizes. and tell yourself that you don't need seconds. count your calories. you will be hungry if you eat the wrong things. you want to eat things with a proper balance of protein, fiber and carbohydrates. you can find all of these things in nature because we need them to survive. you just need to find the right balance for what our body needs to function it's best. fresh fruits. vegetables. lean meats and hearty oats. they may not sound as appetizing as the Baconator. but eating things like that can be just as satisfying in taste, and just as satiating in hunger terms. instead of having that bowl of ice cream before bed. shortly after dinner (and i stress shortly) get some fresh frozen fruit and fruit juice and make a smoothie. pair it with something high in protein and/or fiber and i guarantee that you won't be hungry until breakfast time. instead of having that candy bar in the afternoon, hit up the dairy aisle in the grocery store and get some light yogurt. the flavors can be just as amazing, and it is so much better for you.
research the glycemic index.
weight loss is obviously important. but bopper, you must set long term and short term goals. you must realize that it took you so many years to put on the weight you have now, therefore it must take time to get it off. i'm not saying that it is going to take years and years. but never quit. your health must prevail! set a REALISTIC goal of 2-3 lbs per WEEK. this will be the healthiest pace for your body. and by the end of the week, 2 to 3 pounds from the previous week is very, VERY attainable. with certain weight goals by certain dates. you will notice as you begin this journey that you will likely have the pounds flying off, as you lose your tremendous amount of water weight that you are holding in your adipose cells in your body. don't let this fool you once you start to hit a plateau, and the weight begins to become much harder to drop. YOU MUST PERSEVERE. you made it to that point, so do not give up.
as for exercise. don't get discouraged in the gym. everyone starts from some place. just keep in mind while you're in a facility that you are there for the same reason as everyone else. health. and a better life. i would recommend working with a personal trainer who has references with overweight patients. if you decide to truck along on without a personal trainer, at least find someone that will go to the gym with you EVERY time you go. plan out your work outs. and start off easy.
your body kicks into the largest cycle of burning fat cells after 30 minutes of continuous cardiovascular exercise. i would suggest starting off on a treadmill at some degree of an incline. NEVER walk at a zero degree incline. you will get more out of your workout if you attempt to stay in your target heart range. this might be better if it is prescribed by a doctor or health expert. invest in a heart rate monitor. and use that as a tool to monitor if you are working too hard, or not hard enough. i would suggest walking for at least 45 minutes. followed by some LOW intensity HIGH repetition weight training. focusing on the major muscles groups so that you can begin to help your body in boosting it's natural metabolism through the utilization of a higher amount of muscle mass.
finally. as i said before. you have to realize that this is a LIFESTYLE change. this isn't about 2008. or 2009. or 2010. this is about when you're 60. and 70. and playing with your grandchildren. you have to realize that there has been damage done to you body already and you have to do everything to can to begin leading a healthy lifestyle.
i'm an extremely busy man. but if you ever have any questions, or need any words of encouragement, you have my email address (i'll be more than happy to give you my cell phone number through email).
i'm so proud of you for making the start of this journey.
I'm no "Joel" but I am all in with you! I know you are a sexy man beast but I just hope the world is ready when you unleash yourself!
Buttercup....You can do it.
Steady eddy on your gym trips. Don't over do it in your initial visits. Putting down the #7's with extra crumbs is a bitch, but probably for the best.
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