About my weight

In 2004 I weighed 300 pounds. My goal for the year, at the strong suggestion of my asthma doctor, was to lose 50 lbs. Also, I felt that I would not be able to care for my oldest son much longer. He has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

I had deluded myself most of the year with half serious attempts, but in September joined Weight Watchers. WW worked very well for me, and I made my goal. A bit too fast by WW standards, but I made it. Also, at years end I started walking 3 days a week.

At the end of the year I asked my Doctor what I should do next. He said to get down to 220 pounds and see how I felt. Well, I felt great, so I kept losing. By summer I was at 195. At round the 80 pound mark I had started running and then racing.

I was surprised to find that I had a medium frame (nope, I was never "big boned") and was really very weak. I started cross-training and eating a bit more, and my weight went up to 210. Unfortunately, my waist added two inches, so I figure I added half muscle and half fat. On the other hand, my first 5k time was 37 minutes (April, 2005), my July, 2006 5k time was 29 minutes, and during the last 3.5 miles race (Sept, 2007) I hit the 5k mark at 26 minutes.

For me it would be easier to lose the remaining weight if I didn't race, since racing adds peaks and valleys to my caloric needs, and I do much better when I can eat the same every day, BUT racing is motivation to persist.

A disclaimer: Weight Watchers has a nifty way of accounting for "extra credit" for exercise, and it works quite well for "normal" levels of physical activity. Above that level they recommend consulting with a sports dietitian/nutritionist. I think I will need to do that to be successful losing the last 16 pounds (I'm at 205 now).