TACKLING THE WEIGHTY ISSUES
I began my journey last June, unsure exactly where it would take me. All I knew is that the status quo had to go.
I was 45 years old, the heaviest I’d ever been in my life and, like so many of you, filled with anxiety and dread over a global pandemic that had brought life as we knew it to a screeching halt.
None of which seemed like a recipe for anything good.
I figured I owed it not just to myself, but also to my wife, children, extended family and friends to at least put in some kind of effort.
And so I started moving, a little at a time, which became longer and easier as the days turned into weeks. I also started paying close attention to what I was eating, tracking my meals and snacks through the online Weight Watchers app.
No, this was not a diet. You can literally consume anything you want. Nothing is off-limits. Just make sure you log it, and try to stay within the daily and weekly limits.
And drink plenty of water.
At some point, my natural stubbornness took over. Which actually was a good thing. As the pounds started coming off, there was no turning back. I was determined to build off of that early progress, to avoid sabotaging myself the way I’d done so many times before.
The weeks turned into months. The encouraging numbers began adding up. The one-and two-mile walks became three, then four or five. Most recently, those walks have now turned into partial runs, a mile at a time to start, now up to two miles.
And as I stepped on the scale Monday morning for my weekly weigh-in — the 40th one I’ve done since this all began — I looked down at something I never imagined was possible.
A weight loss that has now exceeded 100 pounds.
Achievement: Unlocked for Mike McIntyre, who hit a major fitness milestone this week.
To be perfectly honest, a big part of me feels guilty even sharing any of this publicly. I’d always rather celebrate someone else’s accomplishments than talk about my own.
But as I’ve provided periodic updates on my progress over the past 10 months, a rather unexpected thing began to happen.
So many strangers reached out, not just with words of encouragement, but with their own success stories.
Those emails and tweets and private messages kept me going, more determined than ever. And have brought a constant smile to my face.
Which brings me to an important realization through this entire process. Yes, you need to have the will and determination and drive to want to make a change. But it’s a hell of a lot easier when you have people around to support you.
I’m so blessed in that sense. It starts with my amazing wife of soon-to-be 21 years, who has gone above and beyond to not only cheer me on, but make the transition to healthier eating so delicious and seamless.
Who says you can’t make friends with salad?
See this here? That’s a very tasty roasted chicken salad she prepared for me the other night to take up to the press box at Bell MTS Place as I covered the Winnipeg Jets game against the Ottawa Senators.
The “old” Mike would have just filled his face with some kind of fast food on the way to the rink.
Grocery shopping and cooking, which she does the bulk of in our home, has become a bit more complicated (not to mention costly), but the fact she’s “all-in” means the world to me.
Same goes for my kids, now 19 and 16, who remind me every day of why I want to do everything possible to be around as long as possible.
My daughter has become my workout buddy, and I treasure our three or four trips we take to the gym every week.
Feeling the burn at the gym has become a regular part of the routine.
I’m still not exactly sure where this is taking me, but I’m very much enjoying the ride. Rather than obsess over a certain number, I’m going to let my body ultimately tell me when I’ve hit the finish line. My best guess is another 15 or 20 pounds should do it, but we shall see.
Then, in some ways, the real work begins, to try and stay as close to that line as possible. In that sense, the way I’ve done this should hopefully serve me well. I’m not starving myself, I truly enjoy what I’m eating, and I genuinely look forward to those gym sessions, walks and, yes, even runs.
I feel like this was a long-overdue lifestyle change that should be sustainable.
As a bit of a reward for hitting a big milestone, I really, REALLY enjoyed a slice of my mother’s famous Easter Bunny cake this week, making sure to take a piece that had as many Smarties as chocolate eggs on it. Thanks, Mom!
Everything in moderation, right? Mike rewarded himself with a slice of his mother’s Easter Bunny cake.
I’m now 46 years old, the lightest I’ve been since my mid-20s, and while that anxiety and dread about current events still exists to some degree, I feel I’m much better equipped to handle it these days.
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