PhillyFIT Magazine

EnergeticallyFIT
Fat, Sick and Tired
Is no way to go through life
By Jeff Gross
AFTER
I was watching the movie Animal House
and the dean said to one of the guys, "Fat,
drunk and stupid is no way to go through
life son." Which made me think to
myself, fat, sick and tired is no way to go
through life either. I had a few health
issues as well. I was 5’ 10" tall and 220 pounds. I had a touch
of Crohn's disease, borderline diabetic, back problems, knee
problems, gall bladder issues, elevated liver enzymes, high
blood pressure and constant, almost debilitating bouts of tiredness.
Additionally, I had a diminished sex drive and severe,
allergic reactions to food which caused red blotches on my face.
At that point I decided to do something about it.
I called a friend of mine who did some personal training and
signed up for eight weeks at her studio in October of 2010. I
also decided to take a hard look at my diet and cut out the following:
sugar, flour and white carbs such as bread, rice, pasta
and potatoes. Then I took it a step further cutting out all chemicals,
additives, preservatives, food colorings, and anything artificial;
and no corn or corn by products whatsoever. My diet
became an internet research project centered on what would be
healthiest for a fifty-year-old guy who wanted to drop weight
effectively and quickly while transforming his body in the
process. Basically, I was eating what some people call a cleansing
diet or a Paleolithic diet.
My first day of personal training was quite sad from the standpoint
of a drill sergeant. I could barely do ten minutes on the
elliptical trainer. I was about as flexible as the couch I had
befriended. She put me through serious paces and by the fourth
week I was noticing results and feeling it. By the end of our
BEFORE
AFTER
eight-week session I was up to where an averagely fit guy
would be, but I still wanted a flatter stomach and firm arms and
legs.
In December 2010 I joined one of the local Southampton, PA
gyms and began a serious regimen. My first goal was to
accomplish two miles on the elliptical trainer with a ten resistance.
I reached my goal after one week of going six days a
week and sometimes Sunday. In the meantime, I was doing the
weight machines with challenging weights that were within my
ability until they were conquered – then I would raise them. By
week three I was up to three to four miles on the elliptical.
The most important thing I learned in this experience is the
secret combination of dedication, persistence, exertion, visualization,
and diet.
Dedication: Set your mind to the fact that this will be work,
you will need to make a schedule and stick to it. You can do
16 I PhillyFIT
November/Deember I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfit.com