Battle Log

Too many of us let it happen. I let it happen to me. By the beginning of this year, I had to face the fact: I was fat.

When I joined the Air Force in 1981, the powers-that-be in basic training warned me that, unless I gained some weight, I‘d be thrown out of training. At five feet and seven inches, I weighed a mere 103 pounds and the minimum weight limit for women my height was, yes, 103 pounds. By the end of the then six week training period, through exercise and eating like a hog—not a new behaviour for me—I had ballooned to a whopping 110 pounds; still a scrawny little creature.

Things change in twenty-two years. When I exited active duty in 1994, I had become a grown-up, pleasant 145 pounder, much of it muscle. I liked it. However, inattention took its toll. By February of this year, the round, muscular body had morphed into a flabby 180 pound one.

I never saw it coming. Soda and sweets weren’t the culprits, and, when I looked in the mirror face-on, I couldn’t see much of a difference.

Did you ever walk by a glass and look at yourself in profile? I did that and discovered that I grow fat from front to back, rather than sideways: I had a triple J-Lo booty and a Buddha stomach.

Even after a minor surgery to ease the pressure on my aching back, I still weighed 175. Well you know what? I was tired of being humongous. Three months ago, I started walking/running six days a week, got some results--down to 165--but not as fast as I would have liked.

So, three weeks ago, I started on a famous conditioning program, in which one does weight-training three days per week and cardiovascular training (the twenty minutes from Hell, I call it) on alternate days with one day of rest. I am loving it and am not too worried about weight—though I’m down to 157. The real results are the most promising: dropped two sizes, clothes bagging off, muscle definition and, best of all, people saying, “What are you doing? You look great.” I’m in it for the long haul and for the out-and-out vanity.

Mom’s Got It Goin’ On

A little competition can be helpful in such matters and publicly admitting to one of my baser instincts also allows me to tell a bit of my mom’s story.

My mother, who has always been a beautiful woman—I look like a female version of my father—had also let herself go and, at one time, had a good fifty pounds on the 180-pound version of me. Then her doctor discovered she had cancer. Thanks to God, a competent physician and early detection, the cancer hadn’t spread and the docs were able to get all of it. Mom had to go through the ordeal of radiation and chemo for six months, but she's done now and loving life all the more. As a result of this, she is now slim (5’ 8” and 155 pounds) and absolutely gorgeous. Sixty-one years old she is and has not a wrinkle anywhere; her short hair is still mostly dark.

During her recent visit, she was wearing the type of clothing I hadn’t seen her wear in twenty-five years: snug fitting Capri pants, sleeveless button-down blouses and—at the risk of giving too much information—nice underwear. (Those of us who have been overweight know that one of its indignities is having to buy underwear the size of pillow cases.) She has none of that baggy arm business than is the bane of many mature women; my mother flexes an arm and BOOM, up pops a bicep.

In a nutshell, my mother looks better than I do.

It’s great to have back the lady that my high school suitors would joke about throwing me over for. And, though I know my stepfather is glad to have the siren back as well, after the scare he’ll take her in whatever package she comes. So will I.

Comments

[Jay Solo]

Good for you! And your mom!!

I know what you mean about creeping weight gain, and the profile. Back at the beginning of 1983, during my 1st year of college, I hit 233 and was disgusted I was so FAT. At about that time, I happened to get very sick for a week or so, and lost 12 lbs of it just like that. I decided to keep going, and in 8 months I lost 55 lbs, bottoming at an almost anorexic looking 178. I'm 5' 11" and large framed, so I'm not designed ever to be super light.

I gradually moved back up to a comfortable 205, give or take 5 lbs. That's where I was in early 1992 when I got laid off from a very physical job that helped keep me that way; about 210 at that time.

I was unemployed for a year and 14 days, then started doing tech support work. I went a few years without weighing myself, and when I did, I knew I'd ballooned, so I figured 240-some. No, 260. Oops!

Then I rocketed up from there, especially gaining like 10 lbs each time I was treated for high blood pressure (which I had even when my weight was low and I did physical work). My very absolute highest ever was 290, but I ended up hovering around 280 for a while.

To my great relief, I recently plunged from 283 down to 255 in 6 weeks time, and since then have hovered between 255 and 263. I need to lose a little more so I'll fit in the old clothes - some brand new I bought just before I outgrew them - but better still if I can get to 230 or below I'll be thrilled.

[Annmarie aka Mickey]

Bravo to both you and your Mom! Glad everything worked out for her.
I know what you mean about the weight gain. I was 5'7 and 110 lbs when I got pregnant, doctors keep yelling that I was underweight, gained 50 lbs, but still manage to walk out if the hospital at 130. When my son was younger, I think I spent so much time running after him that I was able to stay in shape. But then I started smoking again and then quit and lemme tell ya, after 40, it gets lots harder! And I don't think my a** on this computer helps either *G* What weight training system are you using? If you don't mind me asking, thanks!

[Paul Jané]

Congrats to both of you; Lord knows that weight loss is a challenge.

[Walter]

Congrats. I'm sure you and your mom are stone cold foxes together.

[Acidman]

Hug your mama every time you see her. No matter what she looks like.

[Cynthia]

Halleleujah! for your mom's recovery and praises to you for your work out routine! Good job!

[baldilocks]

Thanks to all. I love read stories of this all too familiar battle.

Mickey: I read and commented on your site about the memory of your mom. (((hug)))

Acidman: I was thinking of your mom's ordeal as I wrote this and counting my blessings.

Believe it, I'm praying for her.

[Mr. Lion]

For extra fun, do some light weight training at a cardio pace. Get some little 5-15 pound hand weights, and so three or four sets of 25 reps really fast like.

That's the trick most performers use to get the "cut" look, which I happen to think looks absolutely amazing on women. :)

[mommydoc]

I just found out you had a blog! And you've already inspired my to do something about the excess weight I've put on in the last 6 years, due to a combination of residency, internet addiction and inertia. Thank you. Good luck to you and your mom, may she stay healthy, and thank you for the desperately needed swift kick in the ass!

[SwampWoman]

I laughed out loud when I read your post because I, too, joined the military as a scrawny (fit) teenager who did distance running for fun while in high school. While the overweight recruits had drill sergeants scrutinizing their every forkful of food, I had people yelling at me to eat more! (Yep, that really gave me a big ol' appetite! Pissed off the weight-challenged, too.)

I continued to stay in shape while I was doing heavy construction work, but a car accident with significant knee injuries left me without my running therapy. Which was cool, I rehabbed by doing weights, until the rotator cuff injury. Then the desk jockey job (and restaurant expense account) and continuing to eat like I was doing heavy construction work and lifting weights....

I was actually shocked to see a picture of myself, because I didn't recognize me. (I still thought of myself as thin. I'm still pretty solid, but my waist seems to have gone all missing.) Time for a change! The low-carb thing is working really well, and I'm really sick of the sedentary lifestyle. Back to the weight bench! I've just started the weights again, but I haven't found my waist yet. If any of y'all see it, send it back my way. I don't think I was cut out to fly a desk.

I am so glad that everything is great with your mom, and she's an inspiration to you! Has she said anything like "oh, this is FAR too big for me! You take it!" yet? (See if I ever loan mama my sugar buster diet book again!)