sooner_ed's pics

[sooner_ed]

Ok gentlemen, I'm going to try to post some progress pics for those of you interested.

• The first series of pics is of me when I first started
• The second series shows my progress after six months
• The third and fourth pics are of me in a race
• The last pic is of my equipment in my den that I use.

[cursor]

That's a pretty powerful transition, sooner_ed! Excellent work! :

[Lift2Live]

Wow Ed, that's some great work! Keep it up man!

[rufiedog]

You look way better. Do you feel as good as you look?

Dan

[Lady C]

Excellent results! See you can do ANYTHING you put your mind (and body) into 100%

[sooner_ed]

Thank you. It hasn't been easy. Takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Now it's time for me to take it to the next level. Actually, I need to rest for a while. I worked out yesterday with heavier weights and could really feel it. I also went on a five mile run yesterday and it felt like I had some muscle sprains. Really surprised me. My body is really hurting today. Twinges of pain all over from time to time. After my next race tomorrow, I think it will be time to take a two week break from it all. Since March 1st, I have either run, weightlifted, or both six days a week. I think my body needs a break. From January until April, I will be focusing on running. I have one race January 1st with, I think, two or three more before my half marathon in April. I will continue to lift for most of that time. Then after the half marathon, move my focus to lifting and seeing some great results. If I take the next two weeks off, should I continue taking creatine?

[falcon64]

Wow! Fantastic job! Sounds like you need a well deserved break. Keep up the good work and best of luck.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by rufiedog

You look way better. Do you feel as good as you look?

Dan

Interesting you should ask that question Dan. Do I feel as good as I look? The catalyst in this whole process was being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes on January 12th of this year. Before then, I was a fat lazy man!! I remember when I was in the Army, I always said I would never allow myself to get over 200. It was just a matter of personal pride. But when I injured my back about six years ago, things changed. And stupid me listened to the ER doctor who told me I would never exercise again. I was at work at a transmission shop and was moving some dualmass flywheels when I twisted instead of turned. I ended up on the floor and could not get up. A couple of people tried to stand me up but my back would not support my weight. I guess I took it to heart when the doc said I would never exercise again. That's when I started gaining weight back and it didn't stop until 221. Then diabetes changed it all. You see through the pics the progress I have made this year. And just so you know, my current career is that of a financial advisor. So I sit behind a desk for most of the day.
As a result of the progress I have made this year, I now have more energy than I ever thought possible. I can now eat a BUNCH of food and not gain any weight (like today...bad carb day...but oh well....it was only 5 pancakes and about 9 cinammon biscuits...but no worry, I made them with wheat flour). I don't do that every day. Some days are just like that...but how I digress. My point was this: I now have so much more energy that I can no longer sit behind a desk all freakin' day long. I am now looking for a career change. I will continue my financial planning practice part-time, but I am now looking at working either at physical labor or at a gym. They say you should do something you love so I can now see myself working at a gym. I think this stuff is great!! Nonetheless, I would really prefer working at something that will keep me moving and working, if that makes sense.
So yes, I do feel much much better. It's amazing at how a proper diet and exercise program can give you so much energy.

[rufiedog]

I hear you. I have more energy too. The question is what to do with it. I thought of changing careers as well, but doing so in order to keep more active isn’t for me. With the right amount of weight and aerobic training throughout the week, the desk job is just fine! (And for me it doesn’t take THAT much exercise to keep me from wanting to do something phisical)

But… I do agree with doing something you love. That takes precedence over any other reason for a career change in my opinion.

Just remember that whatever you decide to do, make sure you stay as mentally active as you are physical. Interesting read from the book “Memory Fitness”:

“Social activity and typical hobby activities had very little association with how well the older adults maintained memory functioning. The activities that were significantly associated with good memory functioning were those that required intellectual engagement. Adults who participated in demanding intellectual activities were more likely to maintain their memory abilities than did those adults who did not participate in such endeavors.

“Current evidence strongly suggests that your mind needs to be challenged with “demanding” intellectual activity to keep your memory functioning well”.

That said—demanding intellectual activity is the reason I stay in the job I have now. Unfortunately my hobbies do not require a whole lot of mental participation.

Common activities requiring a high level of mental engagement:

Playing cards
Playing chess
Doing jigsaw puzzles
Playing word games
Reading newspapers and books and thinking meaningfully about them
Playing knowledge games
Career reading
Using the library
Watching educational TV
Letter writing
Creative writing
Programming software
Using software as a calculator
Balancing your checkbook
Preparing your taxes
Doing math
Attending a lecture
Giving a talk
Job training
Taking a course
Learning a language
Debating an issue on the meaning of a movie with someone
Relating what you have learned with someone

The brain is just like the body. Use it or loose it

Dan

[rufiedog]

Another interesting read from the book titled “Dare to be 100”:

“The principal myth about aging concerns the brain. It is commonly assumed that your brain power diminishes with age, but like other dimensions of existence, most of the decline is not due to aging; it is intellectual flab. Like a leg in a cast, when unused the brain deteriorates, Studies have shown that watching television requires less brain energy than looking at a wall. TV is trance enhancing.”

“When a certain part of the brain is stimulated by a life task, more blood goes to that area. For example, your vision is focused in the back of your brain. When you perform a visual task, the back of the brain receives an increase blood flow, and therefore more oxygen and nutrients.”

“Intellectual challenge and enrichment thereby cause actual structural changes in the brain. It grows, just like your biceps do when your perform chin-ups. The tiny branches of brain cells sprout new branches when the brain is stimulated.”

“None of this information is in any way surprising. It is just the way nature works. Your structure and function depend on active stimulation fro growth and vitality. The natural world has little tolerance for organisms that cease to grow. Your brain is no exception.”

“It is suggested that Alzheimer’s diseases affects smart people less. This doesn’t mean that smart people don’t get Alzheimer’s disease, but the theory holds that if you’re smart, you’ll have a lager mental repertoire to draw from before the deficits cause by Alzheimer’s kick in.”

“But how to train the brain? This is where we need lots of work. Predictably, brain drugs such as certain amino acids emerge to do our brain work for us. No one knows if they might work or not, but I disparage our eternal effort to find shortcuts. We need a brain exercising program to keep our most meaningful organ brisk and reactive. The details of such a curriculum have not been worked out yet and it will vary greatly among us, but for starters I suggest (1) write a letter a day;(2) do volunteer work; (3) learn a language; (4) be physical; (5) stay social; (6) learn to play a musical instrument;(7) be active in government and protecting the environment; (8) care a lot about things; (9) be necessary
Use your brain. Build your brain”

Dont mean to Hijack your pic thread but thought it a good time to share the info

Dan

[goodgirl]

Excellent results, Ed!

[Gooseneck]

Awesome progress so far man. :

[Regulator]

I eat my oatmeal every morning mixed up with frozen blackberries and a packet of sugar substitute....