Been thinking about exercise, my body and the progress the past ten years. I realized I’d been trying to lose my stomach the entire time. It was after my transplant that I gained weight, especially around my waist. The waistline has stayed pretty much steady the past 10 years, no matter how much I exercised, no matter what foods I removed, no matter what supplements I took.
My exercise routine was at one time three hours long, six days a week for about two years. I certainly lost weight in my neck, chest, arms, back, butt, thighs and calves. My stomach was large as ever. I looked like a stick figure with a fat stomach. Or one of those alcoholic men who are scarecrows with beer guts. All that exercise ended up almost destroying my health. Ironic.
I’ve tried low-carb (going on 10 years now), low-salt (going on 25 years–until my Dr said ‘stop it’). I’ve tried veggie shakes, while leading to short-term weight loss, 1-2 shakes per day is not a long-term solution. Even returning to a healthy diet causes the weight to come barrelling back. I’m beginning to think that weight loss, weight gain, weight sustaining is more genetic, like diabetes and heart disease.
Instead of concentrating on losing weight, food and exercise, I’m just going to live my life. I’m as healthy as I can expect (with all my health issues), so I’ve been living and actually enjoying life again. I’m beginning to understand there’s more to life than obsessing about my stomach size.
Enjoy life!
Brick ONeil 