Changes

Congratulations on the turnaround! I am fortunate to have never dealt with weight issues, but I had some personal battles. The toughest was an extremely toxic relationship that finally ended about 12 years ago. This experience made me a miserable human for awhile. I was jaded, negative, and judgmental. Fortunately, my family and friends stayed around and helped me through it, and my students (I was a JH science teacher at the time) were a God-send as they gave me another reason to keep going.
I got myself together, and met my amazing wife 11 years ago. Life is great!
 
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s wonderful to hear your perspective and outlook!

I’ll share a bit about my family. In 2013 my wife and I felt a calling to adopt, specifically a girl from China. We started the long process knowing that we would be electing to adopt a special needs child or a child with medical needs. As we proceeded with the long and arduous process, my wife began to feel a tug in her heart that we were being called to also adopt a boy. And I said….ahhhhhh……ok! We then began the process of deciding which medical conditions and special needs we would accept. In the end, we decided that we would accept any condition other than a neurological disease.

Fast forward to 2015, we were matched with Livie and Joseph and took two separate trips to China to get our kiddos. Livie was 2 and a half and Joseph was 5 when we got them.

We have two biological kids and today our kids stack up ages 12,12,10, and 9. We are a lively bunch.

Joseph came to us with a cleft lip and palate - a relatively routine procedure these days. But what we did not see was the underlying condition that was undiagnosed - a neurological one. We slowly started down the road of getting him tested for autism- a process that was arduous and emotionally exhausting.

We are now seven years in to this autism journey and it has changed everything about our family. First of all- it’s kind of comical to tell God what kind of child you don’t want. But we have been stretched and grown and blessed in every possible way. Joseph is a brilliant kid and is a blessing to us. He is certainly meant to be a part of our family. He has taught me so much about myself, about patience, and about how to truly appreciate the simplicity of life. He represents the hardest and best parts of life.

And if you want to know anything about trains…he is your guy!

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Each year we get him a lock to put on a chain. We go out to the lake and throw the keys into the lake to signify that he is locked into our family forever. It’s important for him and us to know that he is secure. Here is the whole crew.
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KNIFE CONTENT!!! Dad is always taking knife pics.

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Thanks for the wonderful GAW and the opportunity to share some stories.

I’m in!
 
Not an entry but I just want to say congratulations on your journey and thanks for sharing it with us. It’s definitely inspiring.
 
Congratulations on turning your life around. Alcohol is poison, pure sugar, zero nutritional value. Haven't had a drop in 6 years or so, not because of an addiction problem, I don't like hangovers and get them from a single beer. Good luck in your coming adventures. Entry for Amir Fleschwund Amir Fleschwund

Turned 50 in 2006 and had my first PSA test. According to Google normal is 0-4, lab printout showed 3.5, thought I was good to go. PCM was an active duty Capt who said, "Not so fast Chief. 3.5 may be in the normal range but for someone only 50 that's a little high, let's send you for a biopsy." Ouch! No fun having 10 cores removed from your prostate through your colon wall with no anesthesia. Then the news ... boom ... two cores positive. Urologist wanted to perform surgery but after researching the side effects I told him to pound sand. Self pity set in ... this wasn't fair, I worked hard, lived a good life, and I prepared to die. It was hard. A few years go by and a new cancer treatment comes to town, Procure Proton radiation therapy. Perfect for my situation, only problem is my retired military insurance, Tricare, did not have a contract with Procure and my copay would have been $350,000, way above my pay grade. So I continued my preparations / watchful waiting, worried every 6 months when my PSA was rechecked it would show a rapid increase. A few years go by and the government gets a contract with Procure ... my copay went to $0 ... sign me up! After some additional testing to be sure my cancer hadn't spread (it hadn't, but don't want to waste the treatment if it spread) I endured a couple months of daily proton radiation treatments. After treatment my PSA immediately started decreasing, quickly declining below 1, and years later down to 0.1, am in remission! Now I am prepared to live!

procure.jpg
 
Congrats on turning your life around! I have been fighting a battle with my weight, and 6 months (or so) ago, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. My HGA1C was 10.1, and my doc was wanting to start me on meds, and monitoring my blood sugar. My wife and I are musicians, and finger-sticks would definitely not work for me. After talking with my MD, we decided to see if diet and exercise changes would do the trick. So I buckled down, changed my diet, and we go to the gym three days a week. My HGA1C has dropped down to 6.5 (normal is 4.0-6.0), and the weight is also dropping.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the opportunity!
 
Great story/testimony.... 5 years is a long time, which proves you wanted it... I think that's the biggest factor in stopping nearly any kind of destructive behavior... wanting it...
I worked with a guy that was almost 9 years younger than me, and was in better shape than me, but in January came down with covid, couldn't shake it, and died. I've had covid twice...
As a believer, I've known all along about how any day could be our last here on earth, but it seems to hit a little harder when it's someone you are close to.
I've gone through 2 rounds of skin lymphoma, and had my gall bladder removed. During one of my scans, my cardiologist discovered I have a fatty liver. He didn't seem to think there was much I could do to correct it, just try to not let it get worse.
This past weekend, after some good old internet research, I'm convinced that I very likely CAN reverse this disease. So, I've started on a keto type diet, with the goals of leveling out my sugar/insulin type stuff, and losing about 30 pounds. I have high hopes that this change of diet/lifestyle will help my liver lose some fat, as well.
At 67 years of age, I'm pretty sure I'll never climb Everest (never wanted to) but maybe I'll hang around a little longer (God willing, of course) and watch the grand girls grow up....

best of luck to you....
 
HST HST , Congratulations on your achievements....... In 2005, after 42 years of heavy smoking, I was in a hospital with my LAD artery 90% blocked...... I got a stent installed and never had another cigarette...... In 2012 I quit my daily 12 pack habit and haven't had a drop since.....
At 290# I'm the perfect weight for someone 6'11" tall...... Unfortunately, I'm 5'10"!!..... While I dither about shedding the weight, I'm fortunate to have good labs and organ function...... I'm 73 and have had a good life with a lot of positives.... I continue to work on my needed weight reduction.... Thank you for a nice post.....
 
HST said:
I never thought I'd be making a thread like this, but here I am. What seems like yesterday - this happens as one ages - I started making life changes. Aound me people were passing away and I finally got scared enough to look at myself. What did I find? A severe case pf personality disorder - I was actively trying to die. I drank the best bourbon, ate the best food, and consumed both at an alarming rate. I drove daringly around the world and all across the Americas. Risk and reward became skewed every time and it always ended in debauchery. I was obese, an addict, and I had a severe case of personality disorder, so I got started on myself. What I didn't understand was the time needed to reverse 10+ years of gluttony. I started drinking when I was 35 and I gained one pound a month (just an average) for 9 years. I almost didn't want to say it out loud, but my hope is, I will reach and inspire one person from their fate. I have no idea how I escaped my own fate, besides the desire to not be who I became.

I pulled through and it was tuff. Quitting alcohol was serious for me - it took two years to feel 'normal.' Luckily, I had my own home where I could let it all out in privacy, but most importantly, as I was ready. When I was brave enough to get on the scale, I was 293 @ 6 ft. (01/17) with an unknown morbidly obese bf% (I went all in before 12/22/16 and probably gained 20+lbs? True gluttony!). My submersion test on 02/21, I was 8.8% @ 178.5. I really started caloric restriction and high cardio @18.5% bf and it took 11 months to hit single digit bf (03/30-02/21). Today I'm 188 with "old man" 11-12% bf and eating 3200 calories a day. Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done, or real change can't happen. The problem is we don't stick with it long enough for the true change to happen. I do/did NO androgens, PED, drugs, creatine, pre-workout or any supplements besides vitamins and minerals. I eat all fruits, veggies, and fresh meats with healthy salt and butter (95% of the time). "Calories In/Calories Out" is the rule - it doesn't matter what you eat, when you eat, and/or how often you eat to lose weight. I work-out infrequent and no more than three times a week for less than 30 minutes a time. I do cardio quite often for 1-2 hrs at a time. I should add, I had stage two hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol was very bad, low liver function (poor thing), and tachycardia daily. I used sobriety, nutrients, and time only (single ingredient foods, vitamins and minerals) to cure my all disease. I turned 50 recently and I've never felt better...I'm not just saying that.

My whole life has changed. I don't care to drive "fast" or even really want to drive one of my cars. I dislike the city. I never eat out because I want to be in control of my calories and nutrients. I find most of the things I enjoyed I no longer do. I've become simple, but that simplicity is my peace. To go from an obese addict to where I wanted to be was 5 years and 2 months. There are no short cuts and the only thing I learned was X amount of time should be undefined as the process is the process. For long term viability - I urge all to take their time with change. One thing at a time and you only have to win the day that you're in.

Today: I've decided that I want to roam the earth in a 5th wheel and a truck. I've also been sailing - I got a S/V - and I will be doing that equally as much. Hurricane season I'll stay on land and when it's not I'll be sailing. JIC, I got some land in FL 30 miles from the beach. Therefore, I've decided to sell it all - even my home and car collection. What is relevant and included is the sale my extensive knife collection.

This isn't a for sale ad - it's a giveaway.

Before I sell it all, I want to give back to a special place - The Porch. I will be giving away 3 knives. 2 Blade Forum knives that are new and a lightly used Freemont Jack. The forum knives are #863119 and Buck '18, and the Freemont Jack is in OD Green Micarta with a "tasteful" by me forced patina. I will use a random # generator to pick the winners. I will draw the winners Sunday of this week and post winners by next week Monday morning EST.

To enter the giveaway, you must be a member of BF, you must have 100 posts on the Porch, and you must tell us all a personal moment of your life that you triumphed over yourself. You may also state a time in your life that happened and created change for the better. I want some pro-human stories - I feel we could all use to hear some - and this community is rich with them. Thanks for listening, thanks for being you, and thanks for stopping by.


Live well, y'all.
Click to expand...
Congratulations on the life change. Glad you feel so much better. I always said we all have our demons. Some of us are just lucky enough not to meet them.

Continued success and happiness!

,,,Mike in Canada
 
HST HST Congratulations on getting yourself back into a healthy state (body AND mind).

I have been making a conscious effort for years to control my temper in my home. It is easier, in my case anyway, to be harder on myself and my own than on others, and unjust anger just makes authority look foolish. Last year there was an irruption of anger at the school where I taught and I witnessed firsthand how destructive anger can be in an institution--and I didn't want the next institution to be my own home. No struggle against destructive habits is perfect, but I've made good strides and my anger is far less frequent and intense than it once was, and I'm still making headway.

I'd like to give my entry to joeradza joeradza if that's ok with you.
 
Life is all about change. Maybe the key is to keep a positive attitude and handle it with grace and courage.

After a failed relationship and a time of not caring much about anything or myself, I awoke one day broke and homeless. Well I did own my own home, a tent. By the grace of goD along with the help, inspiration and encouragement of a Cajun family there in southern Louisiana, I was able to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get back on track. I could talk on and on about the homeless experience but perhaps only those who have lived it would truly understand. It was both tragic and exhilarating. A pause in my life wherein I was able to get to know myself, well better than most know me anyway.

And then there was alcohol. I saw what alcohol abuse could do to a family. I saw what alcohol abuse could do to a man. Seen through the eyes of a child. My dad was an alcoholic and I swore I'd never become one, but I did and it cost me a couple of small fortunes ... among other things. Over the decades, there were three DUI's and two stints in rehab. First was 6wks in patient, second I was a "retread". I can't tell you how long I've been sober and I don't even think about it. All I can tell you is that I'm not drinking today.

Best of luck to all of you in facing your challenges and changes. And with change, expect there will also be change. That's life :)
 
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HST said:
I never thought I'd be making a thread like this, but here I am. What seems like yesterday - this happens as one ages - I started making life changes. Aound me people were passing away and I finally got scared enough to look at myself. What did I find? A severe case pf personality disorder - I was actively trying to die. I drank the best bourbon, ate the best food, and consumed both at an alarming rate. I drove daringly around the world and all across the Americas. Risk and reward became skewed every time and it always ended in debauchery. I was obese, an addict, and I had a severe case of personality disorder, so I got started on myself. What I didn't understand was the time needed to reverse 10+ years of gluttony. I started drinking when I was 35 and I gained one pound a month (just an average) for 9 years. I almost didn't want to say it out loud, but my hope is, I will reach and inspire one person from their fate. I have no idea how I escaped my own fate, besides the desire to not be who I became.

I pulled through and it was tuff. Quitting alcohol was serious for me - it took two years to feel 'normal.' Luckily, I had my own home where I could let it all out in privacy, but most importantly, as I was ready. When I was brave enough to get on the scale, I was 293 @ 6 ft. (01/17) with an unknown morbidly obese bf% (I went all in before 12/22/16 and probably gained 20+lbs? True gluttony!). My submersion test on 02/21, I was 8.8% @ 178.5. I really started caloric restriction and high cardio @18.5% bf and it took 11 months to hit single digit bf (03/30-02/21). Today I'm 188 with "old man" 11-12% bf and eating 3200 calories a day. Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done, or real change can't happen. The problem is we don't stick with it long enough for the true change to happen. I do/did NO androgens, PED, drugs, creatine, pre-workout or any supplements besides vitamins and minerals. I eat all fruits, veggies, and fresh meats with healthy salt and butter (95% of the time). "Calories In/Calories Out" is the rule - it doesn't matter what you eat, when you eat, and/or how often you eat to lose weight. I work-out infrequent and no more than three times a week for less than 30 minutes a time. I do cardio quite often for 1-2 hrs at a time. I should add, I had stage two hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol was very bad, low liver function (poor thing), and tachycardia daily. I used sobriety, nutrients, and time only (single ingredient foods, vitamins and minerals) to cure my all disease. I turned 50 recently and I've never felt better...I'm not just saying that.

My whole life has changed. I don't care to drive "fast" or even really want to drive one of my cars. I dislike the city. I never eat out because I want to be in control of my calories and nutrients. I find most of the things I enjoyed I no longer do. I've become simple, but that simplicity is my peace. To go from an obese addict to where I wanted to be was 5 years and 2 months. There are no short cuts and the only thing I learned was X amount of time should be undefined as the process is the process. For long term viability - I urge all to take their time with change. One thing at a time and you only have to win the day that you're in.

Today: I've decided that I want to roam the earth in a 5th wheel and a truck. I've also been sailing - I got a S/V - and I will be doing that equally as much. Hurricane season I'll stay on land and when it's not I'll be sailing. JIC, I got some land in FL 30 miles from the beach. Therefore, I've decided to sell it all - even my home and car collection. What is relevant and included is the sale my extensive knife collection.

This isn't a for sale ad - it's a giveaway.

Before I sell it all, I want to give back to a special place - The Porch. I will be giving away 3 knives. 2 Blade Forum knives that are new and a lightly used Freemont Jack. The forum knives are #863119 and Buck '18, and the Freemont Jack is in OD Green Micarta with a "tasteful" by me forced patina. I will use a random # generator to pick the winners. I will draw the winners Sunday of this week and post winners by next week Monday morning EST.

To enter the giveaway, you must be a member of BF, you must have 100 posts on the Porch, and you must tell us all a personal moment of your life that you triumphed over yourself. You may also state a time in your life that happened and created change for the better. I want some pro-human stories - I feel we could all use to hear some - and this community is rich with them. Thanks for listening, thanks for being you, and thanks for stopping by.


Live well, y'all.
Click to expand...
Good on you Sir. I have lived hard before. Straightened it out by paying attention to the important things in life. I’ll be 46 next month. At 26 I felt I had already lived a lifetime. With age comes grace and the understanding of what is truly important. For me that is family, a career that I respect, and God.

Please give yourself the credit you deserve for changing your everyday routine.

Pete
 
Like others I used to drink to excess. Pretty much a daily drinker in my 20s. Blackouts were common, and tho i had good intentions sober, driving under the influence was common. I was a failure at relationships, friendships and had finally had enough at 29. It's now been coming on 20 years without a drink, 15 years of marriage (same woman, consecutive years) and a successful career. Best of luck in all your endeavors.
 
I’m glad to hear that you are getting your life and your health on the right track and thanks for the generous giveaway HST HST

I’m in. When I thought about this, I realized that this happened exactly on today’s date, eight years ago, so I figured it must be a sign to share the story. I left my house around 6:30 on a Sunday morning to go check on some cattle. I got about a mile from my house and as I was driving through the intersection, on a green light, I got t-boned in my driver’s side door. I never saw it coming and my whole truck was airbags, so I couldn’t even tell what happened. My head felt wet and I thought I was bleeding. I wiped my forehead, no blood. I realized I was drenched in sweat. I crawled out the passenger door and realized my truck was knocked about 90 degrees off course and my ATV had flown out of the back. I walked over to the car that hit me and the police were already there. The passenger was slumped over in the seat dead, no seat belt on, with a 12-pack of empty beers under his seat, and the driver was gone. The police quickly found the driver a few blocks away. He had run off, trying to avoid getting arrested and left his passenger there to die. Turns out a bloody guy running around town at 6:30 in the morning draws attention. I later found out after the police investigation that the driver’s blood alcohol was twice the legal limit and he was driving 55-60 miles an hour running red lights and never hit the brakes before hitting me.

I was pretty sore and went to the hospital that day just to be safe, but I ended up fine. It was a pretty heavy experience for me and really made me think about a lot of things. I knew it wasn’t my fault, but still couldn’t help but think that if I wasn’t there, the guy might still be alive. It made me think about alcohol, it made me wonder why I survived, basically unscathed. I had a one-year-old and a four-year-old at the time and it made me think about them. It really made me realize that anything can happen at any time, and I felt like I got a pass that day. After that I decided that I needed to do what I could to be more available and present with my family and friends and to make the most of my time with family and friends because you never know what could happen.

Over a year went by before I didn’t think about the accident every day, but I think it has helped to make me a better person. If you made it this far, sorry for the long-drawn out story. It brings up some emotions, especially looking back at the pictures of my truck.

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