Tuned Fit: An Engineer's Journey into Health and Fitness
About this book
My "Welcome to 50" physical was not what I had hoped. I was a mess and my doctor told me I was at risk of heart attack or stroke. That should have got me motivated, but it wasn't until I was unable to walk up our sleigh riding hill to continue playing with my kids that the reality hit me. I was too young to be this old! I said a prayer and started my fitness quest. I had no idea of the road ahead, and fitness didn't happen overnight. I had been good at losing 20 lbs, but I was a pro at gaining 25. After many cycles, I was over weight on prescription blood pressure pills, and feeling a bit helpless. Now nearly 10 years into my journey, folks often ask me what the secret is? That is a great question, but the answer for me was not in a pill, a vile, or surgery. The answer didn’t come on a CD, or web talk, or quick fix diet. No, for me the road I took was the long slow road that involved gaining knowledge of food and fitness and a change in lifestyle. A change I had put off till 50! I thought my ice cream, cake, candy, hours of TV, long work days, and yes my fat pants and big shirts were simply part of the aging process. I thought we were suppose to get fat and slow down as we age, I thought an inch a decade around the middle was normal, I thought diets were not for me, that the only real weight lifters lifted big weights. Needless to say, but I was confused and it showed up in my quality of life. In short, I was wired wrong based on years of miss information. I didn’t know what a macro was let alone why a bunch of cheese and dressing on a salad was an issue. I thought you had to run for cardio and that running was something done by others. I thought elevators to go up and stairs to go down was sufficient. I accepted that blood pressure pills, antacids, and acid reflux was normal (as were stretchy pants and white footies). In short the answer for me was submitting to the fact that I knew nothing. This book is an attempt to share my story and the lessons learned along the way. I found a way to get fit and I must say this investment in health and fitness has proven a life time of returns. What a journey and one that I strongly recommend!!! If you are looking to get started, it is my hope that my story can help you on your fitness quest! My quest has seen body building, power lifting, masters track and field, 5k's, 1/2 marathons, a marathon, sprint distance triathlons, bicycle tours, and mountain biking. Not to mention getting off all prescription medication, losing 50 lbs, and being able to play with my kids and grandkids!!! If I can do this, anyone can!!!