My Get Fit or Die Trying Journey

I was at work treating a patient who recently had a stroke, Mr. Ford. Mr. Ford totally lost the use of his left side. As an Occupational Therapist, it was my job to force him to use his left upper extremity. Mr. Ford easily became my favorite patient as he tried the hardest to use his left arm. He eventually became able to walk and use his left arm. It was my responsibility to send him home. I went to Mr. Ford’s home to make sure he could safely maneuver throughout his home. Mr. Ford passed, but needed home modifications. I tried to send Mr. Ford home and the nursing home refused to let him go home. The pt kept inspiring me to start hiking because it was his favorite hobby. The pt promised me a walking GPS and backpack if I hiked with him.
The next travel assignment I took was in Spruce Pine, NC. I only moved there because it was in the heart of the Appalachian Trail. I lived in Spruce Pine for 3 months and the entire time I did not see 1 black person that lived there. I worked with all women that were athletic or slender. I walked in to work half out of breath with elastic pants tight enough to leave a imprint on my belly, and it was my first day. The staff had no idea I would be a black female from the phone interview. So eventually 6 women and I went hiking on the Appalachian Trail, where it was 2700 feet of elevation and a 5.6 mile hike. The group of women were 35-50 years old. I kept stopping them on the hike and I was out of breath, and the 50 year old nursing home administrator said is that your asthma, or “Are you just out of shape?’’ I then said a little of both. I went down the mountain rocks with my knees trembling and shaking of weakness and imbalance as the 43 year old gave me her pole and waited on me to catch up. I then had an “Awakening” I began to refuse to continue to be young, fat and unhealthy!!! I then started walking to work 1.5 miles to and 1.5 miles back home. I then also started working out during lunch breaks. People passed me in cars laughing or harassing me, but I never stopped walking to and from work. I started weighing 212 pounds, and my the end of the 3 months living and working in Spruce Pine I weighed 195 pounds.
I then returned to my home base in Gastonia and since no one wanted to hike, I joined Planet Fitness. In July 2009, where 2-3 times a week I would jog 2 miles on the treadmill, 2 on the elliptical, and 1 on the bike. I was eating the same food salad, protein, and whole grains. The weight wasn’t going anywhere no matter how many Monster shots I drank, and energy I expended working out at Planet Fitness. I asked the staff to show me what to do, and they told I had to sign up for a class to learn to use the equipment. I then became so frustrated, and I was at a plateau weighing 195-193 from July the 4th until the middle of November 2009. I kept praying Lord send me an attractive African American male who is a personal trainer so I can be motivated to want to get rid of this weight. I remember my faith, and how I sort of thought the prayer was wishful thinking. Be careful what you ask God for!! To whom much is given. . .much is REQUIRED. I then spoke to my Mama who said someone named Lamail Spain was a Fitness professional, and she gave me his number.
I began working out in his class, and the first session was so hard I felt like I was going to fall trying to keep up. I stuck with it for a month to see if I could really trust Lamail. I wasn’t eating what I was supposed to, and I kept skipping the cardio in home workouts. At the end of the first month, I was ready to give up because I worked out so hard twice a week, but didn’t loose a pound. I spoke to Lamail about it and he took my body fat percentage, and I said ‘I might as well just rollover and DIE’’. Lamail then encouraged me to for once follow the meal plan and do each cardio workout at home on my off days. I thought to myself OK let me get serious and follow the plan with the cardio, nutrition, and interval training. I the became serious and in 3 weeks I lost 10 pounds, 2% body fat, 2 inches at my waist and 2 inches at my hips. All of a sudden in 3 weeks I was at the same weight I weighed 5 years ago 183. I didn’t for once go hungry, or eat food I didn’t enjoy. Lord I Thank You for Putting Lamail Spain in my Path and I ask that you send him a double portion of blessings. Lord you said it in your word to acknowledge you in all my ways and you will direct my path. I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me and I encourage you to follow my blog as I try to get down to 141 pounds from 193 pounds.