I began running at age 49. Well, that isn’t true. I began running at age 18 and started again about 5 times up until age 49. I never ran more than a month or two and either got hurt or just stopped. The most miles I ran in a single run back then was 3.1 in a 5K I ran with my dad around 1990. Fast forward to July 2011. I weighed 278 lbs, I was pre-diabetic and my family physician of 20 years said I was heading for trouble if I did change my lifestyle.
I am a Christian and believe God has a purpose in all he does.
I say that to say this… Sometime late summer 2011 my wife of 25 years hurt her back. Evidently she had two ruptured disks and was in a lot of pain. Our family physician sent her to a chiropractor. After about a month, the chiropractor sent her to a specialist who tired various spinal blocks. He sent her to a surgeon who said she didn’t require surgery. He sent her to a pain management doctor. At this point, I was broke and tired of going to doctors. I called the pain management doctor to cancel, but as I talking was on the phone, I decided not to cancel and we went to our appointment. That appointment changed my life and my wife’s life forever.
As our doctor (I’ll call him Dr. Sun) examined my wife, he looked at me and said, “I can help you”. I was a bit shocked, but I listened. He then gave me a questionnaire to answer and he filled out a blood test he wanted me to take at a local lab (mind you I wasn’t even his patient yet).
So, to make this story a bit shorter, my lovely wife weighed 215 lbs and I weighed 251 lbs at this point (I had TMJ surgery and that helped limit my eating and thus I lost 27 lbs). Dr. Sun put me on Testosterone replacement therapy and put us both on the HCG diet. Say what you want, but this diet saved our lives. He got his HCG from a reputable pharmaceutical company and also gave us $250 of vitamins to take. In one month I lost 35 lbs and was able to begin running in March 2011 (my wife lost a total of 95 lbs between the diet and lifestyle change. She can’t exercise because of her back, but she is determined to keep the weight off – I’m impressed and amazed). I did the diet one more time and then continued running.
Here I am, 50 now and 95 lbs lighter. Dr. Sun did help me and I am eternally grateful. All this from my wife’s hurt back. I now run 30-40 miles a week and have participated in many 5K races and soon will be upgrading to half marathons and marathons.
As I said earlier, I am a Christian. I know all this came about because of the grace of God. Few people get the chance to do what I have done and believe me when I say, I am no one special. I only wish I could pass what I have learned along to help others. Well I decided not to wish, but to write a blog. This blog will cover past, present and future. If no one reads it but me, that is fine. I never want to forget where I came from and how far I have come, by the grace of God.
278 to Boston 
I too am eternally grateful to God. He used a bad thing in my life (my ruptured discs) and turned my life around. I had been thin all of my life until my first baby. After my third baby was three, I managed to lose weight; but after my fourth and fifth children, I regained my weight plus some. I tried and tried to exercise, but kept getting hurt. There was no way for me to lose weight, or so I thought. Through the year of going from doctor to doctor for my back; I came to Dr. Sun. He saw me as a whole person, not just as back pain. I went on the HCG Diet three times, each one lasting a month plus one month of maintainance. With all of that; I lost 85 LBS in only 10 months. I’m at 14 months now and have still maintained my weight loss. God took a bad thing and used it for good. My whole life style has been changed. I make wiser choices and eat a lot better now. I drink 96 oz of water a day; when before I couldn’t drink water at all and didn’t even drink enough juice or Gatorade in a day. My sinuses function better now and so does my body. I feel so much better. And Dr. Sun is helping me to do back exercises and other things to keep my back pain bearable. I am so fortunate!! I am so thankful for God’s hand on my life( and his leading me on this path!!!
It’s so inspiring to hear how you turned a bad situation into such a good one!
Thanks! Attitude is a huge help!!! I appreciate the encouragement.
Your story is so inspiring! I’m 23 and feel like I have no excuse. You are doing such a good job! š
Thanks. That means a lot to me. I joke about my running being my “midlife crisis”. I guess it might have been that, but better late than never. I envy you starting with so much time to run. I wish I had started earlier like you, but I’m glad I feel like a 23 year old! š
Good luck on your journey to Boston! š
Thanks! I think it is going to take longer than I thought. š
What an inspirational story! I didn’t start running until age 34 (I’m about to turn 36) – and I mean NEVER, as in I was not athletic in high school or college either. Probably the last time I had run prior to my first 5k was on the elementary school playground! Thank you for sharing your story.
I’m much the same way. The only sport I ever did when I was younger was sailboat racing. Not much exercise in that. š
Thank you and congratulations on your running!!!
I nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Check out my blog post for info. š
Thank You!!!
I love your blog, and so I wanted to nominate you for a Shine On Award! http://tartanjogger.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/shine-on-award/ Thanks for keeping me entertained with your posts š
Thank you so much. Yours is one of my daily favorites. I appreciate the nomination!!!! š
Good for you and the running! I run out of breath so easily. I haven’t figured out how to run without being winded so quickly. It’s hard to breath sometimes. So, naturally, I don’t run. But what if I’m being chased by a lion one day—THAT’S my concern.
Start slow. Walk a lot and run a little. Slowly you can change them up. Just be consistent and get out 6 days a week. It will come. Be patient.
That’s what it is! Patience! No wonder. I have none. I thought there was something else wrong. I didn’t think it’d take so long to build endurance. Plus, I don’t think I was ever very consistent. Thanks for the advice!
Endurance comes through patience. Doing the same thing the same way. Consultancy. Keep it up.
Hi! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so I’ve nominated you for an award on my blog: http://irundistance.com/2013/11/03/the-liebster-award/ š
Since I enjoy reading your blog, I have nominated you for a Sunshine Award. http://runninglarge.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/sunshine-award/
Great story! Good luck with Boston ad I look forward to reading more. I ran four marathons at about your weight. Went through graduate school and after the first semester put on about 15lbs…study, study, study and commuting three hours a day. After having some holistic problems and diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I got back into marathon shape. Figured if it’s not good for my health it is probably not good for me. š Keep up the awesome work!
Happy Training
~Joshua
Thanks Joshua! It is a constant journey to keep in shape and at a healthy weight. I’ve really struggled since my marathon. Hopefully I’ll be more consistent soon. Good luck with your journey!!!
Congratulations! I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award! http://jibberyjab.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/gasp-my-third-blogger-award-the-liebster/
What an amazing journey! I’m really glad that I’ve stumbled across your blog and look forward to following your adventures on the way to Boston. You’re such an inspiration, thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you. That means so much to me. I don’t know how I’ll get there, but I will keep trying. š
I love following your incredible story and think you are such an inspiration to so many people! I have nominated you for a Liebster Award!
http://runs4treats.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/liebster-award-2/
Thank you so much. That means more to me then you know. Thank you!!!
Keep fighting to get to Boston!! It is an absolutely incredible place to be and it will absolutely change your life. I promise it will be worth the years of effort and dedication!
Thanks, I will. I don’t know how I would react if I actually made it. š
I`m so excited that I found your blog. I love this story, and I can`t wait to hear about your progress (AND the challenges you face as well.) I`m training for my first half, and I know there will be ups and downs… but you`ve got to be in it to win it!
Thanks. I try not to hide the challenges or the progress. Good luck with the half!!! That is my favorite distance to race. You’ll do great!!!