In Loving Memory of William E. Martin

As I mentioned in my Tuesday post today I plan to talk about why I am committed to weight loss and why I chose to do this contest.  It really isn't because of the money (although I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't take it).  That would just be a nice bonus.  My reason is very simple.  I don't want to have to see other families go through what my family has gone through the last year.

On February 24th, 2010--the day before I found out I lost 5% of my starting weight--my father, William E. Martin passed away.  It was so sudden and shocking to all of us.  I had talked to him just hours before it happened and there was no indication that anything ominous was about to occur.

His official cause of death was myocardial infarction cause by coronary artery disease with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus as a contributing factor. Basically he had a heart attack and his diabetes helped contribute to it.

The diabetes had made a large impact in his life before his death.  It had escalated to the point where he had to take daily injections of insulin.  He had had several bouts of congestive heart failure.  He'd also lost his right leg to a flesh eating disease that was probably exacerbated, if not caused, by his diabetes.

The truly sad thing about all of it is his type 2 diabetes was preventable.  He didn't have to suffer the quality of life issues he experienced.  He didn't have to loose his leg.  He didn't have to die at 54 years and 13 days.

A couple days after the funeral I realized something.  I had an expiration date.  My dad's death established what my lifespan could be.  I might only have 23 years left.  That was unsettling to say the least.

My doctor had already told me I was on the cusp of having diabetes.  I had been prescribed Metformin.  I was headed down the same path as my father at a much younger age.  That could mean that 54 might be an optimistic estimate.  I just couldn't let that happen.

I made a second vow to myself.  I promised myself that I would loose the weight and loose it for good.  There was no way the weight loss journey I set myself on was going to fizzle out.  I could no longer afford to put it off to next year.

I also promised myself that I'd start to be more vocal about my desire to loose weight.  I started posting to my Facebook profile updates of my weight loss.  I posted both successes and the few failures I experienced along the way.  I never allowed the failures to phase me either.  If I gained one week I knew that I could loose it again.  After all I was there once I could be there again.

A weired thing happened too.  Nothing seemed impossible anymore.  It was like something clicked in my brain and all the things that for years I told myself were too hard to accomplish suddenly looked so easy.  I have to think that in some way that's dad helping me through it.

So that's the reason I want to loose weight... so that I don't have to experience the same things my dad experienced.  I know that he wouldn't want that for me.  It's also the reason I decided to join this contest.  My family had to find out the hard way what could happen.  No other families should have to experience this. When I heard about this contest I knew I had to do it.  If there was a chance that my experiences so far could help inspire even a single person to make a change then it will be worth it.  It's the legacy my dad will leave behind.

Today, Friday 11, 2011, would have been dad's 55th birthday.  My brother, mother and I spent the day doing what my brother and I probably would have done with him today.  Taking the day off and hitting the casino.  That's why this posting is being done so late.  It was our way of celebrating him doing something we knew he would have loved to have done.

Tomorrow I plan to impart a little wisdom that I've gained over the past year of weight loss.  It's much easier to do the right thing during the week.  When it comes to weekends it's very easy to slip up.  So the topic is going to be battling those Weekend Weaknesses.

On the menu today:  (nutritional information) [POINTS Plus]

Breakfast:
1/2 Cup Egg Whites (equals about 4) [1]
1 oz Kraft 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar shredded cheese [2]
Dill, Pepper [0]
2 slices Sara Lee Delightful 100% multi-grain bread [2]
2 tbsp Polaner Sugar Free Concord grape jelly [1]
10 sprays Parkay Butter Spray [0]

Lunch:
Genghis Grill Bowl - Buddhist Bowl (slightly modified)
Tofu (yes Tofu... don't make that face), Yellow Curry Salt, 3G Mix (green beans, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots), More Green Beans, Baby Corn, Squash and Zucchini, Honey Soy Sauce and Brown Rice (363.4 cal / 5.1 fat / 60.8 carb / 10.7 fiber / 17.6 prot) [9]
Vitamuffin VitaTops Banana Fudge muffin top [3]

Dinner:
Turkey Wrap - Tortilla, Deli-sliced Turkey, Swiss, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Mustard, Relish [8]
Fruit Cup - Strawberries, Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Honey Dew, Grapes [0]

Snacks:
1 snack package Blue Diamond Almonds Habanero BBQ Almonds [5]
1 Special K Bar Blueberry [2]
12 baby carrots [0]
12 radishes [0]
3/8 cup fat free ranch dressing [2]
2 cups Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Almondmilk [7]

Exercise: (about an hour total)

22.5 minutes run/walk on the treadmill for 1.27 miles (varied speed throughout)
5 minutes run/walk on track for 0.3 miles
50 leg presses at 100 lbs.
50 leg presses at 125 lbs.
50 leg curls at 50 lbs.
50 leg curls at 90 lbs.

#gghealthkwest