Making a 180-Degree Turnaround

I've seen people make incredible strides in turning their lives around physically, and applauded the impact that it has had on nearly every other area of their lives.  Grandparents get up and kick the soccer ball with the kids rather than watching from the sidelines.  Couples begin to share active hobbies together instead of being sedentary, and discover newfound appreciation for each other.  We all probably know someone who has been imprisoned by obesity, only to make a 180-degree turnaround and eventually run a marathon or take on some other feat of endurance requiring months of dedication and delayed gratification.

But for many people who are hoping for a miraculous change, fear and hope often collide.  Hope is a ship made of balsa wood and fear is a stormy sea.  You may have heard that 98% of all weight loss attempts fail in the end.  Not the strategic, planned, accountability-based and research-backed methods, but the flailing-about-in frustration-until-you-throw-in-the-towel attempts do.  More recently, ridiculous television shows about weight loss have warped our expectations about realistic results.  Now I'm not suggesting anyone lower the bar on what they want to achieve, but think about this:  When TV shows and infomercials introduce time-warped results as if they happened in real-time, people think they should be able to do a few workouts (and stop eating crap) and lose 12 pounds in a week!  Wait a minute....how long did it take you to put that weight on?

So you've been creeping up in weight for a long, long time and now you want it gone overnight?  2 pounds a week is not what you saw on TV, so it's not good enough for you?  Well before we melt off all the extra accumulated body fat, don't we at least need to stop the continued accumulation, i.e. bring the weight gain to a screeching halt?  Wouldn't that be noteworthy all by itself?

If you've put on extra body fat over the last 20 years, how fast should it come off?

How patient are you willing to be?

How long will you eat cleaner than the way you ate to get into this predicament?

What if we simply made the changes in diet and exercise to stop gaining weight first?

If you don't even do that, do you think the weight gain will stop?  

So it took you 20 years to put on 50, 75, or even 100 pounds.  If we could lose that in 1/10th of the time it took to gain it, that would still take 2 years.  How many people give lip-service to "lifestyle change" or "in it for the long haul" but balk when they hear it will take 2 years to get to their goal?  Wait another minute!  That's losing 50-100 pounds of life-shortening body fat, and losing it 10x faster than you put it on, and it's still not good enough?  Fine....read on.

What if you lost that same extra body fat over the course of 1 year?  That would mean losing in 1 year what it took 20 years to put on.  Think about that: Lose that weight you gained 20 times faster than you put it on!  Isn't that pretty fantastic?  Yet when people really contemplate the hard work, dedication, and patience it will take to make that happen, so many balk.  So many decide they must be genetic freaks from Mars or Venus, with metabolisms that just don't work...

...a glandular problem

...our toxic food

...allergies....etc, etc, etc

Carbs are the enemy!

Fat is the enemy!

It's the gluten!

I'm not eating like a Paleo man.

I'm not eating right for my blood type.

I don't have the time.

Really?  You have a choice.  What if you simply made the changes in diet and exercise to stop gaining weight first?  Then added a little more.  And a little more.  Wash...rinse....and repeat.  Soon, you have a 180-Degree Turnaround.

Feeling Like Giving Up? Want to Skip Out? Let Dave Be An Example

Dave Paget, the father of one of my best friends, was a pillar in the Olympia area: bank president, church elder, on the board of various charities/good causes, big family with a house on the lake.  Most titles and social trappings don't impress me, but I do love people who care about others.  This guy always earned my respect because even when he was in positions of power, I saw him be kind and playful with even those low on the totem pole, new employees, etc.  Dave was a humble guy who didn't exhibit arrogance or vanity.

Life as Dave knew it came to a screeching halt several years ago, when he had a freakish medical event.  Somewhere between diabetes medication, heat, and dehydration, Dave experienced a severe case of pancreatitis and had to be rushed to the hospital.  His problems quickly worsened as doctors worked to stabilize his vital signs.  In an effort to prevent further internal organ failure, he was put into a medically induced coma.  Sometime during this process, doctors believe his blood pressure dropped too much for too long and left him brain damaged.  It was basically akin to having a massive stroke.  He was left comatose and unresponsive.

His family doesn't hesitate to tell the miraculous story of how they were ready to pull the plug on his life support.  They had three consulting neurologists concur that his brain lesions would not allow brainwave activity to improve in the future, and he would not change from this vegetative state.  Being a religious family, they prayed and waited 40 days (or 40 days and 40 nights as my friend likes to say, adding to the miraculous symbolism).  Before making that heart-wrenching decision, they prayed one final night for a miracle, and they got it - the next day he woke up.  Dave's brain lesions had disappeared.  Doctors didn't have an explanation for it, and maybe no one does, but suddenly he was alive and kicking.

Unfortunately, he didn't wake up kicking his heels - this was an obese middle-aged man who had been comatose for 40 days, which wreaks havoc on the body.  Many of his joints had become stiff and immobile.  Even muscle tissue was rigid in places where bony crystals - a process called ossification - had occurred.  And he wasn't perfect mentally either.  He had to relearn some basic activities, how to walk, eat, count money, etc.  Adding to this was awkwardness in social situations, difficulty sometimes when trying to speak, and also just embarrassment about being at a diminished capacity from what he was used to.

Dave was moved to an inpatient rehab center for quite some time, and when he finally got out he was still using a walker.  I knew how much work it was for him just to get to that point, but he was at a loss as to why they would "send me home like this."  So, I told him if he wanted to do more rehab with me, I would help him for free if he showed up 3x each week at the athletic club where I was a trainer.  I'd take care of the business end of things, but he would have to work hard and do his homework.  Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

Here was a pillar of a guy, reduced to wearing diapers, using a walker, and embarrassed about his difficulty finding words to chat when he'd see people he knew in the community.  But he showed up.  And showed up.  And showed up.  He was from the depression era, "old school" as they say - he had a Puritan work ethic and it showed.  Over the course of a year and a half, we worked on strength and mobility, balance, and flexibility.  We went from walker to cane, from cane to freestanding, from freestanding to high speed walking on an incline.  I was afraid I was going to have to worry about him wanting to run on the treadmills if we kept up the progress.

At the outset of this quest, I had let the manager know that I was going to do a little donation of my time for a good cause, that it could be good PR for their club, and that it would be limited in scope.  She was sold on it, and fully supportive.  About 6 months later, she was ousted in a pretty cutthroat maneuver by another manager who took over her position.  This new manager's knowledge, skills, and abilities were nearly as deplorable as her management and people skills.  On an apparent whim, she laid down the gauntlet that I was going to have to terminate my rehab work with Dave or face discipline.  I responded politely, sharing the same selling points that I had with the previous manager.  Unfortunately, she saw it as a threat to her authority and became unnecessarily contentious and controlling.

Now, I don't have any real problem with authority, nor with being polite, respectful, etc, but I do not give respect easily - it has to be earned.  Being respectful - i.e. polite, positive, cooperative, etc is different from having respect for someone.  This woman seemed despondent over the fact that I was respectful and polite to her, but had no respect for her, her priorities, or the way she treated people.  The line in the sand was drawn:

I could tell my friend's father to "pay up, since he could afford it anyhow."

I could tell him I couldn't do rehab work with him anymore.

Or I could be a martyr and do things my way and face losing my job.

After thinking it over and realizing I did not want to compromise, I decided to carefully try an end run.  Dangerous, as it could come back to bite me, but very worth the potential reward.  I arranged to bump into someone much higher up in the company, who had a good heart and who had been a trainer at one time.  After niceties and catching up, I carefully asked for some advice about the conundrum I was facing.  As hoped, upon hearing my predicament and the decisions I was contemplating, this person did not offer advice, feedback, etc, but instead blew a gasket in a good way.

Two days later I was notified by a newly wing-clipped manager that my rehab work with Dave could continue, with a few face-saving details.  I was fine with that.  Crisis averted, job intact, integrity restored, my stubborn ego stroked a tiny bit, but for a good cause.  So I don't know if this makes me sound like a manipulator, a weasel, stubborn employee or what.  It felt really good the next time he came in to continue his rehab, unaware of any drama behind the scenes.  But I knew my time there would soon be over.  The idea for The Strong Center was born from the ashes of a burned bridge.  So, in a way, I have Dave to thank for the genesis of The Strong Center.

Sadly, Dave has faced many further challenges...the details are too hard to believe:  His amazing recovery spawned a trip to drive up the east coast to see the fall colors.  Knee discomfort led him to see a doctor while on the trip, and he received a simple cortisone shot.  The shot apparently led to him contracting a staph infection in the knee.  In a diabetic this can be a death sentence, and it nearly was.  Dave faced gangrenous infection, threat of amputation, and long-term hospitalization to fight the infection.  At the end of it all, he survived, though his intestinal system was ruined by months of antibiotics.  His mobility and balance were nearly gone, and he ended up having a hip replacement.  After he got out of the hospital, it was like we were starting over.  But he showed up.  And showed up.  And showed up.

It has been like watching the trials of Job, but we are good for each other.  For him, I'm on his team and he gets to share and hear insider updates on his son, my old friend.  It is good for me as well.  To see someone face so many struggles, backslides, and disappointments yet still persevere can really put one's own challenges and complaints into a much better perspective.  Thinking of skipping your workout?  Think of Dave.  He could be any one of us.  It takes him and his wife an hour to get him dressed.  It takes him five minutes just to get in our front door.  But he is here working out like clockwork.

Dave long ago gave me his permission to tell his story as an inspiration to others, to keep on keeping on.  I am writing it now, because Dave nearly died this week and is in the ICU at Harborview.  I told my friend I don't think he'll die.  That's not wishful thinking, it's just a belief that he has survived too many trials and tribulations to die just yet.  I actually said something a little more colorful, something akin to, "That son of a gun is not going to die in a hospital.  If anything, he's going to die lifting his granddaughter too high, or he'll die here showing he can still out bench press his sons."

It is my understanding he will be moved from the ICU in the next day or so, and soon start PT.  You'll see Dave back at The Strong Center.  You'll know him by his sturdy blue walker and hard work.  If you're having a bad day, feeling discouraged or sorry for yourself, stop and say, "Hi."  It will make your day better, and his, and probably provide a little perspective.  Dave's more than friendly, but he may not chat for very long.  He has lots of work to do.

Will Yoga or Pilates Help Me Lose Weight

Will Yoga or Pilates Help Me Lose Weight?

This month we are bringing BodyFlow to The Strong Center.  It is a fantastic Yoga-based workout, with elements of Pilates and Tai Chi.  When I announced this to a personal training client, she asked a question which I hadn’t heard in quite a  while: “Will Yoga or Pilates help me lose weight?”  I paused before responding, knowing that my answer could oversell or undervalue the benefits of two very beneficial forms of exercise.

Basically, I reminded her that both Pilates and Yoga would help build strength and endurance, improve balance and coordination, while increasing flexibility and reducing stress.  Great answer, right?  But I didn’t answer the million dollar question about weight loss.  I actually did answer the inquiry, but in one of those roundabout, hopefully helpful ways that explains how things are not as simple they appear.  I think my verbal answer was a little more convoluted, but I wanted to share the same thoughts in writing.  It went something like this:

In my experience working with people as a personal trainer, and as a Yoga instructor, I have seen amazing benefits from what are often referred to as “mind-body” classes.  Sure, you may burn far more calories stairclimbing for an hour than an hour of yoga.  You’re likely to stimulate your muscle metabolism with weight training greater than in a Pilates class.  Don’t get sucked in by media hype about celebrities shaping bodies and melting fat with Yoga and Pilates.  Strength training and cardiovascular exercise are absolutely essential parts of getting your metabolism to work properly.  However, you get something from Pilates and Yoga that you can’t count in calories burned.

People who regularly practice “mind-body” exercise like Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi seem to have a better handle on what’s going on in their body.  Am I hungry or am I just tired?  Do I need food or do I need sleep?  Do I need sugar or do I need to improve my mood?  Am I needing nourishment or am I trying to distract myself from anxiety or chronic pain?  How we answer these questions, or even ask them in the first place, can be the deciding factor in whether we eat the right amount of food for our body or if we go overboard.  No diet, no book, no pill can stop you from habitually turning to food as a coping tool if you don’t learn other ways to manage stress, energy, mood, pain, etc.

Practicing mind-body exercise does more than build body awareness.  It can also give you the tools to better reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve your mood and energy.  This is not touchy-feely new-age stuff.  Do the math:

Option 1: Every time I need some kind of pick-me-up to feel better, I turn to Krispy Kreme or Starbucks. 

Option 2:  After a Yoga or Pilates workout I feel invigorated, hopeful, relaxed, and in control.

Which would you prefer?  Which do you think your heart, bones, muscles, and joints would ask of you?

So there’s my answer.  Yes, Pilates and Yoga can help you lose weight, but not so much from the direct body-changing magic that is sometimes ascribed to them.  Maybe some of that.  But also due to the head-changing benefits that support your weight loss efforts.

I thought my answer was pretty good, then this blurb came to me in a fitness journal email this week:

“Practicing yoga regularly may help your eating habits so you can maintain a healthier weight, a new study says.  Researchers at the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reported a link between yoga practitioners and "mindful eaters," people who were better aware of their feelings of hunger and fullness and why they ate. These mindful eaters, as opposed to those who ate regardless of hunger or to soothe anxiety or depression, tended to be less likely to be obese, the study found. Results are published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.”

Sometimes things just work out.  If you want to give a BodyFlow or Yoga class a try at The Strong Center, sign up here.