Sunday, July 19, 2009

You Can Always TRI

Okay, so I write a lot about WB. This post will be no different. I need to take a quick trip down memory lane.

We met at Tech and he still had the cross country runners body he had in high school plus the token college pounds. Then came grad school, long hours working on his thesis and finally graduation. He found himself working a new job, spending less time exercising and with more money for food! The pounds slowly crept on.


This was us on our wedding day. I have to say my body has changed shapes over the years as well!

Anyway, back to my story. After a few years of my cooking and living a busy and at times stressful life the pounds continued to add on. With a new baby in the house there was even less time to exercise and it was easy to grab a quick and not so healthy meal.

After our second child was born the doctor told him he would have to go on medication for high cholesterol. He tried to alter his diet somewhat in hopes his cholesterol would go down. It didn't. The doctor said he would probably just have to take the meds for the rest of his life.
Several things happened soon after. He got laid off from the job that was making him miserable (he wouldn't say that because he doesn't complain so much, but it was), he had some blood work in which his liver function was off (the doctor said it was probably just the meds and switched them), and we lived through some of the darkest moments of our lives. I believe he began to see the light at the end of the tunnel with God's roaring voice giving him a few suggestions along the way.

He started making little changes at first. There were set backs and frustrations of course. Eventually, he completely changed what he ate and began exercising again. It was a lifestyle change. It didn't happen overnight, but within a few years he lost 40+ pounds and his cholesterol is now normal without the medication.

I see in him today, what I saw in him 15 years ago, the man God wants him to be. And I'm just so proud of him. Which is why I will now post these pictures from the second triathlon he has completed in a year, despite a long recovery from a knee surgery. He continues to push himself and do the unexpected.
The girls and WB waiting for the start. The finish line!
WB with his fan club.


He's an inspiration to those who know him, especially his family. God has blessed us tremendously. So I write not only to once again tell everyone how much I love my WB, but to share a little bit of our story in hopes it might benefit someone else. After all God works in mysterious ways!

Posted with WB's grunt of approval!

8 comments:

Warren Baldwin said...

Great story! I quite exercising in June of last year, just taking a month off. Well, I still haven't started back up, even though I talk about it regularly. Your WB might just inspire this wb to get started again. Thanks for the post. BTW, does your husband have a blog? FB? (Yes, I just got on FB too, about a month ago).

Janna Leadbetter said...

I agree, great story! Thanks for sharing it, and congrats to WB for living a fulfilled and healthy life.

Lisa said...

Please pass my congrats along to Scott! I'm so glad that he is healthy and happy!

My mid-life retirement was the best thing I ever did for my family and me.

Jessica Nelson said...

That's definitely an inspiration! Congrats to him for doing a triathlon. Very impressive. :-) Also, you're so encouraging. I think that's wonderful.

Elizabeth said...

ok scott... i did the triathlon first i have a new challenge, i am "running" a half marathon in november here in huntsville. will you join me?
eliz

Terri Tiffany said...

WOW! What a transformation:) Ok--he motivated me to get back on my treadmill today. My cholesterol has always been off the chart low until this year--it crept up. I eat healthy but don't work out as much as I used to.
Great story!

Pat's Place said...

Well, I am so proud of WB and also all of you for encouraging and supporting him in his efforts to get and stay healthy. Nice TRI! And I am off to Weight Watchers--trying to get those troublesome 10 pounds off this summer!

Kara said...

Warren, I keep telling him he needs to start a blog. Maybe now he will.

Thanks Janna:)

Lisa, it's funny how sometimes some of the biggest decisions we make or are made for us are the biggest blessings.

Thanks Jessica!

Elizabeth I will tell him:) He's really not supposed to even run with his knee, so I'm not sure a half marathon would be good for him. But I am very impressed, you go girl.

Terri, good for you. That cholesterol thing is no fun:(

Thanks, Pat. He is happy and healthy a good recipe for success:)