OT: Not Dead Yet

[MarkBarbieri]

This is way off topic, but it's very good news for me, so I thought I'd share it. I had a physical over the summer and got back some rather bad results - high cholesterol, high blood suger, degraded liver function, high blood pressure, probably a few other things I've conveniently forgotten. Basically, living on a diet of pizza and candy and considering one workout a year to be "regular" exercise was not cutting it anymore. OK, that part wasn't the good news.

I'm happy to say that I started exercising regularly (5 to 6 times a week). I started eating healthier (fruit instead of candy, Cheerios instead of Lucky Charms, whole wheat pizza with low fat cheese, that sort of thing). OK, that's still not good news - I much preferred reading on the couch to working out and I still like candy better than fruit. The good news part is that I dropped my cholesterol from well over 200 to below 130. I got my blood suger down from well over 140 to below 80. I got my blood pressure from the high 130s to low the 110s. I dropped enough weight to get down to "normal" using the BMI thing. I'm still having to eat healthy garbage instead of good food and the nightly exercise drudgery is still soaking up time I could be spending in Lightroom, but I'm still alive. That's a good thing; at least it is for me.

Sorry for the off-topic post, but after months of grinding away at this problem, I'm just thrilled to have had success and wanted to share my excitement.

 

[Sha]

This is way off topic, but it's very good news for me, so I thought I'd share it. I had a physical over the summer and got back some rather bad results - high cholesterol, high blood suger, degraded liver function, high blood pressure, probably a few other things I've conveniently forgotten. Basically, living on a diet of pizza and candy and considering one workout a year to be "regular" exercise was not cutting it anymore. OK, that part wasn't the good news.

I'm happy to say that I started exercising regularly (5 to 6 times a week). I started eating healthier (fruit instead of candy, Cheerios instead of Lucky Charms, whole wheat pizza with low fat cheese, that sort of thing). OK, that's still not good news - I much preferred reading on the couch to working out and I still like candy better than fruit. The good news part is that I dropped my cholesterol from well over 200 to below 130. I got my blood suger down from well over 140 to below 80. I got my blood pressure from the high 130s to low the 110s. I dropped enough weight to get down to "normal" using the BMI thing. I'm still having to eat healthy garbage instead of good food and the nightly exercise drudgery is still soaking up time I could be spending in Lightroom, but I'm still alive. That's a good thing; at least it is for me.

Sorry for the off-topic post, but after months of grinding away at this problem, I'm just thrilled to have had success and wanted to share my excitement.

Mark that is AWESOME news!!! And you should be proud of yourself and am glad you shared it. It can help maybe someone who is lacking the motivation to do the same as they may feel it is to hard to accomplish, and youve done it!

 

[YEKCIM]

Great news, Mark, and sort of a challenge to some of the rest of us who could use a little of the self-discipline that you are exhibiting.

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Ed

 

[MICKEY88]

I think you should reward yourself with a new camera or a new lens...

 

[Master Mason]

Congrats,

takes a lot of disapline to change your life style like that.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Congrats,

takes a lot of disapline to change your life style like that.

It's quite motivating when the choice is to change your lifestyle or prepare for your deathstyle.

 

[Sha]

It's quite motivating when the choice is to change your lifestyle or prepare for your deathstyle.

Good point!!! may add that comment to portfolio for school

 

[orchjoe]

Great Job Mark !!!

 

[Master Mason]

It's quite motivating when the choice is to change your lifestyle or prepare for your deathstyle.

This is true, but I still know more people that opt for the latter over the former.

 

[fitzperry]

Congratulations! Those are huge changes in a rather short period of time. I'll bet your wife is pretty happy about it too.

I too have found it necessary to spend more time on the elliptical machine and less sitting in front of the computer in recent months as it seems that when I turned 40 earlier this year my metabolism decided to go on strike. If you find a way to combine Lightroom work with the exercise equipment, please let me know. I've had to settle for reruns of Seinfeld and Raymond on the dvr to keep my mind off my workout , as well as books propped on the feeble excuse for a bookstand our elliptical has (on a bright note, I'm finally getting around to reading the Harry Potter series ).

Congrats again--that is great news.

 

[klmall]

Certainly a reason for a healthy celebration (like those cherry-flavored cranraisins that I've learned to nibble on lately)! And I agree with the suggestion of something in line of a photo reward too!

 

[boBQuincy]

Way to go, Mark! We need to keep as many good photographers around as we can.
Buy yourself a new lens to celebrate!

 

[cc1075]

You scared me to death - - - I am new to these forums and think of all of you as my mentors. I can't afford to lose any of you - Groucho - GDad - - all of you - - I sound so much more intelligent because of you - - even my daughter is impressed - - now, everyone - - - more Cheeriors - more Fruit - more Exercise - - I need you all to stay around a long time!!!

Great job - - on an impossible task that we all put off to long!!!

Maybe you will be another inspiration to all!!!!!!!!

 

[ukcatfan]

Congrats on the turnaround! Watch out though, exercising can become even more addicting than photography. I caught the bodybuilding bug when I was 18 and it still has a steel grip on me

Kevin

 

[miss missy]

Great job! Go Mark!!!!

Come over to the WISH board and hook up with more people doing what you are doing

I changed all my habbits too this year. Quit smoking a couple years ago. Doing WW and the gym (curves), yoga, and my fav walking! I love it all! Try the dis podcast while you workout-its awesome! see my siggy!

I have my DD doing all this stuff with me too. We both dropped lbs and feel so good now! I hope this healthy habbit stays with her forever.

Remember this is a life change, it doesn't end--- unless you want to go back to the ailments you had. It has to be a forever change, a new you. It is best to find something you like to do to keep you moving. If you try to do things you do not enjoy, it won't last. Look into trying new things, biking, hiking- something.

Hope to see you over on the WISH!

 

[AndrewWG]

Mark,

Way to go! I know that must have been hard to accomplish. Keep up the good work. Stay alive. We need you here!

Last year, I started to realize that at some point, I may die. You know, as a kid, you'll never die. When you get older, you realize that it is actually a possibility. So I decided to try and take some steps to change the way I treat my body. First step was coffee. I now only drink 2 small cups in the morning. I used to drink LARGE cups all day long. This was a hard step, but now I realize that water tastes just fine! Also, my late day headaches are gone. I have been eating less, not better. However, I stepped on the scale the other day and it said 199.5! I haven't been under 200 for a LONG time. I stepped back on and it said 201, but that's ok. I know it said 199.5 for a minute anyways.

Next step.... quit smoking. That will be a tough one.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Congrats, Mark!!

It's good to know that you'll be with us for a good while longer!!!

 

[Amy]

Way to go Mark! What an awesome accomplishment! I agree with the others - you need to reward yourself with some camera equipment. After all, now that you're on your way to a longer, healthier life, you'll be around a lot longer to use say, a new lens, so you'll definitely get your money's worth out of it.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Mark,

GOOD FOR YOU!

(My oldest DS loves Lucky Charms too! )

TC

 

[Groucho]

Hey Mark, glad to see that you're treating yourself well. You've gotta give your body what it needs, not what the brain wants.

Not that I'm a shining example but I'm usually not too bad. I do occasionally have a bowl of our local Wegmans-brand Lucky Charms (I actually like the "generic" better than the real thing!) but I prefer good ol' raisin bran with bananas - and blueberries when in season. Mmm!

No doctor better tell me that I can't have cinnamon rolls from the Main St Bakery any more though!

Just remember - the stronger you get your muscles, the easier it'll be to lug around your big heavy camera and big heavy lenses!