Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I have to share an amazing story with you that started with this comment to my blog on my Out of the Comfort Zone post:

"well, I did it lol pushed way out of the comfort zone and rode my first 100 mile century ride for habitat for humanity on Sunday. I did it and it was a blast!!! raised almost 1000 $ for a worthy charity met some great cyclists , reached an amazing goal, took myself to a whole new level!! would I do it again??? you betcha lol next yr it’s the 375 ride around the park!!!"

I have done quite a few out of the comfort zone posts & many of you remember my Kickboxing experience that was way out of my comfort zone. I have also written endlessly about not giving up & how we can do so much more than we think we can & especially as we age. One post in particular was this one, Do You Hold Onto Your Dreams and here is another one, What Should I Do with the Rest of My Life.

Well, Meet Cat. Those are her pics above. Here is how she describes herself:

I am  a soon to be 48 yr old woman living in Winnipeg MB Canada.  My friends just call me Cat. I don’t have a blog, just write on facebook. I have 3 daughters and two stepdaughters. I also have 8 grandkids from the 3-almost 11 with another due next month :0).

I guess bottom line is my grandkids motivated me to change… that and the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. I was in a wheel chair for a few weeks stuck inside my house because of my knees. When I had them replaced I could walk but  had to use a cane and at 300 pounds I still had a lot of pain and a tough time walking.

A lot has changed for me since losing the weight. When I was @ 300 pounds I had high blood pressure, 205/110 and on meds. I had really bad depression and on meds, sleep apnea on meds and a machine to breathe at night. I never did have to go on meds for the diabetes but that scared the crap out of me and I started the changes that very day! I got tired of all the doctors /professionals telling me what I could or couldn't do any more.

Now my blood pressure (BP) averages 115/65, my weight  stays around 152-155, no diabetes and just 1 med for sleeping. Even though I work out like a crazy woman, I still have sleep issues  & probably always will. They can’t find the answer to that one but that’s ok lol.

My outlook on life has changed. I’m  not the same person I was 3 yrs ago inside and out. Sure I still have life stresses, who doesn't. But now with all the exercise and healthy eating, I can handle it, life is good even during the rough stuff.

There are no excuses not to eat healthy and exercise . Believe me I have lived  the excuses that are out there . Been there done that aint going back. My new motto is don't tell Cat what she can't do cause she's going to prove you wrong!

Please enjoy this guest post from Cat who did amazing things & never gave up!

I pretty much started my journey in 2008, I was 7 months post op with my second knee replacement , I had high blood pressure, was 300 pounds and was sitting across  from my doctor  as she was telling me I was  also a type 2 diabetic

I had had enough, was tired of living to die. So I had to make a choice. I have 8 grandchildren with another on the way, and they deserved to have a healthy fit grandma so I changed  to eating clean joined the gym (shapes.ca) found the most amazing trainer Cindy (I call her my muse :0)  ) and went to work.

I trained 3 days a week with Cindy and I worked hard. When I started, I had nothing so far as muscle. I was still walking with a cane. I  was also on morphine and Percocet for pain. I would take a morphine get on the treadmill, work out with Cindy, take another pill, go home pass out and go back the next day and do it all over again.

After a yr I was back to work and I rediscovered my bike! I was hooked. I rode my bike back and forth every day to work as much as 50 km a day. I still went to the gym every day. The weights are my friends, lol. I love lifting heavy. OK, from Jody: I must interrupt to say I love those last couple sentences!!!

The opportunity presented itself last year. I saw an ad in my gym for a habitat cycling ride. You could do a family ride of 25 km, a 60 km ride, 100 km (62 miles) ride or 100 mile ride. Habitat is a worthy charity so I thought, why not. I went out , got my pledges and I rode my first metric century ride! I made it and again I was hooked.

This year I decided to do the 100 mile (162km) century ride, decided to go past my comfort zone and max myself out. My husband thought I was crazy, but I have a little boy, my grandson I call mouse. He calls me his hero and tells me I must really love him because I got fit and healthy. So, I pushed and on Sunday August 8 2010, I did the 100 mile ride for habitat. It was very hot and during parts of the ride I struggled, but I never gave up. It took me about 7 hours to ride, but it was so worth it….watching all of the faces waiting for me at the end, the grandkids.
 
Next year I plan on doing a 375 km ride around the lake for habitat and the following year my goal is to ride the 2 week 1700 km just in time for my 50th birthday :0)

I have learned a lot in the past 2 years. Most of all your are never too old to get fit and healthy, it’s never too late to make changes.

For  the next week I am resting but come Monday I will be back at the gym training again. I have a 10 km breast cancer run that I want to do in October in memory of my cousin Tika who past away from breast cancer. Oh did I forget to mention, I can run now too.
 
PS: I have sent along a couple of pics. 2 are from the ride, 1 is where I was at 300 pounds and the other is roughly where I am right now approx 152 pounds. Still have some work to do lol but there is a hell of a lot of muscle in there :0)

OK, who is going to use age as an excuse! We can do amazing things! What is your amazing story? If you want me to feature it here, please send me an email at jody@truth2beingfit.com. Would love to share more stories like this!!!