52A - Fit and Well Column for Dec. 28^th, 2003

TITLE: "Be Healthy TODAY!"

Dear David, Trish and Angelica,

I must confess! I haven’t been paying much attention to my health and fitness for most of my life. I am 34, and, as a consequence of ignoring the needs of my body, find myself over fifty pounds overweight, lethargic, weak, and generally very much ashamed and discouraged. Well, here it is almost New Years, and I am ready to make a resolution to take responsibility for myself and finally "shape up". One main question… is it too late?

-Desperate Dan in Davidsonville

Dear Desperate Dan,

"Today" is the only day that we have any control of! It is unfortunate that many people wait for some event or crisis to do something that should have been done sooner.

Even more unfortunate is that sometimes it is too late to compensate for the damage already done. Over and over again we see clients who begin to engage in a healthier life-style only after a medical or personal crisis. Maybe a visit to the doctor and threatening test results. Or, even worse, a heart attack, or other ailment gives them the "wake-up call". Sometimes the damage is irreversible.

I have taken my own "journey" to fitness, and have benefited directly as a result. I know of the pain, and self-loathing, and desperation that one feels when apparently trapped in a body that just doesn't seem to respond to conventional fitness and weight-loss protocol.

Like many others, I was "burdened" with what appeared to be a "low metabolism". Combine this with hypoglycemia, bronchial asthma, and lack of education regarding proper nutritional principles and need for physical activity, it is no wonder that by the age of 34 I was a massive 275 pounds with a body-fat ratio of over 40%. Obese to the MAX! A truly difficult place to start. The more one needs change, the more difficult is to implement it!

Somehow, in spite of all those awful and self-defeating feelings, I mustered sufficient courage and motivation to improve, and get fit.

And...what a confusing, long and arduous road it was! As is often the case, I did almost EVERYTHING wrong. Starvation diets, excessive and compulsive "cardio" exercises, fad diets, etc.

Finally, after much trial and error and apparent failure, I found the magic formula... a sensible combination of balanced nutrition (without deprivation), a moderate program of aerobic exercise, AND strategically planned and diversified progressive resistance training. I am convinced that the incorporation of strength training was, and is, the core of success.

I lost over 100 pounds! And even MORE important, have KEPT it off. For the past 19 years I have maintained a very healthy weight and low body-fat, while continuously improving my strength, endurance, and overall health and fitness. And I think I’m even getting more handsome and sexy (Trish and Angelica agree)!

The roads I took in my life were quite different from David’s, but we ended up with the same needs, and the same solutions!

I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I lived until about four years ago.

I was "blessed" with a naturally high metabolism, and a very beneficial genetic "nature". In other words, for many years I had the curves, bumps, and bulges in all the right places!

Then, it happened! In my mid-thirties, my body began to change… for the worse! I started losing my shape, and slowly, but consistently, gaining pounds. My eating habits were never very "good", but that never seemed to cause me any problems. Now, suddenly, I was starting to grow out of dress sizes. I panicked!

Things had to change! I met David in South Beach, Miami. He spoke with so much certainly and enthusiasm about exercise, and one’s ability to change. Furthermore, he was truly honest with me about what was happening to my body, and gave me a prescription for stopping my "downhill slide", and regaining my body shape and good health. And, besides that, he was very cute and had a wonderful Poodle named Winston!

I trusted him (having heard HIS story). And, it worked! Not as quickly as I would have liked… but consistently, I lost the body fat that had accumulated, and started looking and feeling vital and full of energy.

The part of David’s fitness "program" that intrigued me, and actually confused me, was his combination of fluid exercise, flexibility and diversity of diet, and his insistence on determining what was my "passion foods", and to be certain not to eliminate them.

Fortunately, David and I both shared a love for ice cream, and chocolate. Since our meeting, we have enjoyed those foods together, along with burgers, French Fries, and more. Diversity is the key word to our food choices, as it is to our lifestyle.

Like many others who find something very meaningful and effective, I just couldn’t wait to share it with friends and acquaintances. You had to see me meandering around the gym giving free advice to people that truly didn’t even want to be bothered! But my intentions were good.

I went through much formal training, and with David’s assistance and encouragement, became a Certified Trainer. I was so proud, and still am!

Trish and I wanted to share our stories with all our readers for one reason. To let you know that no matter what your fitness history, whatever age you are, and whatever apparent limitations and past failures you have experienced, it is possible to improve your health and fitness, and set goals and REACH them!

Today IS the first day of the rest of your life. It is a gift, spend it wisely. Why not muster up the courage to look honestly at yourself and your state of health, and commit and START to do something to improve it TODAY!

Yes, making plans and resolutions are important. But doing something good for your body, and yourself, today is vital. Take a walk, move your body, and feel the joy of good health. And then reward yourself with the joys of vitality, and have an ice cream cone (low fat, please) to celebrate!

We wish all of our Friends and Neighbors a wonderful, well, and joyous New Year. The best is yet to come!

-David, Trish and Angelica Oshman