I am living a lie. This lie has been a constant part of my life for years. Most people who know me politely ignore the lie when asked; it is fairly obvious. Honesty is a necessary component of my recovery from compulsive overeating. However, first things first...
Yesterday, I was too tired to write about my experience at the Cooper Institute at the Cooper Aerobics facility in Dallas. I was at Cooper to participate in VO2 Max test. The VO2 tests an individual's aerobic threshold providing a baseline to systematically train at the optimum level. What do they do: You either run on a treadmill or ride the exercise bike. With flabby skin around my belly running was out. I started off on the exercise bike accompanied by a medley of Axl Rose's best hits. How do they measure? You were a device on your head that captures your inhalation and exhalation. They clip your nose so no cheating and no grabbing the water bottle. This is just you and the bike on the toughest hill you will ever face. They also tested my lactate levels which began the whole process. Nothing like getting my skin pricked and seeing blood. I hate needles. Thank god that my obesity never manifested into diabetes. I hate needles. I would make one lousy junky.
The test began once a baseline blood draw established my beginning lactic acid levels. Stage's 1 & 2 lasted about 4 minutes total. Spinning, RPM, class paid off. I kept a steady cadence of roughly 95+ RPM. My lactic acid levels were checked during the interval of each stage while the testing team also verified how I felt (point on the chart 1=This is nothing...10=No more. Just get a bed and a margarita).
Just like any trip to the doc's this involved getting my weight and height. My weight's fluctuated between 185-193 since I purchased a digital scale. Damn the accuracy. My height is another matter. I have lived a lie. I am not the strapping 5'11" that I claim. No, I am actually 5' 9 1/4". It just isn't going to happen where I will ever be as tall as my father or brother. That's the lie I have been living.
The computer adds resistance following the transition of each stage. I ended up lasting about 18:30 minutes. Is this a long time or a short time? Who knows and who cares. My output was half of Lance Armstrong's! I am astonished. My resting heart rate is just as low as his -- even more astonished! I do know that I have come a long way in over eighteen months. According to Polar's Heart monitor chart I have gone from level 1 to a Level 5 out of 6 in terms of fitnes ability. I may not win any races but I will damn sure be competitive. That's winning in my book. I make time in my schedule to exercise nearly every day. Today was an exception. I attended a power yoga class last night after the VO2 test. Power Yoga calms me while providing a wonderful way to round out my training. I needed a day off. I am sore. A muscle cramp in my right quad woke me up early this morning. Yes, I am wimp. Another reason I am glad to be a man. I could not endure the agony of childbirth.
Now that I have the testing data from the VO2 coupled with an updated Resting Metabolic test, performed by Kim Wical earlier this week at Hillcrest, I know two great truths. VO2 = I know where I need to train to get better in shape while building more lean muscle. Resting Metabolic data lets me know just how many calories I need to consume daily. I was getting my protein in but my calorie intake was 600 -700 under what it needs to be. Remember, this is my journey and not medical advice for anyone else. I rely upon the expertise of various doctors, dietitians, and exercise physiologists to guide me.
This test was a touchstone. I do not have any immediate plans to run a 10k but I can at least train with that goal in mind. I am training for life. During my theater training, a voice teacher used this analogy to describe a diligent work ethic, "A friend of mine dances ballet. She is a master ballerina but every day she still does her bar routine. Every day. Holidays, vacations. Every day. She says that if she misses a day she can tell the difference. After two days, the dance company will notice. Three days, the audience." Exercise and diet are our ballet bar or piano scales. Pick your analogy.
A woman of stunning beauty was a member of the the VO2 testing team . My first reaction upon seeing her, "I am going to embarrass myself in front of this woman. She knows nothing about obesity or body issues." I immediately labeled her just as people used to label me when I was heavy. I owe her an apology for making this assumption. That assumption was where my mind was at the time. In that moment, my disease, my compulsive overeating, had me. She is nothing like I imagined and everything people hope to find in others: funny, charming, a good person. I am grateful to her and everyone else at Cooper for their support. I am also grateful to my RPM friends in Waco: Dave, Susan, Conan, Morgan, Ashley, and Amy. We all care about each other's success.
I need to remember the advice of another friend who told me that he lives by the premise that gossip stops at his lips. Just like gossip, bad thoughts/intentions need to stop with me before they start.
Two women I met at Cooper took time to look at my website. We talked about our shared experiences with weight, food, and overeating. One struggles with OA just like me. Another, has a tough time getting through her workouts. I struggle constantly with both. Taking helped. By adding someone else to our circle we gain more perspective. Bill W. was onto something. While I am a Friend of Ben & Jerry's, the AA premise is the root of Overeater's Anonymous.
The Waco Tribune ran a great article yesterday about the people's relationship with food. I encourage you to read Wendy Gragg's article (see link below).
Through sharing our experiences we endure.
Mark
http://www.cooperlabs.org/12.html
http://www.wacotrib.com/featr/content/features/stories/2007/01/23/01232007wacblweight.html



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