I grew up in a southern household. Born in Texas, but grew up in Montana. We lived on a steady diet of fried foods. My grandmother kept us well fed. Breakfast of eggs, bacon, and southern fried potatoes. Lunch was fried potato sandwiches. Dinner would be steak and potatoes.
By the time I was in the 7th grade, I was already well over 200lbs and wore a 42" waist pant. Yep, I was the fat kid. The kid that everyone made fun of. Teased relentlessly. Funny how this torment can shape your self-worth so many years later... My teen years were the most difficult. P.E. and swimming class in school! SWIMMING CLASS! I was terrified! And, as it turns out, I was right! There were 3 girls in my swim class that made my life a living hell. I don't recall their names now. Their names do not matter. I took my anger and frustrations out on myself. I mean, they had to be right. I was just fat and lazy... It was my fault. My flaw...
I turned to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and food. Mostly destructive relationships that were driven by the need to be accepted by whomever would have such low standards as to be interested in me. I was kicked out of high school my junior year which gave me entirely to much time on my hands. Wish I could say I used that time constructively. If I did, I'd be lying.
I won't detail what hitting bottom was for me as far as the drugs and alcohol goes. Some things are just better left in the past.
Life went on. I had two great kids with my common law wife, Patty H. Mya and R.J. ROCK! We divorced and they all moved to North Dakota. So, of course I used food to medicate the completely empty feeling of not being having my kids around. It was all I could do to stay away from the booze. Stay away from the drugs. Food was a far lessor evil. This is the time frame when I got up to my heaviest. I saw ~340lbs.
I met Coleen and we married. She had 3 kids of her own. During those times when we were all together, it was quite the house full. It was during this time that I was diagnosed with TYPE 2 Diabetes. I changed my diet. Lost some weight. But the weight loss stalled. I still needed oral meds to control my glucose.
One day the kids begged me to go out on a bike ride with them. So I caved. I got the old Walmart mountain bike, which I thought was so cool, out of the garage. Air the tires, and off we went. We only went about four blocks that first time out. But WOW! What a blast! I felt like I was a kid again! I worked my way up. Riding a little further each time. Eventually, I began riding my bike to and from work everyday. That led to riding 60 mile rides, which led to riding 100 mile rides. Since that wonderful day when my kids asked me out on that first ride, I have fallen in love with cycling.
I have gotten my weight down to around 200lbs. I use Apidra, rapid acting insulin to contol my blood glucose while training and racing.
I have LIVED! Riding my bike all over the country. Meeting some great people. I have discovered downhill skiing, running, and whitewater rafting.
Nothing is, nor has been easy. It has taken me years to get to this point. And yes, I still struggle with food. I still struggle with my desire to kick back on the couch with remote in hand for days on end. I still struggle with the self esteem issues from my teen years. These struggles are why I have put this site together. To share with you my struggles. And yes, even my successes and achievements. Including Race Across America in 2009!
To let you know, YOU CAN DO THIS TOO! You too can LIVE an ADVENTUROUS life with Type 2 Diabetes!
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