As a child, I was a nerd until about the 3rd grade, when I discovered basketball. It also helped that I grew really tall compared to my peers around that same time period. I played many sports (baseball, football, track, cross country), but basketball was my passion. My team won our junior high championships in both 7th and 8th grade. I played year-round on Basketball Congress International (BCI) teams, when I was not playing in school or city leagues. 3 on 3 tournaments, pick-up games, and even NBA Jam at the arcade (yes, I am that old).
Looking back, my Achilles Heel, or rather my Achilles Ankle, was my downfall. Even though I was not good enough to play college ball, I still played pick-up games in the rec center with friends on the school football and baseball teams until one day, when my ankle ultimately failed on me. I broke it on a routine layup (came down on another guy's foot), was out 8 months, and this started me down a path of depression and lack of focus on my health for the first time in my life.
Partying was an easy crutch that allowed me to continue to have "teammates" to have a good time with. The loneliness of being away from home and childhood friends really felt isolating at that time. This changed my body from an athletic one, to an obese one. My playing weight was around 180, but at my heaviest during my partying years, I was over 290. I continued with partying for many years, into early adulthood.
My "ah-ha" moment came one evening, playing a drinking game called "Caps" with a friend. My chair broke from under me while playing. I felt my face get flushed, my eyes teared up, and despite being under the influence, I was consumed with embarrassment. My friend thought it was funny, and I tried to laugh it off, but it was a traumatic moment that will stay with me forever. The next day, I walked into a local CrossFit gym, signed a contract, and began my comeback.
It has been about almost 9 years. I am now back down to 184, as of about 3 weeks ago. My focus is now switching back from weight loss to focusing on strength and stamina. When I plateaued naturally at various weights, I would remain in range for a few years, and then tinker with my macros and workouts. 265, 250, 230, 220, and more recently in the 205-210 range. 185 has been my ultimate goal, and am very pleased to have hit it 8+ years later, in a sustainable and healthy manner. I workout most days, do yoga regularly, and watch what I eat. I rarely drink and am committed to a healthy lifestyle, to the best of my ability.
I used MyFitnessPal for tracking. Early on, the CrossFit community and my gym partners were crucial. In 2020, my daughter received a heart transplant, so I began working out exclusively at home. I found support in online communities and working out with my dad on the weekends, or with my kids. Now I run an online gym on Facebook. It is very small, with few active participants, but it gives me the interaction I need.
Maybe this is not the blueprint for everyone, but it is how it worked for me. I also forgot to take a pic of my 184 weigh in so only have a pic of the post I made in my gym when I broke through 190, which I attached at the top of this post.
What's your story?