For most of my life, my weight had been a roller-coaster ride, ranging from 200 to 280 after graduating high school. Food was always something I could turn to, not just for nourishment but for comfort and recreation. I have several BBQ restaurants that will attest to that very fact! 

Winter months were the worst. When the levels of sunlight dimmed, my physical energy waned, and things like colds and stomach viruses plagued me annually.

After an automobile accident late in 2004, I became less able to move around. That, combined with a sometimes hectic or irregular work schedule, made things worse. And the pain medications I was prescribed wreaked havoc on my digestion, contributing to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): this not only kept me up nights, but caused a panic-filled emergency room visit.

One of the best things that came out of the accident was going to physical therapy. I actually enjoyed the activity, and my body seemed to respond favorably — not just in flexibility and diminished pain, but overall I felt better. 

In early 2007, with the approval and encouragement of my wife and my family physician, I signed up for my first gym membership, and began going three times a week, doing circuit work and hitting the treadmill.

Sounds like that made all the difference in the world, right?

My diet was still out of whack, and I ended up actually gaining weight! 

Then, in December 2007, I became a member at Xtreme Fitness and  enlisted the assistance of a personal trainer, Andy Orwig. He set me up on an exercise program based on my current fitness level and the goals I had set for myself, and also set up a basic nutrition plan. 

When I first saw the nutrition plan, my first thought was: HOLY CRAP. I CANNOT SURVIVE ON 2500 CALORIES PER DAY.

Thankfully, as so often happened up to that point, I was very wrong. Following the diet as best as possible, and working out three days per week, I dropped from 280 to 250 within 6 months. Just as significantly, my GERD went away entirely, and the typical winter colds and frequent illnesses all but disappeared. My mental status also improved greatly.

During a period of illness earlier this year, my weight went back up to around 260. I take responsibility for not being more active physically and not watching my diet more carefully. However, the weight is back down to 245, and will continue to go down. 

However, if I were not already educated in fitness and nutrition, I would not have fared so well with my illness. For several weeks, I had little to no appetite to speak of. But having learned important facts about nutrition, I was able to stay disciplined enough to eat healthy foods at the proper intervals throughout the day. I have no doubt that this helped me immeasurably.

My career in programming and database design is now past ... I'm no longer The Database Dude. And I'm okay with that, because I am now THE FITNESS DUDE! My goal is to make a career out of my passion for exercise and nutrition, and help others as I myself have been guided.

At present, I am enrolled in the Specialist in Fitness Nutrition (SFN) and Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT) certification programs through the International Sport Sciences Association (ISSA). By mid-September, I anticipate my SFN certification to be completed, and I will then be offering training in that area. Later this year or early in 2010, I hope to sit for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer examination. 

Let me encourage you to make a change in your life TODAY. Your body will love you for it — and so will the important people in your life.