I realized it had been a while since I provided an update on my own fitness related accomplishments, so here it is.

First a quick re-cap . . .

June 2006 – Admitted to the Mayo Clinic with an undiagnosed illness. Cholesterol was off the charts, a mass had been identified in my chest, a number of “unrelated” health issues found . . . and at a near all time high weight of approximately 246 pounds.

10-months later . . . 166 pounds, bizarre ailment gone, mass decreased in size drastically, cholesterol in perfect range (actually on the low-end). All due to my self-prescribed regimen of diet and exercise. And, what I had thought to be a fairly healthy approach.

A few months ago . . .

I meet Mark Severn online, a personal trainer who resides in California. After a month or so of trading email, he offers his assistance in helping me achieve new fitness goals we had discussed. Very quickly through Mark’s experience and education, we both decide (well, he knew, I had to understand and decide myself) that I had actually lost too much weight and was borderline on what is referred to as a catabolic state. A physical state in which your body is burning too many calories and thus “eating” you away (at least your muscle tissue). After many measurements and calculations, Mark determines that I should gain somewhere in the range of 20-pounds of muscle and increase my body fat percentage a small amount (for health reasons). And the new adventure began.

This new strategy would be trying. But for me, more a mental challenge. As someone who had spent so many months watching the numbers on the scale drop, I now had to look for them to rise. My workouts changed, my eating changed; and my mindset began to change. Mark and I operate a private blog which records measurements, journal entries, photos and many many questions and comments.

4-weeks after starting the program with Mark, I had gained 5-pounds and my body fat percentage remained exactly the same at 6.9%. I basically gained all muscle . . . good start.

I am now in the second month of training with Mark. Once again my workouts changed, my caloric intake was increased again (3500 calories/day & 240 grams of protein/day). I have now gained a total of around 8-9 pounds and we are a week and half or so away from my next set of measurements.

I continue to work hard, work diligently; and am seeing tangible results. Particularly when I look in the mirror. I also continue to struggle, as the changes we now look for are measured precisely. It’s not as simple as looking down at the numbers displayed on the scale every morning. I also continue to embrace the change while striving for the “balance” I have mentioned so many times before.

Mark recently joked with me on the phone about how many ounces of water I had consumed . . . pointing out to one of his clients that if he told me to drink a precise amount, I would not be one gram over or under. And, although that does basically describe my commitment, I look to change that as well. From the beginning, Mark has kept my “goals” top of mind. And, although they have changed a bit throughout the beginning of this process, aside from the physical goals, I have to find a place where I can bend the rules, at least a little bit. Perhaps I could “cheat” more often, drink a bit less water one day when I clearly feel I have had enough, skip a workout when I just don’t feel up to it. But, change takes time. It has been over a year since I began my quest, and the past change came much slower than the current ones. So, I will be patient, stay focused and press on.

Josh – Agent of Change