1,106,000 calories is a lot of calories. For Chris, a member at the Hill Y in Westminster, that's how many calories he's burned over the past four years in his quest to improve his quality of life. After suffering what he calls an “intense health crisis,” Chris came to the realization that he was not living life, just coasting until the inevitable, and made a goal to lose weight and get healthy. Suffering from diabetes, hormonal imbalances, prehypertension, pressure on his C-spine, and arthritis, Chris faced many challenges.
Working with his health care team and family, Chris started by exercising while sitting on his bed for 20 minutes each day. As he gained strength, he graduated to walking the perimeter of his parents’ property, then the neighborhood. He joined the Lose to Win program at Carroll Hospital Center, which included a 14-week membership to the Hill Y in Westminster. “As I bumbled my first few months at the Y’s fitness center, FitQuest held my hand. The excellent fitness coaches answered my many questions, discussed fitness theory and demonstrated exercises.” Chris received three personal training sessions and began a comprehensive free weight workout program. Resistance training added a new dimension to his fitness regimen: “I never worked so hard in my life,” says Chris.
Lots of hard work and dedication later, Chris has lost over 400lbs. He’s off of 80% of his medication, his blood pressure is back to a healthy rate and his hormone levels are that of a healthy 30-year old. Says Chris, “my skeletal problems will always be there (you don’t get out of morbid obesity without a few parting gifts!) but my constant activity keeps the pain in check.” For Chris, this is not a phase, it is a complete lifestyle overhaul. He refuses to revert back to “Old Chris” and has dedicated himself to a lifetime of healthy living. People call him an inspiration – there’s no doubt that he is – and he says he’s awkwardly flattered, but that he sees himself more as a data point, a worst case scenario turned success story. The most important thing? “It works if you work it, and you are worth it.”
Click here to find out more about personal training at the Y.
