Home Fitness Body.

by

I give you Tom.
Someone who is always supporting, cheering, & making us laugh along the way.
I was so glad when he emailed & asked about doing a guest post here as I’d grown pretty curious about the man behind the HFB.

Taking Stock in Myself


In the north east part of the United States this past week, we got a snippet of spring when the temperature cracked 60 degrees one day. Somewhat unusually for February since we were still peaking over snow banks before backing our cars from the driveway. It’s been a cold winter again, not brutal but cold just the same, and there’s something about getting older that makes the temperature seem worse than when you were a kid.
Around here when winter rolls around you usually go into a suspended time. It starts with “the holidays” and ends when the windows open up for the warm afternoons of April. Much of the season is just unmemorable where frozen dark mornings turn into dark evening drives, with an occasional glimpse of grey throughout the day.
On that particular day though, I remembered it was very sunny and felt sweater only warm. The sky was that deep blue that actually makes you look up and taken notice. Something also happens when you have days like this. Your mind gets a little sharper and everyday thoughts get replaced by daydreams of days gone by. I don’t know why, but that day also made me pause and think about the past year more than I ever did before.
My reason for this review was to look back over this past year and think about where I was 12 short months ago. You see, I was slowly becoming a stereotype for all men over the age of fifty. I didn’t exercise and continued to eat like a teenager. I had high blood pressure that I attributed to my work and not to my lifestyle, and I didn’t have to worry about it since there were pills that took care of it. I usually felt tired all day and would nod off while sitting behind my desk. Not like a full sleep, but more like a one minute cat nap. My doctor suggested a sleep study when I told him about it. When I look back, I think he asked me if I was tired all the time and maybe that’s why I told him. I guess the extra weight I was pulling around along with an increased neck size confirmed my doctor’s feeling and I found out that I have sleep apnea. Again I figured that it didn’t matter since I used a CPAP machine at night that would keep my airway open and again that problem was solved. Pills to keep my body under control and a machine to make sure I woke up the next morning what could be wrong with that?
Each time during these medical visits, my doctor would tell me that a decrease in weight would be beneficial to the conditions I acquired. I heard him and would be motivated for maybe a week or two until the next social gathering or take-out food interfered.
For months I didn’t really change anything with the way I approached life and then things really got crazy. In the early winter of 2007 I felt dizzy at work and a little unsteady on my feet. There was also a sensation like there was a ton of pressure trying to release from my head. I thought I had must some head cold and after a few nights of taking Nyquil with no improvement I guess I needed something stronger. Off to the doctor for some more talk and review and maybe a pill could help me with this too. But this time the doctor ordered some lab work. A blood test later and I’m being told that I have Type II diabetes. Wow, that was a shock to me and right away I felt a certain stigma that is associated with this. The reality that I was just one in the crowd really sank in.

I couldn’t get over the embarrassed and foolish feeling that I did this to myself. There had been many warnings, but very little action on my part to change things. One thought was that this was a death sentence, since I knew a woman in our area that had diabetes and in the end resulted in death. I felt like a jackass for not trying to do even the simple things to keep me healthy. I could kick myself for wasting those years and feel even worse that I had a choice to make a difference and didn’t take it.
My doctor said that he wasn’t going to start any medication but just wanted to treat this with diet and exercise. Since that moment I have changed, and what it did was put my focus on fixing things that I broke. I started doing what I know and that was turning to the internet to find answers. Sure I visited WebMD and a few other sites that gave some medical advice, but I really turned to the blogs since this was a group that not only offered some advice and understanding, but put a personality to it as well. Reading daily posts and responding on occasion helped me build a better outlook and showed that you could teach an old dog new tricks.
My diet started to get better as I read how to get my metabolism working in balance again. Exercise was now part of a regular exercise routine. I get a dose of inspiration now instead of blue pills. I’m dropping weight and feel much better. For many of you that may read this, I’m grateful. Most of you know who you are since I’ve left a comment or two on your site.
I started the blog homefitnessbody.com just a little less than a year ago as a method to help me get my life straight. I also felt that I had something to offer as an old guy looking back. If there was just one person that got some advice, help, inspiration or even a chuckle from visiting then I was right. This particular guest post is a little different than the way I usually write since I try to put some humor in my day and what I told doesn’t have a lot of laughs. You’ll see many attempts of humor from my comments on Miz’s blog as well as the others that have helped me. Thanks for allowing me to let my shields down for a drive by peak.

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Comments

  2. TOM! THis is so great to hear that you took care of it from the get-go and are continuing to learn how to transform your health for the better! It’s great to get to know you a little better here. I thoroughly enjoyed this post!!

  3. What an inspirational story! A very close friend of mine had a very similar experience…except he was 25 at the time. His doctor, unlike Tom’s, wanted to put him right on medication. My friend made the same decision to try and rely on exercise and diet instead. He was VERY successful and now understands the importance of health.

  5. Very inspiring Tom!

    And I have to say, you write the funniest comments on my blog,; I always look forward to them because they are hilarious. Interesting to read the more “serious” side!

  6. Thanks so much for sharing. Thanks for your site and the wonderful videos. I’m having trouble learning to exercise at home (sounds silly, I know) so the instructional videos will definitely help out. Thanks again!

  10. uh oh.
    checking in from handheld.
    do the links to tom (rooney)’s site not work?

    I never put last names…but I do think it’s on his site?

    let me know and Ill fix!

    Thanks.

  11. Tom, I always notice your comments on the blogs I read; and your experience is so motivating to me because both of my parents have Type II Diabetes. Unfortunately they’ve made no lifestyle changes except to invite lots of pharmaceuticals into their daily routine. There is no guarantee that my focus on better eating and fitness will completely prevent a diagnosis in the future, but I feel optimistic that I’ll at least feel better at sixty than if I didn’t take care of myself.

  12. Dropping in to say thanks for reading my story. The changes I’ve made now make me feel pretty good about myself. I guess that’s the true measure of things when getting healthy. Of course my clothes fit a much looser than before and that’s something my wife appreciates.

  13. I just came back from reading Tom’s latest post and there are things there that SCARE ME. Am going to print this, and some pages from Tom’s site, and STAPLE them to my husband’s forehead (lower if he doesn’t seem to get it).

    Thank you, Tom, for the PSA, you may now return to entertaining us.

    🙂

  17. It’s great to hear it all at once. These are things I knew, but putting it together gives a clearer picture and message. Thanks for all your help and support Tom! I’m glad you could turn everything around.

  18. Wow…amazing guest blog, I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the share!!!

    I totally feel what Tom is saying. My mother suffers from Type II Diabetes as did my Grandfather on my dad’s side as did and do many others in my family, including my Greatgrandfather who had both legs amputated due to his Type I Diabetes…Yep, we’ve got both types on both sides of the family…lucky me. Not to mention all the lovely heart ailments in the family on top of the Diabetes. So for the past five years it’s been my endeavor not to suffer the same fate, so at whatever age I reach I can take comfort in knowing I did what I could to maintain my health. I feel such sadness that I can’t help my mom change her diet or activity level where she could possibly get off all the med’s and injections…but it’s so inspiring to hear that there are people out there that have taken the initiative and changed their lives. I can only hope that she finds that same inspiration.

  20. Miz, use the stapler. Gotta get that message through somehow!

    Tom, this is very inspiring. I have a few clients who need to read what you have to say. Thanks for standing as an example of what *not* to do (and how to fix it, once you figure it out).

    Also, I think you describe beautifully that feeling of cheerful melancholy that comes with the changes of both spring and fall.

  22. Tom – your story was a true inspiration to me today. My father suffers from diabetes and in December under went 5 bypasses. I think he finally understand what he needs to do to take care of himself. I am hoping that by modifying my behavior now at 26, I can avoid the fate of my father.

  25. Thanks for sharing your story, Tom! That’s some scary stuff you’ve been through. It’s really great to be able to hear your perspective on all of this.

  26. Great story! It’s easy to ignore all the warning signs until something really wakes you up, I was there two years ago.

  27. Tom, thank you for sharing this. It was a great read this morning.

    Changing one’s life to live healthier and longer. Isn’t this what it’s all about?

  28. I loved this story because I know so many folks who I’d say fit into the earlier, resistant-to-change part of the story…hmmm…I can think of a few loved one’s computers I’m going to open up this blog on and then wander away somehow “forgetting” to close the browser window. Thank you, Tom!

  29. This is wonderfully inspiring, Tom! Thanks so much for telling us your story.
    And thanks, too, for deciding to be pro-active about your health, AND for turning to the blogosphere – we love having you here, and your comments regularly crack me up!!

    (And I’m ducking out now before Marianne gets carried away with that damned stapler…..)

  32. What a great story & what an inspiration! It is so important since you decided to go the route of exercise & eating better vs. relying on a pill!!! My bro says of his diabetes, well, I can take my pill… even though he has made improvements in his diet & exercise.. relying on a pill is not the way to go IF you can make the change with LIFESTYLE CHANGES! I will definitely check out your blog.

    Thank you so much for sharing!

  33. What an inspiring story! I had my wake up call when I got gestational diabetes while pg with my youngest son. It was controlled with diet and exercise, but very scary. I have never been overweight, but diabetes runs in my family. I was one of the lucky folks whose diabetes went away when I had my baby, but it taught me a big life lesson. Diet and exercise are so very important.

    Thanks for sharing your story.

  34. Good for you Tom!

    I, too, wish my husband would take a page from your book. Living a healthy lifestyle is a much better solution than taking pills!

  36. Tom, your post brought tears to my eyes. I was diagnosed with Pre-D in January and actual Type II Diabetes on April 1. (no joke) I have also made huge changes, have lost 23 lbs, now exercise daily and have really changed my diet. However my blood glucose levels are still slightly elevated so I am taking a low dose of metformin. I hope that even with your healthy life you will continue to check your blood glucose levels periodically to make sure it’s still in check — stay healthy! Thanks for coming here and sharing. I invite you to my blog as well, where I’ve been documenting my own journey.

  37. thanks for phrasing it so powerfully, Foodie McBody.

    I entirely agree and think that Tom, like so many, didnt even realize how helpful/far reaching his post was.

  38. Tom, I always enjoy reading your comments here and now your blog; I like your sense of humor. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your story. It’s very similar to mine.

    What I’d gently caution people about is making judgments about how well people are managing their diabetes solely based on their need for medication. I’m all for doing everything one can to manage it through diet and exercise–many people can–but everyone’s diabetes is a little different. I give diet and exercise my full efforts, but I’m still reliant on metformin. If I can get to a point at which I can cut back on it or eliminate it, I will do so, but for now I’m grateful to have it available.

    On the other hand, what would I tell others with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis? Do everything you can to make the needed diet and exercise changes, whether or not you are prescribed medications. There were a couple of months in the beginning when we were trying diet and exercise alone, and it made a *tremendous* difference for me. I had way more energy and felt “awake” again, which I hadn’t for quite some time. Also, get educated: there are so many great resources online for this.

    I’d also advise gestational diabetics to maintain the diet and exercise changes you did during your pregnancy. The statistics are pretty sobering for developing type 2 diabetes after having had gestational. (I didn’t know them at the time. I think in my case, diabetes was inevitable, but I may have stalled it longer if I had kept to a better food and exercise plan.)

  40. P.S. Um…sorry. Didn’t mean to make that comment into a post, but it’s a subject I’m passionate about. I just wanted anyone lurking out there that may also have diabetes that you’re not alone in struggling with it. Although with folks like Tom Rooney in “d”-club-no-one-wants-to-join, it’s a much more bearable place.

  41. What a great post, Tom. I have strong convictions that whether people need medication or not, there is SO much they can do diet and exercise-wise to minimize that medication… and yet so many would rather take the medication! I’m not convinced it’s really the easy way out, just the “normal” way, and sometimes it seems like a lot of doctors don’t give people the encouragement that diet & exercise can actually help change things. A good book to read: “The Spectrum” by Dean Ornish.

  42. Dont apologize Pubsgal! you know I love your post long comments.

    And you make a really good point from someone who CAN make that point.

  43. The only thing I can say is wow. The comments today have really touched me. This post absolutely solidifies my reasoning that using a wonderful blog like Carla’s gets the message out. Thanks you MizFit for allowing my words to reach the bumbling band today. Is it any wonder why you’re my first read in the morning.

  45. Congratulations on making the change.

    I totally relate to your description of Northeast. The first signs of a blue sky and I actually feel giddy with happiness and if I see a bright sun: I don’t feel any older than 10 years.

  47. The phrase that leaps out at me is “put my focus on fixing things that I broke.” That gets me motivated. Thanks for taking the time to write and share your story, Tom, because now I want to put my focus on fixing things that I broke!

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