End of Weight Loss Boot Camp and Results
END OF PHASE 1
7:00 am - Monday - 7/01/2019
7:00 am - Monday - 7/01/2019
On Sunday, 6/30/2019 I had my final week health interview, update of full body measurements, body fat analysis and body composition pictures for the "before and after" photo collage. My weight loss boot camp program ended on a couple of low notes. As previously mentioned, I had to cut the program down to 7 weeks from the original 10 weeks due to physical limitations, at the beginning it was my lower back and right hip replacement, then the pesky right calf sprain that's still an issue as of today. And on the final week, I missed the first 3 days due to a family emergency and experienced a slight increase in weight (4 pounds) and average morning blood pressure readings. I was reminded that regardless of the reduced schedule and small setbacks on my final week, overall I should be satisfied with what I have accomplished so far and the core objective of reducing my high blood pressure (HBP) readings appears to have been accomplished.
Officially, only my primary care physician (PCP) can make that determination about my blood pressure. The weight loss boot camp from a legal and medical perspective can not make any medical claims or medical diagnosis concerning my high blood pressure readings, they basically only monitor my heart rate via BPM during physical programs to make sure I do not exceed the maximum heart beat range suggested by my physician. From my physicians point of view, the objective is to loose enough body fat as to observe a significant and sustained reduction in HBP readings. I am going to assume the first part has been reached, between the follow up appointments I have over the next few weeks in July I will assume the "sustained" portion will also be satisfied.
I still have work to do in the weight reduction department, my physician has insisted he would like to see me drop enough weight so that I am as close to 300 pounds or perhaps even under within the time allocated for medical leave. This number has two significant objectives, first if I could loose enough weight on my own and keep it off for 3 to 6 months I would likely be able to skip the recommended bariatric surgical procedure. Second and most important, keeping the weight off to aid in maintaining any blood pressure reductions which is why I had originally signed up for the maximum stay of 10 weeks at the weight loss boot camp. Since I was only able to physically complete 7 weeks, the remaining 3 weeks I have already payed for will have to be used sometime next year.
I still need to treat the next several weeks as if I am still attending the weight loss boot camp. I need to follow the life coaching, diet and exercise program provided by the trainers so that I can loose most if not all of the remaining recommended weight loss before my FMLA leave time is over. The trainers always mentioned the weight loss program as a 2 Phase process, Phase 1 the boot camp and Phase 2 incorporating what I have learned at the boot camp and applying to my normal daily routine. My remaining goal will be of course to meet or exceed my physician's recommended weight loss.
RESULTS TO DATE
For overall weight loss and high blood pressure tracking I use the start date of May 5th 2019 when I officially started my medical leave from work and the weight loss program by following the pre-barbaric surgical procedure diet protocol of an all liquid diet of 4 to 5 "bariatric program approved" protein shakes a day until the first day of the weight loss boot camp on Monday May 13th 2019. Although the largest amount of weight loss was achieved during this period, a total of 24 pounds (375 LBS to 351 LBS), it was the MOST difficult period from a physical and mental perspective. I was still on high blood pressure medications and felt light headed and lethargic, I found myself sleeping over 10 hours a day and attempting absolutely ZERO physical excising. The protein shakes were simply disgusting, I had to force them down usually by pinching my nose to hide the taste followed by a glass of warm water as a chaser to limit the gag-reflex after taste.
For those thinking why I would spend over $12,000.00 on the weight loss boot camp when I could have simply continued with the liquid diet without excising and still loose weight? The logical answer has two important parts. First, there was simply NO WAY I could have continued drinking that crap or deal with the medication induced laziness for any extended period of time. Second and most important, the initial 24 pound weight loss had ZERO impact on my high blood pressure readings! Having the energy and drive to start a program of REAL physical activity, cardio intensive workouts and eating healthy foods in moderation and quantity is what jump started the daily reduction in my high blood pressure readings. I stopped taking my high blood pressure medications immediately once I saw my blood pressure readings dropping which I felt had removed the laziness, light headed and lethargic feelings I had previously experienced.
When I started the boot camp I could not walk more than a couple blocks a day before I had to stop due to lack of breath and energy. Before jacking my right calf muscle on week 5, I was walking up to 1.5 miles a day, even with the lower back and right hip pain I was having in the early weeks of the boot camp, I was moving. I now "feel" so much better physically, yes I still have a significant amount of weight to loose if I want to reach my final weight goal and change my life around from a health perspective but I am confident I now have the motivation, physical and mental energy to accomplish my goal. As a reminder of how far I have come I simply take a blood pressure reading and look at the Before / After pictures and other Phase 1 results, I think it was money well spent.
Tuesday, 7/2/2019 is my first follow up appointment with my doctor. Today, Monday, 7/1/2019 I will be heading over to Planet Fitness to join and start Phase 2.
Officially, only my primary care physician (PCP) can make that determination about my blood pressure. The weight loss boot camp from a legal and medical perspective can not make any medical claims or medical diagnosis concerning my high blood pressure readings, they basically only monitor my heart rate via BPM during physical programs to make sure I do not exceed the maximum heart beat range suggested by my physician. From my physicians point of view, the objective is to loose enough body fat as to observe a significant and sustained reduction in HBP readings. I am going to assume the first part has been reached, between the follow up appointments I have over the next few weeks in July I will assume the "sustained" portion will also be satisfied.
I still have work to do in the weight reduction department, my physician has insisted he would like to see me drop enough weight so that I am as close to 300 pounds or perhaps even under within the time allocated for medical leave. This number has two significant objectives, first if I could loose enough weight on my own and keep it off for 3 to 6 months I would likely be able to skip the recommended bariatric surgical procedure. Second and most important, keeping the weight off to aid in maintaining any blood pressure reductions which is why I had originally signed up for the maximum stay of 10 weeks at the weight loss boot camp. Since I was only able to physically complete 7 weeks, the remaining 3 weeks I have already payed for will have to be used sometime next year.
I still need to treat the next several weeks as if I am still attending the weight loss boot camp. I need to follow the life coaching, diet and exercise program provided by the trainers so that I can loose most if not all of the remaining recommended weight loss before my FMLA leave time is over. The trainers always mentioned the weight loss program as a 2 Phase process, Phase 1 the boot camp and Phase 2 incorporating what I have learned at the boot camp and applying to my normal daily routine. My remaining goal will be of course to meet or exceed my physician's recommended weight loss.
RESULTS TO DATE
For overall weight loss and high blood pressure tracking I use the start date of May 5th 2019 when I officially started my medical leave from work and the weight loss program by following the pre-barbaric surgical procedure diet protocol of an all liquid diet of 4 to 5 "bariatric program approved" protein shakes a day until the first day of the weight loss boot camp on Monday May 13th 2019. Although the largest amount of weight loss was achieved during this period, a total of 24 pounds (375 LBS to 351 LBS), it was the MOST difficult period from a physical and mental perspective. I was still on high blood pressure medications and felt light headed and lethargic, I found myself sleeping over 10 hours a day and attempting absolutely ZERO physical excising. The protein shakes were simply disgusting, I had to force them down usually by pinching my nose to hide the taste followed by a glass of warm water as a chaser to limit the gag-reflex after taste.
For those thinking why I would spend over $12,000.00 on the weight loss boot camp when I could have simply continued with the liquid diet without excising and still loose weight? The logical answer has two important parts. First, there was simply NO WAY I could have continued drinking that crap or deal with the medication induced laziness for any extended period of time. Second and most important, the initial 24 pound weight loss had ZERO impact on my high blood pressure readings! Having the energy and drive to start a program of REAL physical activity, cardio intensive workouts and eating healthy foods in moderation and quantity is what jump started the daily reduction in my high blood pressure readings. I stopped taking my high blood pressure medications immediately once I saw my blood pressure readings dropping which I felt had removed the laziness, light headed and lethargic feelings I had previously experienced.
When I started the boot camp I could not walk more than a couple blocks a day before I had to stop due to lack of breath and energy. Before jacking my right calf muscle on week 5, I was walking up to 1.5 miles a day, even with the lower back and right hip pain I was having in the early weeks of the boot camp, I was moving. I now "feel" so much better physically, yes I still have a significant amount of weight to loose if I want to reach my final weight goal and change my life around from a health perspective but I am confident I now have the motivation, physical and mental energy to accomplish my goal. As a reminder of how far I have come I simply take a blood pressure reading and look at the Before / After pictures and other Phase 1 results, I think it was money well spent.
Tuesday, 7/2/2019 is my first follow up appointment with my doctor. Today, Monday, 7/1/2019 I will be heading over to Planet Fitness to join and start Phase 2.
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