I married my husband 35 years ago and we dated for 6 years before getting married...so I've know this man for 41 years...well at least I thought I knew him. The other night though he surprised us all by sharing an ephiphany that he had and his desire to share his story with our Body Language family...so in lieu of my antics this week, here goes...Dave's Journey begins...
Journal Entry 1
Hi! I am Dave von Behren, husband of Andrea who owns Body Language. You would think that being Andrea’s husband, I would be the trim and chiseled guy you see in classes throughout the week at Body Language. The one who often takes “doubles” on the fitness side, and then balances that out with yoga from time to time. After that, a hot tea, black, no cream or sugar. Then perhaps a stop at Bigby for Oatmeal, with slivered almonds and raisins, with a touch of cinnamon. The one who gets home for a shower, looks in the mirror, admires the six pack stomach (9% Body Fat), awesome delts, lats, biceps, and taking a closer look in the mirror at a receding hairline wondering if it’s time for a hair transplant and maybe something to reduce the crows feet around my eyes.
But in reality, my morning starts very early, like 4:30am or so since I am not a good sleeper. Then a shower and off to work to finish the next antique or to a clients home to Venetian Plaster, etc. There is really no really good time for a workout because I like to start early in the morning. And then after work I head to band rehearsal (I love playing the trumpet). Or perhaps to see my daughter Brit and grandsons, or have dinner with my other daughter Brie, or run to Home Depot to grab some supplies for the next day. Besides that, when it comes right down to it, I really don’t like working out. There, I said it. I don’t enjoy working out. Cardio (especially) is not my thing. Yes I did it in high school and college, but that was football, basketball, or baseball practice and I suffered through the cardio parts of practice to enjoy the throwing, shooting, batting…leading teams to victory and enjoying the team! The fun parts!
So how about my diet? Well, Andrea has passed along all the right information-- healthy carbs/whole grains, fruits, vegetables, easy on the fried stuff, fish and nuts for omega threes, etc. I can tell you how many calories and which vitamins each food contains. I know the material. So I eat lots of these great foods! Really I do! Last night I had salmon on a bed of mixed greens with blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. Ok I also had creamy clam chowder, my favorite, and a nice cold IPA beer.
But here is a typical day for me eating…2-3 coffees with cream and sugar, maybe a banana for breakfast. If not that at home, perhaps a #4 at McDonalds (steak &cheese Egg McmuffinTM, hash browns, coffee). Or a bagel dog at Einstein’s with asiago bagel bun and a large fresh squeezed OJ (22 oz.) For lunch on the road, two slices of Marz Market pizza (it’s right near my shop, great pizza!). If I am finished at my client’s home at 4:30pm, back to the shop to unload and repack for the next day. Well, right downstairs from my shop is Marz Market again, so since we won’t eat dinner till 8:30pm, I better grab a large bag of Cheetos, diet coke or spicy V-8, and maybe a Hostess apple pie. Then at 8:30PM for dinner, a bowl of chili with cheese, and a dozen chicken wings at Wilson’s.
Overall, I eat lots of food, healthy and unhealthy. But the KEY is I get more calories in than I burn off! So simple! Maybe only 10-20 calories per day more on average, just a guess. Not bad, except if you multiply 10cal/day x 365days x 40 years = 146,000 extra calories divided by 3,500 calories per pound = about 42 pounds. Guess what? I weigh 42 pounds more than my college days. This is a classic case of “Creeping Obesity”. Yep, that’s me.
By the way, I eat when I am stressed out. Well, I also eat when I am calm, happy, sad, overjoyed, and anxious. I love eating. I can eat anytime and anywhere and anything. I also have no “off button”. So if I am at a 6 or 10 on the satiety index, that feeling of fullness, I blow right by it. I ignore it. Till I get to 8-10. Then I stop. Overly full. Sometimes stuffed. Smiling. And I can’t blame my mother for always offering seconds. Or genetics, since I have 3 slim brothers.
So I had 3 or 4 moments over the past year or two that made me tilt my head and say “hmmm”. Well I actually said more than hmmm… One was in the gorgeous Grand Canyon with Andrea, Chris and Craig Lundin. We hiked 9 miles at over 100 degree temps with lots of water and snacks. The last few miles back up the canyon were brutal. I had no cardio endurance, and my knees were killing me. I began to worry about a cardiac event.
Another was in Derek’s fitness class, when told to do pushups. I found myself going to girl pushups on the knees, and still wasn’t able to do 20. Derek yelled at me “men don’t do girl pushups in my class!!!” I also get somewhat winded after a couple flights of stairs. I don’t think I could run a quarter mile without stopping.
I now have high blood pressure (maybe 140-150) and take blood pressure meds to control it. That coupled with some symptoms of sleep apnea make me think it may not be entirely genetic.
I went hiking in southern Ohio and had to jump about 4 feet down off a boulder. I did it, rather clumbsily, and sprang my ankle. I have come to the conclusion that I am not an athlete. I was an athlete, and now I am not. Period.
Of course everyone tells me to think about living longer for my family. Of course I want to do this, just haven’t prioritized it!
Although this is a blog about some challenges I am facing, just maybe my story resonates with some others that face diet or exercise issues. So I am going to do a couple of things. Firstly, I am going to show up at Body at least 2-3 times per week. And get one other exercise per week in, like riding my bike, shoveling snow, hiking, anything! Secondly, I am not going to change what I eat, but I am going to try to reduce the amount of total food I take in. perhaps a regular whopper with cheese instead of a double whopper. Regular fries instead of supersize. Its I start! So I will update this blog from time to time to let you know how it’s going, the good and bad, etc. They will be much, much shorter. Hopefully, I will see you around Body Language at a class. And perhaps you will get a chuckle from my ongoing story!
