The Slim Cotton Story - Why We're Here...

 I couldn’t walk very far without getting winded…  I wasn’t even 40 yet and I was in way worse shape than my Grandma at 80 who walked five miles every day.  There was no way I would have been able to go on a walk with my Grandmother!!!

When I started dating, I met someone who was a little overweight.  And she was a good cook!  She made dinner for me a lot, and she not only made me eat every crumb on my plate, she told me it was a universally known fact that it was rude if you didn’t ask for seconds when someone went to all that trouble for you.  Funny…  I was 36 years old and had never heard this before.  It wasn’t until after we broke up and 30 + pounds later that my best friend’s wife (who was friends with my now ex-girlfriend) explained to me having “seconds” had nothing to do with politeness.  It had everything to do with the fact that she wanted me to be heavier than her!  A lot made sense right then.

I came to a dire realization.  I gained 35 pounds while we dated.  I was very out of shape.  I was carrying 217 pounds on a 5’8″ frame.  I couldn’t walk very far without getting winded.  I was sick and tired all the time.  My blood pressure was high.  My back, feet and shoulders were constantly in pain.  I wasn’t even 40 yet and I was in way worse shape than my Grandma at 80 who walked five miles every day.  There was no way I would have been able to go on a walk with my Grandmother!!!

When I was six years old, my paternal Grandpa died of a massive heart attack.  He was 49.  My mom’s dad passed away when he was 33, most likely of a heart attack.  My grandmother’s father dropped dead while serving lunch on the railroad when he was 33.  My other grandpa (mom’s stepdad) died at 49 of lung cancer.  My uncle died at 39.  One cousin died of a brain tumor at 42.  Another at 33.  If I didn’t change, how old would my tombstone say I was?

Here I was 60 pounds overweight, depressed, alone, and thinking I might not live past my 40’s if things remained the same.  Why should I?  Look at my family health history.

I was sick a lot during this time.  I got pneumonia and thought I was going to die.  I couldn’t get well.  A little over a year later I had a series of strokes that effected my left optic nerve.  Nine months later, my right optic nerve was effected.  My vision was permanently impaired.  I could really see how I might not make it to my fifties if I didn’t take some sort of action.

I decided not only did I want to live beyond my forties, but that I REALLY wanted to live!  Who wants to be 80 years old and miserable?  I want to be walking five miles a day and vibrant at 80 like my grandma.  I began researching most everything that went into my mouth and what I put on my body.  I started to work out again.  First, three days a week.  Then four days.  I started lifting weights again.  I ate apples, cottage cheese, protein shakes, and even some veggies.  (I hate to admit that I’m a picky eater!)

I hired a personal trainer.  I hung out with people who lived a healthy lifestyle.  I researched fitness, weight loss, wellness, natural remedies and anything I could find about longevity.  I had a mild attraction to this stuff in the past, but now it had become a passion.

I joined Gold’s Gym in Woodinville – just minutes from where I lived.  It cost a little bit more than the gym by where I worked, but I took the chance that it would pay off because of convenience.  And it sure did!  I hit the gym six days a week.  It had become addicting.

Then I decided to train for a sprint triathlon.  My girlfriend (now my wife) challenged me to do it.  That’s when my weight loss and overall feeling of wellness really went into overdrive.  I had nine workout sessions a week.  I was eating well and literally feeling like I was floating on my feet!

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