About Me
Hi, I'm Don,
and I'm making a difference in my life. I am working on losing 155lbs. Initially I wanted to do this within 18 months, however it is taking a little longer...and that's okay. I started riding my beat up old mountain bike on February 29, 2012 (leap year.) My goal was to weigh in at 210 pounds on August 26, 2013...thus the name of my site....210 Again! It looks like I will weigh about 275lbs that day. That's almost 100lbs lost! That wasn't my original goal...but if I hadn't even had the goal, I wouldn't be where I am today.
One of the ways I have lost some of my weight is by riding my bike. Initially I set a goal to ride 7500 miles, the virtual distance from Salt Lake City, Utah to Tokyo, Japan. So far I've rode my bike almost 3000 miles, by biking to work and going on long rides. In August of 2013, I flew to Japan and finished the first part of my challenge by biking from Tokyo to Mount Fuji...and then hiking to the top.
Why have I decided to do this? Well, ever since I got out of high school, I've had a constant challenge with weight. Not that there is anything medically challenging, it's just that I've never been an active person. And I've never been concerned about nutrition. I've always thought I'd lose the weight someday, but in 2011, at the age of 47, I decided it was time to really do something about it.
I'm you're typical guy. I have a very busy full-time job, a family, I serve in my church, and am trying to find time to work out just like the next guy. I don't have a personal trainer...I'm just trying to show the world that if I can do it, anyone can.
How Am I losing Weight?
So, here is my philosophy---my plan of attack. I am riding my bike to work every day, trying to get in 10-20 miles a day, and doing long rides on Saturday mornings. In the winter months I am working out at the gym and riding a stationary bike.
And, I am eating all natural foods.
THE FIRST YEAR...
During the first year of my challenge I did pretty good, eating what God put on earth for us to eat. I've tried to stay away from food that is processed, packaged, and put on the shelf. I ate lots of chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, berries, fruits and veggies. I tried not to eat more than 50-100mg of breads, grains, etc., each day. I did well losing about 50 pounds, but then I plateaued!
I got stuck big time and couldn't shake the rut. I was doing a good job of maintaining, but not losing the weight. So I had to change things up. I soon discovered through a lot of research, that eating and drinking sugar is the foundation of the obesity epidemic. We've been led to believe that fat is the enemy. I don't think it is. Even fruit, despite it being a natural food, has good ole sugar in it! Depending on the type of fruit, can be just like eating candy! I was eating a lot of fruit, along with soy milk and other stuff I thought was healthy. Well it has it's place in a sensible diet...unless you're trying to lose weight. Then it doesn't work too well.
THE SECOND YEAR...
So, with my new found knowledge about sugar, I have adjusted my weight loss eating program, and here is what I eat...meat, veggies, and beans 3-4 meals a day! That's it. I don't eat bread, rice, potatoes, fruit, grains or any type of processed food. Sound boring? It can be if you aren't creative with your recipes, but within the first 2 months of eating like this I lost 30 pounds! And, I even have a free day or free meal once a week where I can eat anything I want! It's been fairly easy to stay on this diet knowing that I can eat what ever I want one day a week. In fact, it's been pretty darn easy. The bottom line...sugar is the culprit!
The Film
Ever since I started the challenge, I have been filming my adventure. I've had a couple of video crews shooting, along with recording myself on my iPhone, and on my computer. I have posted some of my videos on this site and on my YouTube Channel. I have a crew that will be with me in Japan shooting the trek to Mount Fuji. I'll be producing a video in the Spring of 2014 about the entire journey.
The Book
I also have recently felt to write a book about my experiences. What I have discovered is that this has not been a journey about weight loss! It's been about discovering the power within to do anything you want. And at age 49, I feel that I am getting a second chance at life.
and I'm making a difference in my life. I am working on losing 155lbs. Initially I wanted to do this within 18 months, however it is taking a little longer...and that's okay. I started riding my beat up old mountain bike on February 29, 2012 (leap year.) My goal was to weigh in at 210 pounds on August 26, 2013...thus the name of my site....210 Again! It looks like I will weigh about 275lbs that day. That's almost 100lbs lost! That wasn't my original goal...but if I hadn't even had the goal, I wouldn't be where I am today.
One of the ways I have lost some of my weight is by riding my bike. Initially I set a goal to ride 7500 miles, the virtual distance from Salt Lake City, Utah to Tokyo, Japan. So far I've rode my bike almost 3000 miles, by biking to work and going on long rides. In August of 2013, I flew to Japan and finished the first part of my challenge by biking from Tokyo to Mount Fuji...and then hiking to the top.
Why have I decided to do this? Well, ever since I got out of high school, I've had a constant challenge with weight. Not that there is anything medically challenging, it's just that I've never been an active person. And I've never been concerned about nutrition. I've always thought I'd lose the weight someday, but in 2011, at the age of 47, I decided it was time to really do something about it.
I'm you're typical guy. I have a very busy full-time job, a family, I serve in my church, and am trying to find time to work out just like the next guy. I don't have a personal trainer...I'm just trying to show the world that if I can do it, anyone can.
How Am I losing Weight?
So, here is my philosophy---my plan of attack. I am riding my bike to work every day, trying to get in 10-20 miles a day, and doing long rides on Saturday mornings. In the winter months I am working out at the gym and riding a stationary bike.
And, I am eating all natural foods.
THE FIRST YEAR...
During the first year of my challenge I did pretty good, eating what God put on earth for us to eat. I've tried to stay away from food that is processed, packaged, and put on the shelf. I ate lots of chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, berries, fruits and veggies. I tried not to eat more than 50-100mg of breads, grains, etc., each day. I did well losing about 50 pounds, but then I plateaued!
I got stuck big time and couldn't shake the rut. I was doing a good job of maintaining, but not losing the weight. So I had to change things up. I soon discovered through a lot of research, that eating and drinking sugar is the foundation of the obesity epidemic. We've been led to believe that fat is the enemy. I don't think it is. Even fruit, despite it being a natural food, has good ole sugar in it! Depending on the type of fruit, can be just like eating candy! I was eating a lot of fruit, along with soy milk and other stuff I thought was healthy. Well it has it's place in a sensible diet...unless you're trying to lose weight. Then it doesn't work too well.
THE SECOND YEAR...
So, with my new found knowledge about sugar, I have adjusted my weight loss eating program, and here is what I eat...meat, veggies, and beans 3-4 meals a day! That's it. I don't eat bread, rice, potatoes, fruit, grains or any type of processed food. Sound boring? It can be if you aren't creative with your recipes, but within the first 2 months of eating like this I lost 30 pounds! And, I even have a free day or free meal once a week where I can eat anything I want! It's been fairly easy to stay on this diet knowing that I can eat what ever I want one day a week. In fact, it's been pretty darn easy. The bottom line...sugar is the culprit!
The Film
Ever since I started the challenge, I have been filming my adventure. I've had a couple of video crews shooting, along with recording myself on my iPhone, and on my computer. I have posted some of my videos on this site and on my YouTube Channel. I have a crew that will be with me in Japan shooting the trek to Mount Fuji. I'll be producing a video in the Spring of 2014 about the entire journey.
The Book
I also have recently felt to write a book about my experiences. What I have discovered is that this has not been a journey about weight loss! It's been about discovering the power within to do anything you want. And at age 49, I feel that I am getting a second chance at life.