Fit and Fat?

Having once been over 340 lbs. and "fit" I can tell you it is possible, at least for the short-term. 

Before I became morbidly obese I was routinely active.  I never stopped doing things I loved/enjoyed doing.  I never let my weight say to my body, "You can't do this, you're too heavy." I always pushed through and didn't.  If I wasn't able to, then that would be an admission that my weight was an issue of sorts.

At 250 lbs. I trained and completed a triathlon and did numerous long-distance bicycling rides of more than 50 miles each.  I even took tap dancing at 300 lbs.

I think it's kind of like when you're pregnant.  If you ran a 5K routinely before you were pregnant, chances are you could do that again throughout your pregnancy for a safe amount of time.  If you never ran 5K before, you definitely wouldn't start after getting pregnant.  Well, I think the same can be said for being fat and fit.  If you once lived life with a routine of activity/exercise and kept it up, your body can handle it.

Outside of Diabetes and Sleep Apnea I had no other complications (both directly caused by my obesity).  My blood pressure was deemed "great", my cholesterol was normal -- everything was good, except my body.  As I got older my joints just started aching.  When I say older, I mean approaching 40... and that isn't old!

So all that said, I don't believe you can be fat and fit for the long term.  I think as you (or your body) age, you will feel the effects of being obese, and you will begin to suffer co-morbidities. 

 

Hi Donna,

Do you still compete in triathalons?

 I would love to hear about your experiences with training for a triathalon at different bodyweights.

I know my body reacts differently to different training programs at different bodyweights. Strength, speed, recovery, joint pain, etc...

 

<p>My most recent experience at just over 200 lbs. was way easier than 250+ lbs., for the obvious reasons.&nbsp; </p><p>The big difference now is that I can actually run.&nbsp; I could not (and would not) subject my body to the pounding of the pavement.&nbsp; I used to &quot;wog&quot;, walk really super fast.&nbsp; :)&nbsp; I'm still not a fan of running -- I just don't think it's good, long-term, for someone's body.&nbsp; Especially someone who has spent most her life 300+ lbs.</p><p>On riding the bike, the seat is more comfortable I have less discomfort overall and can really focus on improving and not just making it to the next rest stop.&nbsp; </p><p>Swimming?&nbsp; Just having the courage to sport a tri suit and get in the water was a huge emotional/mental challenge for me.&nbsp; I was still extremely self-consious, as I felt that every person was looking at me, wondering, &quot;Is she really doing this?&quot;&nbsp; But that's my issue.&nbsp; I'm sure some might have had something to say, but the majority of folks were probably more worried about their performance.</p><p>Sounds trival, but with training, being able to find appropriate training apparel was a huge confidence builder.&nbsp; </p><p>As far as my strength.&nbsp; Well, there's where being obese created an edge for me.&nbsp; I think spending so many years carrying around extra weight made me, what I call, &quot;silly strong&quot;.&nbsp; With a routin training, in spite of my restricted eating because of my Gastric Bypass, I am able to bench press a 1 rep max&nbsp;of 145 lbs.&nbsp;and on the leg press I do a 1 rep max of 920 lbs.&nbsp; I am convinced that the reason I made such progress is that my body already knew how to carry weight.&nbsp; All I had to do was get my neuromuscular abilities to kick-in and carry the weight in a different way.&nbsp; I'm no training professional, but I really think there is something there in that way.</p><p>I'd be interested to know your thoughts.</p>