One Year since Heart Failure!

[Pekkerwood]

Today is the one year anniversary of my heart failure. I have recovered to "Low Normal" as of my visit with the Cardiologist last Thursday, and can train on a daily basis now with no restrictions since the beginning of this year. I basically was at transplant level and now mostly recovered.

I would like to thank all the board members for sharing your well wishes and encouragement and knowledge. Though I have been a member boards for ten plus years, this is really first time one seemed "important" to me.

The well wishes, the "product review" from veterans, the humor, the debates, the fellowship, the sponsors. I appreciate them all.

I used the resources on this board to help me in my quest to "get big" and I am using resources on this board to help me "Get Healthy" which for me involves getting a good bit smaller. I interviewed with two nutritionists in town, and guess what? I ended up using a veteran here instead because I just feel they are more knowledgable about my quest.

In closing I would like to thank you all, and I hope the reports of my trauma and recovery have proven helpful to someone. Be at Peace.

Pekkerwood

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Well

We feel honored! Please keep up the good work and positive thinking!!

 

[deltaguy]

Wow! I am happy you survived and wish you the best of luck as you move forward.

 

[thebrick]

Great news

I am glad things have turned around for you PW. I have always thought you brought a smart, mature insight to the board. I hope things continue to progress for you.

 

[W8killa]

I am happy for your success. You have been really positive since your diagnosis. No regrets, just focusing on now and the future. I think your bodybuilder mentality helped a ton.

 

[mike1107]

Glad u are ok bro, take care of that heart, avoid stress and I bet u'll be ok

 

[Thor]

AGREED

I am glad things have turned around for you PW. I have always thought you brought a smart, mature insight to the board. I hope things continue to progress for you.

Wow I dont even remember hearing that, glad your improving PW.

 

[Pekkerwood]

Thanks for all the kind replies. I guess it took something major for me to get off the path I was going on. My focus now is to get a good bit smaller retaining as much muscle as possible but not fixating on it. I lived the greater part of my life above 250 lbs and I would like to see what its like living the rest of it closer to 200. It is weird. I consulted virtually no one with great knowledge to get bigger, but to get smaller I have contracted with a pro bodybuilder. What kind of sense does that make? LOL

 

[knucklehed]

Glad you're doing well

I have really enjoyed your real-life contirbutions to the board and always read your posts with great interest. I clearly remeber when you first posted about your heart incident and have been watching your post closely since.
best wishes

 

[unnatural1]

Glad to hear your recovery is going well. You should have asked me how to get smaller, all I have to do is sneeze and I lose 10lbs.

 

[pesty4077]

Thanks for all the kind replies. I guess it took something major for me to get off the path I was going on. My focus now is to get a good bit smaller retaining as much muscle as possible but not fixating on it. I lived the greater part of my life above 250 lbs and I would like to see what its like living the rest of it closer to 200. It is weird. I consulted virtually no one with great knowledge to get bigger, but to get smaller I have contracted with a pro bodybuilder. What kind of sense does that make? LOL

I am glad you are doing better, I use to weigh 260, I am now at 210. I can tell you I feel 100 % better. Good Luck on your training. Stay focus and healthy.

 

[kingofspades]

All I can say is congrats man, that is quite a feat. It just serves as a reminder that sometimes we become so consumed in getting bigger we forget that our life and health is the most important.

I dropped from 255 this fall down to 215, and I must say that I feel a lot more healthy, especially my joints. What sucks is compromising the weight you used to be able to toss around.

But when it is all said and done, I bet you are a much stronger person than you ever were because of this. So again, congrats on the recovery!

 

[Tom]

inspiration....

Your story is more of an inspiration to me than if you had gone from skin and bones and won the olympia. To recover from transplant status to low normal is nothing short of a medical miracle. I only hope that if I were faced with such adversity I too would have the drive and determination you have demonstrated in your recovery. As for bodyweight there are a number of people I can think of who have looked incredible at a weight of 210-215....Serge Nubret comes to mind as well as Frank Zane. At that weight you have nothing to worry about and are far healthier than those who live in the 250 plus zone. Congratulations on your new life.

 

[hotttsauce]

Stay Healthy/Stay Strong!

 

[mung]

I have to echo some of the sentiments previously mentioned. I enjoy your mature, thoughtful responses and commentary. You contribute an enjoyable, mature tone to this board. Unfortunately I do not remember reading about your condition, but congrats on not only getting to low-normal status, but enacting an introspective approach to doing something healthy for yourself. You deserve that. I wish you the best on your new goals and hope you achieve everything you set for yourself. Aim for the stars!

You will certainly find yourself feeling, "better", healthier, younger and more vibrant as you drop weight. I have had a hell of a time getting under 250 and haven't been there for years. I competed in my last show at 232lbs and felt fantastic...a weight I have been trying to achieve again, but it does require re-evaluating training and the associated weights (less rest between sets, lighter weight, low, moderate and high reps). I have been using Phils training for some time now and spend no more than 30 minutes on training with the remaining time on 15-45 minutes of cardio, depending on how much time I have. I love it! I have also been following the supplements thread of Phil and Emeric for the heart and cholesterol. I'm sure you are well down this road and would enjoy hearing what supps you incorporate.

Drive the mind to your goals and see what you can discover about yourself! I wish you the best!