polus66

[polus66]

Meeting Dan

The morning that I was going to meet Dan for my taster session and to discuss where I wanted to go, I was extremely nervous and agitated, what was he going to think about me - I was fat, unfit and just had 2 heart attacks due to my unhealthy lifestyle.

There was no need for me to worry, upon arrival Dan was waiting for me smiling and giving me a warm welcome.

We completed a medical questionnaire, I explained about my health issues, my fears and if I am honest, the barriers that I like to put in place. Dan listened patiently and the introduced me to the gym machines, showed me how to operate them correctly and then ascertained what I was able to do.

Although I was tired at the end of the session, due to Dans patience and understanding, I had a great experience and that day started me on a journey that I was never going to forget.

[polus66]

Let the exercise begin

When I was first released from hospital, I struggled to be able to walk around the block without getting out of breath and I realised just how out of shape I had become. 

Part of my recovery involved going to a cardiac rehab class to encourage me to exercise and get healthy and because I like to be teachers pet, I joined a gym to go alongside the cardiac rehab class.

After doing some research of which gyms in the area were cardiac friendly, I finally decided to join Fitness First in Burton On Trent.

Entering the gym for the first time was a very scary experience, everyone looked so fit and i felt so out of place, but the staff were so friendly and encouraging that I made the decision to stick with it and ended up meeting someone who would be influential in not just my first steps in the gym, but also to encourage me to take on a challenge that would change my lifelong vision of exercise - folks, let me introduce to you Daniel Martin, personal trainer and sports therapist

[polus66]

This is where I started pre heart attack.  I am the guy at the back.

[polus66]

Where do I start

Where do I start with the catalogue of events that have happened over the last 10 years. 15th December 2007 is a date that sticks in my mind as it was the start of my journey.  Imagine walking out to the car, a normal work day and sneezing, but that sneeze taking your legs from under you and collapsing to the floor.  Welcome to the wonderful world of kidney stones. Over the next 11 months, I absolutely refused to let my kidney stones go, I had 4 operations to try and remove them and lipotripsy, but they were mine and no-one was taking them or at least that is how it felt.  The pain that they caused was horrendous, so i turned to my old friend food and upped the cigarette quota. However, life had another shock in store for me and on the 13th November 2008, after having a painful experience of lipotripsy 2 weeks before and feeling like someone had run a knife down my back, I went for my last round of treatment in a very apprehensive state, in fact I was in such a panic that it was verging on hysteria (I am known to be a drama queen), only to find out that I was having a  heart attack and that this was not my first.  I was 17 stone, smoked 30 a day and was only 42. This was the beginning of my new life, I was given a second chance and so I gave up the fags, tried to cut out the bad foods and welcomed my new friend into my life called exercise..........................................