My name is Chris Byrd, and
I am a 51 years old, married and father to four wonderful children from
9 to 21. This is my story.
When I moved to Spartanburg in 1983 I was a very active
recreational ball player weighing in at a slim, trim 175 pounds. I played softball five to six days a week,
sometimes driving to Charlotte after work to do so. I began coaching a boys’ basketball team with
a local church and was running alongside them every week.
I also discovered the Beacon among other special places
around Spartanburg and Greenville, and was eating there up to three times a
week.
Shortly after going to work at Milliken, I found myself
sitting in classrooms, behind a desk, and basically immobile for most of each day. Additionally, I was having symptoms of a
condition that was going to require surgery four times over the next several
years, stopping me in my tracks each time.
This extended sitting began to take a toll on my health that others
noticed well before I did. Not one to
frequent the scales, I was surprised one day to see my weight above 200 lbs –
just six months after settling in to my new life. From there it was up and down for years – reaching
highs of 225 several times, and back down to 200, but never able to sustain
anything below about 215 pounds.
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, high cholesterol, anxiety,
and my exercise routine went away.
Sitting was my new lifestyle, except when out in the yard playing with
the kids where I was constantly tired.
Two years ago I started my own company, and was seeking
insurance to cover my family. The
organization I went with, Medishare, required me to have a health coach due to
my weight and cholesterol. She put me on
an eating pattern that had immediate impact, but I soon stalled. At the same time, my wife was dealing with
her own issues, ultimately related to a bad gall bladder. She began the Take Shape for Life program,
and was able to lose over 40 pounds in a very brief period. This motivated me to investigate, then to participate. She became a coach, where she is helping
others experience the same success as she, and I am following in her footsteps
as a coach also.
I would love to tell you more about the Take Shape for Life
experience. Please enjoy this blog as we
share our learning along the way.
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