The Hank Garner Transformation
EDITORS NOTE: This is a guest post by Hank Garner from MyLowCarb Journey. Hank tells us about his incredible 100lb fat loss and becoming a new man. You can listen to Hanks Live Podcast Monday nights at 8pm central.
My name is Hank Garner and I am a formerly fat man. For the last 15 years I have been trapped inside the skin of someone I was not. While I have been blessed with a wonderful family, I had this constant feeling that I was not living up to my end of the bargain. My wife and I have 5 amazing kids. Each time she would get pregnant I would gain weight with her. But after having the baby she would go right back to her ideal weight. I kept packing it on.
When I was a young man, I was in good shape. As life progressed and the stress and routine of life set it, the weight increased. The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the couch at nearly 300 pounds. My blood pressure was out of control. I had asthma that prevented me from doing any kind of physical activity for any amount of time. My feet and knees hurt all the time. I was out of breath. I was trapped. I couldn’t break free.
I had to make a change. After doing some research, I realized that low carb was the best way for me to lose weight. I dropped about 20 pounds in a few weeks but didn’t commit to it. Then, in October 2010, I decided enough was enough. I had to do this thing and get my life back. I weighed in officially at 276 pounds. I was on a mission. I was going to regain the real me.
To keep myself accountable I started a blog to “put myself out there”. I shared my story and my struggles. Since I used to work in radio, I decided to start a podcast where I would talk to some of the best experts in fitness and nutrition. I got to meet and pick the brains of luminaries like Jimmy Moore, Ton Naughton, Gary Taubes, Richard Nikoley, Art Devany, Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf, Steve Cooksey and Dallas and Melissa Hartwig among many others. Not only did I get an education but I was inadvertently helping others change their lives too.
Along the way I discovered the primal/paleo way of eating. Through this, I dialed in my diet and rid myself of the sugar addiction that had been holding me back. By eating real food even more weight poured off. I discovered Quest Bars during the holidays of 2010. Having a bar microwaved for a few seconds as a holiday treat satisfied me with feeling a bit of guilt.
As the weight started coming off, my blood pressure gradually came down. Today it is totally normal. My asthma symptoms have also disappeared and I no longer take any medication. I am free from all the ailments that held me back for years. Feeling on top of the world, I started exercising with a tractor tire, sledge hammer, kettle bell and running sprints.
April 15th was my 6 month anniversary of starting this journey. I weighed in at 179 for a total weight loss in 6 months of 97 pounds. Today I am down over 100 pounds.
Six months ago I could barely get off the couch and play with my kids. Now I am running without pain and actually enjoying it! The first weekend of May 2011 I ran a half marathon and finished in under 2.5 hours. While I’m not going to win any medals for it, I won my life back. I don’t need medal for that!
If I can do this, anyone can!
