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My 160 Pound Weight Loss Adventure
By Jonathan Hinkle
May/June 2009
For the Washington Running Report
I started my adventure from professional couch potato into triathlete almost four years ago. I was 34 years old, 6 feet tall, and weighed 355 pounds. My biggest sporting activity was cutting the grass, and working on my transition times from push mower, to weed eater, and a big finish with the blower.
With encouragement from William, a co-worker, I tried nutrition shakes and heath bars as meal replacement. Without too much thought, I agreed, as my goal was to lose "some weight" and not much more beyond that. The key change was five mini meals per day followed by a sensible dinner. I did not get on the scale for the first month or two, as I did not want to be disappointed by not reaching some magical number. It was different this time as I was focused on the long term, beyond just losing ten pounds. It was to become a lifestyle larger than anything I had imagined. I did not wake up one day planning to lose 160 pounds. The key for me was not to get discouraged, not to over think the process. I did not think about my weight when I was playing high school football at 250 pounds, at age 15. It took to me a lifetime to weigh 355 pounds. I knew losing the weight was a life change and it would take time. The first year I lost 50 pounds with diet changes alone.
Going into the second year I was extremely motivated and wanted to add some exercise. This time I knew the key was to find something I would stick with, another long-term change. I tried the gym with the treadmill or elliptical and I would hit the weight stack as I thought that is what you were supposed to do. The gym was not for me, it lasted 30 days. It is not one size fits all, and that was okay. I was in search of finding what would work for me. I headed over to Spokes Etc and, after a consultation with Alexander about my riding experience and my biking goals, he had me rolling out on my first full suspension Trek mountain bike. I would bike three days a week, two hours at a time, regardless of the weather. My first ride into the woods, at one or two miles down the Fairfax Cross Country Trail, I was thinking how far away from the car I was and whether I would ever make it back. I was so excited about mountain biking that I could not sleep the night before riding a new trail or setting a new distance goal. Biking became a new fitness adventure. I had become a biker! At the end of the second year another 50 pounds had come off, for a total of 100 pounds.
The beginning of the third year I was attempting to catch some "big air" on the bike and broke my collar bone. Not being able to bike for several months, I had to find something to replace biking and continue my weight loss. I turned to running outside and on the trails. I still remember the first run: three miles nonstop! I was thinking, ‘Why do people do this? How am I going to continue running?' I sure missed my bike! To help my running motivation, I figured a pair of real running shoes would help me better embrace the running lifestyle. I paid a visit to Road Runner Sports and, upon examining my tired feet, they determined the kind of shoes I would need. My neutral feet got a pair of Sauconys to run in and a Suunto running watch to track my mileage, speed, and calories burned. After a couple of runs I found the same feeling of being on my bike. Running became a new adventure, a chance to go farther and explore different routes. I had become a runner! At the end of the third year I had lost 30 more pounds, for a total of 130 pounds.
After three years of losing weight and enjoying my new found fitness, I was searching for what was next. I needed a goal, something to push myself, something harder than anything I had done before. I did a quick self assessment, I could swim, I had a bike, and I had running shoes . . . it was triathlon time!
I set my sights on the Xterra Offroad sport triathlon, a 500-meter swim, 19K mountain bike and 7K trail run. I started training six months before. Life became swim, bike, and run. I had never completed any event before and needed to gain some experience, so I signed up for several races. I ran in the Van Metre 5-Mile Run for Children's Hospital, the USAT Off-road Duathlon, Ashburn Village 10K, Cascades Fire Chase 10K, and the Dirty Du Duathlon. These were great races and provided valuable experience. I learned simple things from how to pin on my bib number to pacing myself and where to position myself at the starting line. As the triathlon got closer my mind was racing with more questions than answers. Did I train enough? What should I wear? What if I have to go to the bathroom? Will I make my family proud? Will I cry when I see my wife at the finish line? I cleared my mind; it was time to race. I completed the Xterra on June 15, 2008 in 1:43:20. In my age group I was 6 of 24 and placed 35 of 144 overall. I started participating in these events to promote my weight loss adventure, but along the way it became about the community and being involved with others working to achieve the goals they had set. The direction of my adventure had changed; I had become a triathlete.
I spent the second half of 2008 racing in the Potomac River Running Twilight Festival 4-Miler, Xterra Rocky Gap, Broadlands Sprint Triathlon, Blue Moon Half Marathon - Tampa, FL, and the Cape Henry Duathlon. I had changed my life more than losing weight, more than just counting calories. It was a healthy lifestyle and a way for me to be involved with others doing the same. My final weight goal was to reach a target weight of 199 pounds. The Disney Marathon in Orlando on January 11, 2009 became the event to achieve this. It would be the longest and hardest event so far. I started at 5:45 am in the dark with 15,000 of my closest friends. It was a great first marathon from running through Cinderella's Castle to watching the sunrise over the Animal Kingdom theme park. I was enjoying the moment of my run, taking it all in, and not thinking about my hurting IT band or watching the cracks in the sidewalk go by. I completed the marathon in 3:57:47. I placed 292 of 1454 in my age group, 1437 of 7801 men, and 1869 of 14940 overall. My wife was there at the finish line. I was wrapped in the silver blanket with my finisher's medal around my neck, she looked at me and called me an athlete; I had become a marathoner.
I have found what works for me, what I enjoy, from my diet to my fitness and participating in different events. Each success, no matter how small, from shedding one pound, to the greater result of completing a marathon, feeds my spirit. The baby steps of success take on a snowball effect to meet newer, greater challenges. In continuing my adventure this year, I will race in the Florida Half Ironman in May and I have submitted my application for the New York City Marathon in November.
In less than four years it happened. I woke up one day and I had lost 160 pounds. I now weigh 193. I am half the man I used to be, and twice the athlete I have ever been.
For more information, visit Jonathan's Web site: