Have you ever wanted to do something to help raise awareness for cancer, autism, and obesity while reaching a personal goal?
Two members of Team JAG want to earn the Spartan Trifecta medal by participating in the Spartan Super in IL on July, 20, 2013 and the Spartan Beast December 14, 2013 racing along side the Corn Fed Spartans.
The
Spartan Trifecta is obtained by completing the Sprint, Super, and Beast
all in the same year. Team JAG ran the Spartan Sprint on May 19, 2013
in Texas. I created Team JAG in memory of my best friend Jo Ann
Gonzales who passed of colon cancer November 2, 2012 at the age of 38. I
have since dedicated my life to raising awareness for colon cancer,
autism, and a healthier lifestyle. We have a 3 year old little boy
named Ayden who has autism and loves to see us race in the mud. The
obesity factor comes from me spending all of my 30s overweight with
diabetes.
Some
of the proceeds from this campaign will go to Get Your Rear in Gear
Colon Cancer Coalition, an autism charity, and helping Team JAG win the
Spartan Trifecta medal.
My Personal Journey
May
2013 marks my one-year anniversary since I had gastric bypass
surgery. I decided several months ago to mark this milestone in my life
by testing my limits running in the Spartan Sprint.
Issues
with my weight and health started when I was honorably discharged from
the Air Force for failure to maintain weight standard. Little did I
know type 2 diabetes was knocking at my door. I tried so many diets and
various exercise programs, but nothing really seemed to have a lasting
affect. My health just got worse and the complications from diabetes
started to appear. I had several emergencey surgeries because of
diabetes, the worst was when I had MRSA, which was feeding off my high
sugar levels, cortisone shot in my left hip and back, and I had to take a
high dose of pain meds twice a day because of a labral tear in my left
hip. Not to mention a slight bulging disc and tear in my L5/S1 of my
spin. I even had cataracts removed in 2004 and 2007. These are just a
few things I had to go through because of my weight and diabetes. I was a
mess!
I
tried so many different medicines and I still could not get my diabetes
under control. My doctor gave me insulin and the major side affect was
weight gain. Nothing I tried seemed to work, but the doctors kept
telling me weight loss would help me. My job changed health care plans
and I decided to see if gastric bypass surgery was covered. To my
surprise it was, but of course there were a list of criterias that had
to be met. I went through the process required by my insurance and May
2, 2012 was the day I had gastric bypass surgery. At first I was not
sure I made the right choice because it was not an easy recovery while
in the hospital.
With
each step I took things got easier. Everything about my life changed
and I no longer focused my life around food. After six weeks of
recovery I joined a gym and started working with a trainer. I could
barely do anything at first, but I saw my strength building with each
session. It was my trainer who told me about the Spartan Race and how I
should work toward that as a goal. I remember after a session there
was an advertisement for the Spartan Race flashing on a TV at the gym
and I thought one day I would be a Spartan.
My
highest weight was 250 pounds and now I am 125 pounds since my
surgery. At 5’ 2” tall no wonder I had so many issues with pain. My
body could not handle all that weight and I could not even walk for 5
minutes without getting tired. Gastric bypass was a tool that helped me
save my own life and it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I
no longer take any medication for diabetes or pain and I believe I am
in the best shape of my life for just turning 40. I can do things now
that I have not been able to do in a very long time. I have done a few
other mud runs, but being able to do the Spartan Races is a major
milestone.
By obtaining the Spartan Trifecta Team JAG wants to continue motivating others to get off the couch and start moving.
After
surgery I could barely walk for 15 minutes and now I am playing in the
mud. It takes starting with a few steps to work toward better health.
Now I can scream I'm a SPARTAN!!!!
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