rock bottom

The phone was ringing again.  I didn't answer it, I knew who it was.  A medical supply company was trying to get me to rent equipment to help me with my recently diagnosed sleep apnea.  It was October, 2013 and this, to me, was rock bottom.  I was only 49 and already was needing to be hooked up to an oxygen machine at night.  Wow, how did I get here?

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure a year before and began taking medications for that.  Oh, and a high cholesterol medication as well.  I had ballooned to 290 pounds or more - I stopped weighing myself at 290.  I felt lousy physically and emotionally.  I didn't have the strength or energy to pull myself out of the hole I had dug, I felt helpless.  And I'm usually a pretty optimistic guy.  But somehow the image of me in bed wearing an oxygen mask at night scared me.  Was this my future?  

Back to the phone.  This medical device company was intent on helping me with my "problem" and providing me with oxygen service for the rest of my life.  That was it.  Enough was enough.  I answered the phone and addressed the lady on the other end politely - "I'm not interested in your device.  Please don't call again."  And that was that.  

I knew that getting healthy was the solution, but I had no plan.  After much deliberation, my wife and I decided that I should visit a personal trainer.  We had heard of a place that offered health and nutrition counseling.  They offered a free consultation, so I felt like it couldn't hurt to see what they offered.