On January 2nd, I joined The Warehouse, after two long years of my wife Holly’s long sought-after goal to help me get healthy began. My impending high school class reunion was just around the corner. Doctor prescribed hypertension and cholesterol medications were mildly effective. Just months prior, my lack of upper body strength and severe knee pain nearly kept me from my favorite fall deer hunting perch. I knew it was time to get my butt back into shape!

Yet, I walked with my Yellow Lab, Latte. I routinely hiked loops through Lebanon Hills, Upland Hunted, walked portages in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and worked various handyman remodeling jobs. And I worked with young school-aged children. I thought all of these activities would help keep me young and healthy. 

However, the reality was that I ate far too many b-a-d foods. Heck, every occasion was a celebration of food! Oh, and don’t even get me started talking about my favorite sugary snacks. Gas station grub like candy, cookies, donuts, pop and ice cream. Pay at the pump? Hell no! Fast food and “you’ve worked hard Al” stops? Hell yeah! Nonetheless, over the years I had added some serious pounds, feeling worse and worse about myself. I went from a size 36” pant to a 42” pant, and my shirt size increased to XXL. My health deteriorated. And that suit that I had tailored? Forget about it! 

Holly on the other hand, frequented The Warehouse almost daily for a couple of years, prepared healthy foods for our two girls and me. Holly tried her best to inspire me to get fit, to feel and look better. To get old together. Still, I was in denial. Nothing she said or did motivated me. In fact, I was often spiteful that she talked about how she loved all these oddly named fitness classes. That she met all of these great like-minded people and felt in the best shape of her life! 

I relented. I joined. I took a leap of faith! Now I love coming to The Warehouse as much as Holly. I feel stronger, healthier and happier than I have in a long time. I’ve lost 39 pounds thus far, and my total cholesterol went from 240 to 127! My doctor decided I did not need my prescribed medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol. I can do push-ups and can walk without pain. I’ve added a couple new belt notches. You know, “the hey you’ve lost weight kinda notches”! I eat healthy, use Beach Body 21-day portion control and avoid foods that know are lousy for me. I look forward to my first portage with a pack AND a canoe hoisted on my shoulders. I have no qualms about handyman jobs or have the fear that my body can no longer manage the physical strains of such work. 

Damn, I feel good! I guess you can teach an old dog, new tricks. Thank you, Holly! Let’s grow healthy AND old together!! Finally, thank you to Nikki and all of the amazing instructors at The Warehouse for kicking my butt on a routine basis!