Name: Tim Gourley
Age: 39
Occupation: Computer Programmer
Hometown: Moore, Oklahoma

Start Weight: 300 pounds
End Weight: 164 pounds
Time Running: Two years

My weight reached 300 pounds. It got to the point where I stopped looking at my scale because it wouldn’t register higher than 300 pounds. The thought of stepping back on it scared me.

I had reached this point because I was sedentary. I worked at a desk all day programming computers. I would come home, play video games, and watch TV. All of those activities included copious amounts of food. I’d even grab road food for my commute so I wouldn’t get bored.

It was self-destructive, and an attempt to slowly kill myself through the power of eating and laziness. But you can live a long time like that before it catches up to you. You just won’t like the quality of life. I sure didn’t.

On three separate occasions, I had to be rushed to the hospital due to chest pain or severe leg pain. It turns out I had a combination of severe high blood pressure, acid reflux, and venous insufficiency in my legs from not moving at all. It was a potent mix of problems all stemming from my lifestyle and weight.

I remember my lowest point was sitting in a metal folding chair at my computer desk and it collapsing under me. I sat on the mangled mess of metal and cried, feeling sorry for myself and not knowing what to do to fix it.

I decided enough was enough. I had to get serious or die. So I downloaded MyFitnessPal and started being honest with myself, using the calculated daily calorie goal as a debit account. Thinking like that worked! The weight started coming off, and soon I was able to pick up running, something I have never been able to do.

When I started caring about my health, I instantly knew that running was the sport I wanted to pursue. I was tired of being big, so being a bulky weightlifter just wasn’t appealing to me, and I’ll admit to a bit of jealousy seeing the lean and fit bodies of athletes who have been training for a long time.

To start, running was the only exercise I did. Before that, my weight loss came solely from tracking calories. As you lose weight tracking calories, you are supposed to adjust your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and thus your daily calorie goal to continue losing weight at the same pace. It didn’t take long for me to realize that adding in exercise could act as a little bit of a buffer to help offset my lower daily calorie goals.

It helps that the entry requirements for running are pretty forgiving: You just need a good pair of shoes to start with. I didn’t have to spend a ton of money on gym memberships, fancy machines, or pay team dues. I could just run.

When I started running for real, my choice was validated that first time I was able to run an entire 5K without feeling like I was going to die. I experienced joy through the physical pain, and the freedom that comes with moving on your own. I was hooked to the point of obsession, reading every book I could find on running, watching documentaries, tweaking my training program, and signing up for every race that would fit my schedule.

My employer, a software company called Phase 2, was also super supportive of me during my weight loss. I talked to our CEO and president both about my running goals, and they decided to sponsor my entry to the OKC Memorial Marathon this past April. I also headed up a running club at the office, and would take a group of coworkers out during lunch for training runs. Even now after the marathon, we’re keeping up with the running club. It’s been rewarding to me, and I feel like I’m paying it forward by motivating my coworkers.

A year and a half since my weight-loss journey started, I weighed myself. I was down to 164, and I feel great. No more painful legs, no more acid reflux, and normal blood pressure. I was even able to come off my medication.

My current short-term goal is to complete the Route 66 Marathon in November and PR my marathon time. My long-term goal is to become an ultramarathon runner—and count my heroes as peers.

Weight loss and running are the two most difficult things I have accomplished in my life. But at the same time, they are also the most rewarding gifts I could give myself. I have my life back thanks to running. I want to honor that by doing my best.

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