Just back from class

[Chas]

Phew!

That was close....


 8-)

[Gomboman]

It must be from a HotSpring convention. Term left his Light Taser behind. I can see it glowing in the trash can.

I bet you guys can't guess which spa manufaturer's classroom this is.
It was their best showing of all time.
I left a clue.

[Chas]

I couldn't find a copy to post here, but is that the "You can be a Rep from home" banner from our least-sane tub seller?

 8-)

[In_Too_Long]

(HS)world-class sound system which is integrated into the whole spa experience in a way no other brand can come close to"

Are you talking about the one that Beachcomber had 2 years before Hot Springs?

[Chad]

I couldn't find a copy to post here, but is that the "You can be a Rep from home" banner from our least-sane tub seller?

 8-)

Yep! 8-)
Now if I could only find Term's pic that has the girl holding the trophy.

[Chas]

[Gomboman]

Chas, you've lost so much weight I don't recognize you here.

[Chad]

Which one is you Chas?

[Chas]

I am third from the left in the front row. Sort of a green/gray baggy shirt.

Come to think of it, everything I own is now baggy...

 8-)

[In_Too_Long]

You have lost a lot of weight since the last Top Gun Next Level

[Chas]

Yes. I am ashamed to say that I almost hit 300 pounds. Wow - I hate to have to admit that. I never quite made 300, but I was very close, and was still gaining. I am only 5'10" or so, so I was a very round guy. I have dropped 70 pounds! I gained a few back this past week while I was visiting the MotherShip, but I'll deal with that. Too much food everywhere! Even the showroom had a small snack table.
 
I walk. I try to do just under 5 miles 5 days per week. Couple of gentle foothills, I try to keep the pace to one hour for five miles, seems to work well. Also I run to get my own stuff - up and down stairs, across the street for the mail, out to the warehouse instead of calling for stuff to be brought to me, etc. It all adds up. I don't use elevators unless I absolutely have to. I draw the line at ten floors...
 
Here's the main reason I go on and on about this: I want to offer a challenge to others who are now where I was seven months ago:
 
I was diagnosed as a diabetic. The Doctor told me to lose weight or die. No, I wouldn't drop dead in a matter of months or anything, but I would battle the circulation problems, neuropathy and other things that all diabetics face. I was learning how to inject insulin and all of that stuff, and I just decided I would rather not deal with it. The daily pain of controlling my eating and walking became less than the pain of losing my eyesight, a limb, or dying sooner, even if all of those things where off in the future somewhere.
 
So, after dropping the weight I have, adding the exercise I now do, I have noticed the following changes to my life:
 
I don't have any back pain anymore.
I can lift and move things.
I threw away my cane - (I have struggled to walk for years because of a back injury).
I don't get winded climbing several flights of stairs.
I don't snore anymore.
I sleep much better.
I am off caffeine and my energy level is far more stable throughout the day.
I don't get hungry. I eat five or six snacks a day, no real meals excpet special events.
I have a higher level of joy on a daily basis.
I am not embarrassed about how I look - though I am still adjusting to this one.
People tell me I look younger - and who wouldn't like to hear that?
 
And the big one:
 
My last blood test came back as 5.5 A1c. That is 'normal.' I am no longer considered a diabetic. I have controlled a life-threatening disease by getting off the back of my lap and moving around a bit.  
 
If you or somebody you care about needs to hear this - let them hear it: you can add years to your life and walk away from Diabetes if you are motivated enough. And the ADA tells us there are millions of diabetics sitting around our country undiagnosed.
 
There ya go!

[Steve]

Way to go you STUD MUFFIN you!  

[nlittle]

The guy sitting in the tub with the colorful shirt on looks like Nat, the person who sold me my tub.
I don't think it is him though.

[East_TX_Spa]

The guy sitting in the tub with the colorful shirt on looks like Nat, the person who sold me my tub.
I don't think it is him though.

It is Nathaniel, "Cobbwebb" is his Top Gun call sign.  Next to him is Space Wrangler and Jade.  The other fella is Spiro Agnew.

Terminator

[Mendocino101]

Chas,

Congatulations. You look great, and to  sticking to something that I am sure was not easy.