Ross Edwards is all smiles while working out at Geared Up. After 10 months, he has lost 85 pounds and has 45 more to go. (Photo by Cherry Rushin)
Happy to be a loser
by By Cherry Rushin
(Posted 11/10/2009 03:18 pm)
newsdesk@grahamleader.com
Ross Edwards is determined to lose, and for the last 10 months he has lost big.
The 26-year-old started out Jan. 7 with the goal of weighing less than 300 pounds for the first time.
“I can’t remember weighing less than 300 pounds,” said Edwards. “I’ve been overweight all my life. All through high school and junior high.”
He said it was not exactly a new year’s resolution to get healthier, it was just something he decided he wanted to do. Since then, he has lost 85 pounds. Dropping from 370 pounds to 285 and well on his way to a goal of 240 pounds for his six-foot frame.
And although he considered surgery, Edwards has done it all through diet and exercise.
He said he was researching weight-loss surgeries such as lap band or gastric bypass when he discovered that in considering candidates for such surgery, doctors take into account whether or not the patient has made an effort to lose weight in the past through traditional means and been unsuccessful.
“I realized that I’ve never given myself that opportunity. So I decided to give it a try,” said Edwards.
For him, having lived an inactive life before, the first step was the most difficult.
“The first time I went to the gym, I sat outside for 30 minutes before I could force myself to go in because I had never done that before,” he said.
Edwards said he was in band in school which counted for his physical education requirement so he was completely new to working out.
“I had to commit myself to that. I didn’t just walk in and do it. It was hard,” he said.
He said he started out at 30 minutes a day, six days a week and has since built up to 10 hours a week.
“I typically work out seven days a week. I mean to take a day off, but I don’t always. I love it. I enjoy it. It’s my hobby now, and I enjoy giving my time to that,” he said.
Edwards began with a personal trainer at Bodyworks. When a friend encouraged him to try spinning, he added that to his routine and has since found group exercise to be the thing for him. He participates in several classes, some starting at 5:30 or 6 a.m., at Geared Up each week including spinning, body pump and boot camp.
He said having to answer to others has been a great motivator.
“One thing that kept me going is the accountability. So many people have been supportive,” said Edwards. “I don’t want to let myself down, but I don’t want to let others down. If I’m encouraging someone else, I don’t want them to look at me and think, ‘Well Ross did that for so many months and it didn’t work.’”
Jay Graves, Geared Up owner and fitness instructor, said Edwards has been a great motivator himself.
“He’s so good at holding people accountable. He’s not intimidating but motivating,” he said.
Graves said that Edwards will text classmates when they don’t show up for class.
“Some people might not like a text at 6 a.m., but he doesn’t offend people. It’s neat to see him have that affect on people,” Graves said. “He brings a different spirit to the class ... He’s tremendous.”
It’s not all about the weight loss with Edwards, he wants to become physically fit. He said that goal was driven home when his seemingly healthy 32-year-old brother, Ronnie, suffered a stroke in April.
Edwards said he suddenly became the man of the house for his mother and three younger brothers.
“I knew I had to be there for my family, and I had to make sure I was doing everything to be there for them,” he said.
Edwards has seen amazing results in his fitness level. He has gone from having knee problems that prohibited running to winning a 5k run.
The transition didn’t happen overnight. When Edwards began the boot camp class this summer, he was unable to run for 10 minutes straight.
Graves said he remembers the day Edwards successfully ran for a full 10 minutes. They ran together from Geared Up on Highway 16 up Pine Tree hill across to Walmart and back to the fitness studio where Edwards completed the remaining time in the parking lot.
Shortly after that, Edwards took on his first race.
“5ks are something I really enjoy now. It’s not something I ever thought I would do. (Ambra Ray and I) did the Jackrabbit in Graford in September. It’s 3.2 miles, but we had to walk one of the miles because I couldn’t run it all,” Edwards said.
Despite walking part of it, Graves said Edwards won first place for his age group in the race.
“It was huge for him to go out on his first run and come back with a trophy,” he said.
For the first time last week, Edwards ran six miles. He said he didn’t set out to run that far. His plan was to only run for 45 minutes, but he put on some music and followed where his feet took him which ended up being most of the city.
“As you start, you go up the hill and it gets easier and you think, ‘I can do a little more,’” he said.
Edwards said when he runs, he remembers the words that one of his exercise classmates told him about her son who runs cross country offered — “When it gets hard, run harder.”
“I’m not saying I’m lightning fast, but I can do it,” he said.
Edwards said if he was to offer advice to those who want to get into shape, the two most important things are to find someone to hold them accountable and stick to it.
“Find those people to encourage you and push you forward ... If it’s really something you want, don’t give up ... And if you do get bored with something, find something else. Don’t stop because you don’t enjoy that anymore,” he said.
For most of his life, Ross Edwards tipped the scale over 300 pounds. Before he began eating right and working out earlier this year, he couldn't remember not weighing more than 300 pounds. (Courtesy photo)
