rheston

61 years old : Male : Philomont, VA

"Get things back in order"

About Me

I'm a retired AF Officer now working as a "beltway bandit" with over 40 years experience in the world of intelligence in combat operations. I'm also the COO of Glen Orchard, LLC a cottage industry being established for my retirement years. I spend a lot of time on my Harley and want to continue doing this for another 20 years.

01/01/08 - 236 : 01/15/08 - 228 : 01/30/08 - 220 : 02/07/08 - 212 : 02/25/08 - 204 : 03/06/08 - 200 : 03/14/08 - 198 : 03/25/08 - 196 : 04/04/08 - 194 : 04/12/08 - 192 : 04/18/08 - 190 : 05/01/08 - 188 : 05/14/08 - 186 : 05/23/08 - 184 : 06/20/08 - 182 :
09/11/08 - 180

I've spent a good part of this summer just taking it easy and riding cross country with my wife and son. Our daughter and her family came out to visit and we've been doing a number of social engagements. All this and overseas travel supporting operations in the "sandbox" has made it difficult to keep things on track so I focused just on toning and shaping and trying to keep my weight at a steady level.

I suppose an explanation of the photos is in order. The family photo is of my daughter, her husband and our grandson. The next photo is of my two Vietnamese born daughters who were lost to me during the war and only recently contacted me after 39 years. The next two photos are of my son who is in the AF and is a bagpiper. The tartan he's wearing is the Bonner from Clan Graham -- but he's the Clan Piper for Clan Henderson showing his torn allegiance between his parents two families.

Why I Want To Get In Shape

I used to run 6 - 10 miles a day until so many surgeries have made my knees useless for that activity. Since that time I've struggled with my weight and at times just gave up and ate the way I did while I was running and now have to face the fact that I've got to get myself back in shape. I don't want to look like the typical "fat Harley dude."

I've always struggled with weight issues and meeting the military standards. To become an officer I needed to quit smoking so that I could pass the run tests that was my first big test in life (after Vietnam). I took up running as a lifestyle and did "hash hound harriers" in Europe and mini-marathons for fun. I injured my left knee and had to have surgery. This was my next big hurdle because I had to learn how to run differently and start all over again. After a few years, while training for a triathalon, I injured my right knee and, you guessed it, once again I had a hurdle to jump with therapy and training from the start all over again. Then came my retirement from the service and the injury to my left knee combined with bad arthritis from bone on bone contact. Break the leg, reattach at a different angle to save the knee and no more running. I gave up. I tried to do other exercises but my spirit was broken. While on a collateral tour of duty in Australia I was diagnosed with cancer and after treatments and surgeries were completed there I convinced myself that I'd lost the weight battle and found my own inner peace.

It's taken me nearly 11 years of gradual weight gain and a long hard look at myself internally to make the move to start doing something about who and what I am. Although I was comfortable with being overweight and didn't much care about what society was saying I really didn't like the outward appearance of me in the mirror. This is really why I'm starting this diary and changing myself.

Today I can once again sweat like a pig on a spit while on the ski machine and I'm getting so much more out of my workouts. So much so that my lungs once again feel like I've been on a six mile run when I finish. What an exhilarating feeling!

My Inspirations