Fitness Files: O’Donnell sheds 212 of his 500 pounds

On Feb. 5 I wrote about Ryan O’Donnell, Newport Harbor High’s equipment manager, who set out to lose half of his 500 pounds. I asked him to contact me when he reached his next weight-loss goal.

Here is Ryan’s May 26 email:

“It finally happened. I am now under 300 lbs. I get up at 4 am. Read my daily devotionals, pray, get ready, leave for work at 5:15 am. After I get home from work but before dark I take Napoleon on walks.

“Thanks! Have a great day!”

..

I dropped in Saturday and found Ryan in the midst of boxes and Napoleon, the French bulldog, under his mom’s feet. The family was packing for termite tenting, but Ryan made time for me.

Me: So you’ve reached a goal?

R.O. I’ve lost 212 pounds, down to 300. Next goal — 250. [ Ryan stands nearly 6 feet 5]

Me: OK, is 250 your ultimate goal?

R.O.: I might lose more, but once I reach 250, I still have to be watchful, not revert back to old ways, which can be very easy.

Me: For example.

R.O: If you’re not mindful of intake, you eat the food that tastes good but isn’t good for you. I prefer not to do that. I’ve been there once and prefer not to go back.

Me: How do you feel, 212 pounds lighter?

RO: It’s a lot nicer now. Easier to move around, not out of breath, not consistently tired.

Me: What are “danger times” for reverting back?

R.O.: Holidays, birthdays and right now. We’re using up cornbread and brownie mixes before tenting.

Me: What helps healthy eating?

R.O.: Spring football practice helps. I stay at work longer. I like work, having a lot to do. Not just walk to the kitchen. At work, I keep busy moving. That is the key, keep moving.

Me: So how do you control that “home time?”

R.O.: I take Napoleon on walks. [I smile at the image of tall Ryan walking Napoleon, who is inches from the ground and a bit chubby.]

Me: Walks are good for both of you. Any other strategies?

R.O.: Mindset. It has a lot to do with mindset. I’m not saying a reward is a bad thing, but be careful how you reward yourself. You don’t want a food reward to wipe out the exercise you’ve just done. Maintain the mindset of better health.

Me: Define “mindset.”

R.O.: Mindset means a long-term goal like health. If you overeat, it might be a small setback, but it has the potential to make your goal farther away.

I feel the reward of living with less weight every time I breathe or walk. I can tell my heart isn’t working as hard. Blood flow is better. Overweight caused blood to pool and discolor my legs. Now circulation is bringing skin color back to my lower legs.

Me: You mentioned food temptations. How do you get around that?

R.O.: Eat fruit, vegetables, fish, drink only water, coffee.

Me: You’ve come out from behind extra pounds. You must get lots of compliments.

R.O.: Every day people say I look good. That’s another thing that keeps me going — support from family and friends.

Me: When I used to see you at the NHHS track, you’d answer me with one word, but now you’re more open, conversational.

R.O.: That goes back to faith. When I started getting into faith, an appreciation for life came with it. I became more outgoing, not bottled up. Faith makes me want to be better, to obtain the rewards of better health. Before, I was isolated. Isolation goes hand-in-hand with loneliness. Loneliness leads to overeating.

With faith, I have perspective. I see what I can be if I let faith take over.

Me: With faith, you got outside yourself.

R.O.: Yes, it was hard for me to see when I was so focused on myself, but faith helped me step outside and understand that if I don’t help myself in the sense of weight loss, I will not be able to maximize my abilities, to be the best that I can be.

When I was so heavy, I couldn’t do as much for others. At the end of the day, that’s what makes me feel good, that I have helped others. This is the strong mindset I have embraced. Once I tasted success, I saw it was good. I never had the desire to let go.

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Newport Beach resident CARRIE LUGER SLAYBACK is a 72-year-old marathoner who brought home first places in L.A. Marathons 2013 and 2014 and the Carlsbad Marathon 2015. She lives in Newport Beach.