The Fat Guy Diary

In early 2009, Mike Campbell was 52, weighed 351 pounds and took medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, stress and sleep. He popped Rolaids like candy for acid reflux. Asthma that he had in childhood was flaring up. And he suffered from migraine headaches three times a week and from sleep apnea.

In a nutshell, he was miserable.

His wife, Polly Porter-Campbell, came home to their Hampton Park area house one night in late January -- after attending an emergency-preparedness meeting -- and told him that she learned something important after the meeting. She posed this question to him.

" 'If you were in a burning building with the pope, the president, the governor, the mayor and all your family members, who would be the most important person in the building -- the one you were most interested in saving?' " recalls Mike. "I knew what the answer was, but I still asked who. She responded, 'You are the most important person because if you can't save yourself, you can't save anyone else.' "

Her statement didn't have an immediate impact on him, but it echoed in his head for a month.

Then on March 2, 2009, Mike woke up and something was different. He saw Polly off to work. And before doing anything else, he opened his laptop computer and started writing:

Starting my weight loss program today. ... I need to lose weight for my health and quality of life. I do not know the final destination, but I do know I need to start the journey! I want and need to be more positive about myself and my future even with the things that are happening in the world and the economy. I need to take care of me so I can best help my family and community.

As he has proven, these weren't the empty words of a man who had gone through his share of yo-yo and fad diets. He was embarking on a complete lifestyle overhaul. Before logging off, he had to name the file. He thought about it for five seconds, then wrote "Fat Guy Diary."

Since that time, the Fat Guy Diary has become a website, and Campbell has lost 150 pounds. He is off all his medications and has had only three migraines in 13 months. And he is among the growing number of soldiers in Lowcountry's battle to fight obesity, particularly among children.

Chubby kid, obese man

The eldest of five boys, Campbell was the chubby one. His parents took note and worked to keep it in check, such as substituting skim milk for whole.

Throughout his adulthood, his weight progressively became an issue.

When he married Polly 25 years ago, the 6-foot-tall Campbell weighed a fairly normal 200 pounds. As he started work at the S.C. State Ports Authority, it ranged from 240 to 300 pounds.

When he left the SPA to become the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Trident Area in 2005, he started working 70-hour weeks and picked up another 50 pounds. In 2008, Campbell and the nonprofit that he dreamed to lead for the rest of his working career parted ways.

Polly, who had endured his array of health problems and now dealt with his grieving over his career, described him as "unhappy and unhealthy" and told him: "I don't care if you ever work again, if only you get healthy."

It took a year for that message to sink it, but it did, and the result is reflected in how she describes him today.

"I got my first husband back," she says. "The way he's changed is that he's the way he used to be. He has a zest for life and is a lot more fun to be around."

Honesty. Attitude. Water.

Since starting what both he and Polly describe as a never-ending "journey," he has received inquiries from people asking what his key to success is.

"Some people are looking for the magic exercise program or the magic pill, and I have to tell them that there is no such thing," says Campbell.

While his key is rooted in the fairly simple formula of eating a healthy, balanced diet and daily, varied exercise, his strategy is summed up in an acronym, HAW, which stands for honesty, attitude and water.

Honesty deals with the reality of what he has to do that day. Attitude is a positive approach to doing it. And water is the critical element that makes up most of the human body.

After researching the subject of water, Campbell says he thinks people need a half-ounce per pound, more if exercising intensely. Currently, he's drinking 105 ounces of water a day and starts his day drinking 20 ounces.

A new life direction

Campbell hasn't settled into a new career yet, but he is being called into the fitness industry, both on a paid and volunteer basis.

Currently, he's working with writer and publicist Marjory Wentworth on a book, "Fat Guy Diary," and has been active with the Medical University of South Carolina's Lean Team and the Eat Smart, Move More coalition.

Coleen Martin, program coordinator of Lean Team, says Campbell is an ideal example for people to follow.

"Mike is a beacon of hope for people who are willing and able to do it, lose weight and get fit, on their own," says Martin. "He didn't go to anyone else to help him -- no Weight Watchers, no gastric bypass surgery. He wanted to figure it out on his own."

His approach, she adds, underscores the role of journaling in helping people stay on track, but even more important was his readiness.

"Being ready to make real changes is critical," says Martin, a registered dietitian. "If you are not ready, you won't make the changes that have to made."

Reach David Quick at dquick@postandcourier.com.

Excerpts

To read Mike Campbell's full diary, go to www.fatguydiary.com.

Day 1 03/02/09 351.0 (pounds)

Starting my weight loss program today. I am trying the 7-day weight loss diet to get moving. Today I am eating just fruit to get started. I need to lose weight for my health and quality of life. I do not know the final destination, but I do know I need to start the journey! I want and need to be more positive about myself and my future even with the things that are happening in the world and the economy. I need to take care of me so I can best help my family and community.

Day 29 03/30/09 329.6 (pounds)

Wow 21 lbs. in 4 weeks, not bad! I feel much better. I do think SUGAR has been my enemy. I am now very aware of the sugar content in all foods! I have eliminated sweetener from my coffee and caffeine from my diet, other than the caffeine in the DMC7 I just started taking. On this day I feel very good about losing the 150 lbs.

Can you say PLATEAU!? 05/06/09 by Fat Guy

Yes, I have hit my first major PLATEAU! I have been hovering around 307 for about 6 days. I am still down a couple of pounds since a week ago, so I celebrate that gain or loss depending on how you look at it. I have mentally prepared myself for the plateaus but that does not make it easy. Attitude and consistency are the most important ingredients to maintaining my weight loss success and continued journey to a healthier me.

I continue to remind myself about how much better I feel now than before March 2nd. I will make sure I get in a good workout this afternoon!

Day 135 Down 85.4 Pounds! Coming off Meds! 07/14/09 by Fat Guy

I went in for a check-up with my doctor yesterday. We went over the meds I have been on for the past 5-6 years and I am now backing off most of them. I have been on blood pressure meds, sleep meds, cholesterol meds, and more. The only meds I will be on now will be allergy meds and thyroid meds. Quite a turnaround from where I was not so long ago.

DAY 285 130 POUNDS DOWN!! 12/11/09 by Fat Guy

I am 9 months and 9 days into my journey and down 130 pounds today! Who'd a thunk it! I feel like a little kid with a new toy! I am wearing 34" waist jeans for the first time in my adult life! That is down from 54" suit pants on March 1st of this year. 34" waist was not a goal, but it is a very very pleasant surprise!

01/11/10 by Fat Guy

I have done a decent job maintaining 130 pounds down during the holidays and now it is time to work on my last 20 pounds to 150 pounds down. I continue to learn about me, what works and what does not work! Just a few things I learned or were reinforced with me during the holidays:

--Sugar is my biggest challenge! I ate far too many sweets during the holidays!

--I need to continue to work on portion control!

--I need to get my water intake in each day, early and often!

--I need to continue to log each day.

--I know my fitness journey will bend at times, but not break!

04/02/10 by Fat Guy

I have learned a lot about myself during this journey. I am staying between 203-206 pounds while continuing to trim down my waist and build muscle. My core work has helped tremendously with trimming my waist and making me stronger and fitter. I am focused on varying my workout routines and including body weight chin ups, pull ups, and dips. These are all things that I never thought I would be able to do. I was introduced to Dragon boat Racing Wednesday evening by a friend from the Ports Authority. It really helped me gage my fitness progress.

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