54 life sty le

T H E E D M O N T O N S U N T h urs d a y , Ma r c h 30 , 2006

Shamed into healthy habits

Embarrassed by his weight problems, George Hyde finally changed his lifestyle
CARY CASTAGNA

EDITOR: Sally Johnston

PHONE: 468-0115

FAX: 468-0139 E-MAIL: sjohnston@edmsun.com

fter his close friend suffered a heart attack and died a short time later at the age of 42, George Hyde decided to take stock of his own health. And he didnt like what he saw. It was the summer of 2003. Years of poor eating coupled with a mostly sedentary lifestyle were catching up with Hyde. When I hit my mid-20s, thats when I really started to pack on the weight, he recalls. You get lazy. As a bachelor, its easy just to eat at all the burger joints. Hyde, who admits he enjoyed boozing it up in his younger days, had watched the dial on his scale creep up to 240 pounds. For much of his late 20s and all of his 30s, Hyde was affectionately known as 240 Gordy a nickname he says friends gave him one fateful day when he ran across a street while carrying a 24-case of beer. Then there were Hydes uncomfortable clothes shopping excursions. Id go up to these sales clerks and theyd ask me what size I was, he says, adding the size 40 jeans he wore often didnt fit quite right, but he never opted for the next larger size because he was just too embarrassed.

DAVID BLOOM, Sun photos

So his buddys death was a wake-up call. But although tormented by the haunting image of his friend lying hopelessly in a coma on his deathbed, Hyde who spent a lot of his free time sitting in front of his computer in his apartment still didnt make any immediate lifestyle changes. Meaningful change didnt come for the longtime CN employee until after a nationwide CN Rail strike in early 2004. Hyde says he had the embarrassment of breaking two chairs on the picket line while sitting in them. Not long after, the six-foot, 250-pounder, who had plenty of time to think about his less-than-stellar health while scarfing down doughnuts and hot chocolate during the month-long strike, finally decided to get serious about working out. Hyde, who had previously toiled in the CN weight room, signed up at the downtown World Health Club and hit the weights and cardio machines with a renewed vigour. Its hard when youre overweight, but youve just got to put the blinders on and keep working, he says. More importantly, Hyde cleaned up his diet initially restricting his carb intake until his weight dropped to about 180 pounds in late 2004. I didnt start losing weight until I actually started watching what I ate, he says, adding he also switched from eating two big meals a day to eating small meals every two to

Wake-up call

George Hyde works out at the World Health Club, above and right. These days, Hyde spends a lot of time in the gym, whereas before he was glued to his computer. And hes enjoying every minute of it. But Hyde credits a change in diet even more than exercise for giving him a new, trim physique.
three hours. Since adopting a more balanced diet, Hyde has packed on some muscle. These days, his weight hovers around 200 pounds and he fits comfortably into size 32 jeans. Its about 70 to 80% diet, the 41-year-old Edmontonian says. Diets totally key. It makes you feel strong so you can work out. Hydes diet includes chicken, tuna, bison, oatmeal, brown rice, veggies, protein shakes, milk and water. As for alcohol, he now steers clear. I dont want to look like what I looked like before, so I totally avoid it. I dont miss booze at all. It would bring me down too far. It would make me too lethargic, says the former smoker, who lit up from Grade 8 until his mid-30s. Hyde, who has enlisted former junior Alberta bodybuilding champ Pete Nikolarakos as his trainer, lifts weights four times a week for 45 minutes each session and does 20 minutes of cardio running and swimming twice a week. When he runs, Hyde puts his IPod on and sets the treadmill at 7 m.p.h. Its like being in a nightclub. You run and you keep dancing to the music. Its a lot of fun, says the fitness buff who has also been known to go ice-skating at West Edmonton Mall and ride his bicycle through the river valley. He also performs stretching exercises six days a week for about 20 minutes. Hyde, who says hes now more confident and less of a burden on the health-care system, admits he spends a lot of time in the gym, but he loves every minute. Its a great place to get away from work, he says. It beats sitting on the computer in the apartment. Id rather be here. It makes him wish he wouldve started earlier. If I did it in my 20s, it wouldve been great, he says. But hindsights 20/20. If its any consolation, you can bet he no longer gets called 240 Gordy. Hyde adds with a smile, I dont even recognize myself anymore.
Do you have an inspirational story for Keeping Fit? E-mail Cary Castagna at ccastagna@edmsun.com.

Beats sitting at the computer