He started avoiding the scale and refusing to look at himself in the mirror. Daily tasks were a challengethings like tying his shoelaces or climb a flight of stairs. He constantly felt tired, and he disliked how he looked. He shopped online for clothes because otherwise he couldnt find anything to fit him. Embarrassingly, he was told he was too large to ride a rollercoaster. And finally came the day when his doctor told him he had high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea. He was 35 and weighed 326 pounds.
That forced Sikora to confront himself and his relationship with food. Hed tried to lose weight before, with little success. He looked for help, and walked into his first WW (formerly Weight Watchers) workshop. There he learned how to focus on small, sustainable changes that would add up over time.
He started by walking around the neighborhood with his dog. It didnt feel like working out and it was something I enjoyed doing, he says. Hed never really thought of exercise as something he could enjoy. Once he got acclimated, he started going to the gym, doing 30 minutes of cardio three times a week. Today hes up to an hour in the gym, six days a week, doing a mix of cardio, weight training and core exercises.
Finding activities he could enjoy helped him stick with his regimen, but he also says, I have learned discipline is more important than motivation. I view exercise just as important as going to work, getting dressed in the morning, or brushing my teeth. Its simply a non-negotiable part of his routine now. I have realized that I am a priority in life, he says. Not only for myself but my loved onesI need to be healthy.
He started slimming down in February 2017, and reached his goal weight in July 2019. All told, hes lost nearly 140 pounds. I feel the best Ive ever felt, he says. I have new leg on life. The changes havent been just physical; he says, The best transformation has been internally. I have more confidence and self-love than I ever have before. He has a newly positive outlook on life.
Now, even though he never considered himself an athlete before, hes become an avid runner. Hes run 28 races since 2017, including 5 and 10ks, and half marathons. He plans to complete a mini triathlon soon, building on his success so far.
Looking back, Sikora wants to remind people it all begin with baby steps. He wanted to be healthier but didnt know where to begin, so he started small. Start with small changes and build up from there, he says. You will be surprised by how small changes will create big changes.
