Last Visit: Yesterday, 5:32pm Last Forum Post: Aug 18, 2008 1:56pm Last Photo Upload: May 28, 2008 12:45pm Last Profile Update: Yesterday, 5:32pm Last Blog Post: Jun 25, 2009 5:56pm
Overall Goal: I am honored to have placed 10th in the 2007 Canadian Body for Life Challenge. My wife (Bodyspace: judimax) and I have dedicated our lives to helping eradicate the epidemic of obesity that is crippling our population.
Fit Status:
Working hard at trying to gain some quality lean muscle.
Motivation Level: 9/10
Personal Info And Background:
Real Name:
Errol N. Hannigan
Sex:
Male
Age:
60
Location:
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation:
Writer / Fitness Ambassador
Personal Website:
Gym:
Global Fitness
Gym Location:
Kelowna, British Columbia
When I Started:
Jan, 2007
How I Started:
My left leg had to be amputated at about mid thigh because of what became a life threatening infection, which was all due to the surgeon missing the initial signs of the infection. The amputation came after I had already undergone 17 major surgeries including seven partial and total knee replacements over a span of 12 years. Following the amputation came what I can only describe as horrific 24 hour a day phantom pain. This phantom pain forced me to ingest over 2400 mg’s of morphine per day just to cut it down to what I call a bearable level. According to the doctors, the amount of morphine I was consuming would be enough to sedate or even terminate 8 to 10 ordinary adult males, but for whatever reason they said that my pain “eats” the morphine and while taking a portion of the pain away does not allow me any euphoric effects.
To compound these problems I was also involved in an automobile crash where a car went through a stop sign and totalled my vehicle. I was removed from the vehicle unconscious and at the hospital it was determined that along with the other damages I had received a serious head injury and along with the related concussion I also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.
Along with the pain and other problems came a deep and very dark depression. I would just sit around the house feeling sorry for myself, eating junk food on top of junk food, getting fatter by the day and self-medicating with up to 3 bottles of wine per night. One day after much thought and feeling totally hopeless and that all was lost, I just broke. I decided on a room, loaded my pistol, taped a bunch of plastic garbage bags to the wall because I didn’t want to leave too much of a mess for someone else to clean up and went and more or less told but still asked my wife to give me permission to take my own life so that I could end the pain and suffering.
Long story a bit shorter, amazingly she was very calm and said that the man she married would never quit, never give up and never back down from a fight. And seeing as my wife had after over 2 years of extensive testing been recently diagnosed with both Lupus and Fibromyalgia, she said that the man she knew would never leave the one he loved when she needed him the most. Those words from my wife along with the fact that the Lord frowns on suicide hit me in the heart and I unloaded my gun and put away any thoughts of taking my life and resigned myself to doing my best to look after my wife while living a life of pain and depression. This feeling continued on until my wife said that her doctor told her that she needed to start exercising to help fight her Lupus and the fact that she was gaining a lot of weight, so after much discussion my wife talked me into taking the "Body For Life Challenge” with her. Not believing that it would do much good I kind of went through the motions but still followed the program. After about a month I started seeing some small changes in my body. These changes propelled me to try harder and along with fighting through painful cardio (because of blisters from my artificial leg rubbing me raw) I just kept challenging myself and the changes saw me go from over 36% body fat to about 13% and also I had new muscle growth, which at my age I thought impossible. So believing the Lord works in mysterious ways and getting such great results along with relief from my pain I am no longer broken and feel as though I have been reborn and have never been more focused in my life. I have no intentions of stopping and intend to push this old body as hard as I can to see where it can take me.
That's what got me started working out.
Why I Love It:
After my leg was amputated I felt so much less of the man that I used to be, I became so depressed and saddened that I actually broke and was just minutes away from committing suicide and with the development of my outer strength I have also acquired inner strength, and I am slowly becoming the man I want to be. I am no longer broken but feel as though I have been reborn and now have a purpose. Amazingly it brings me relief from my phantom pain, which is the worst pain I have ever known. The doctors all have their theories about why this happens but none can actually explain why the phantom pain goes away only after I start to lift weights and stays away for 1 ½ to 2 full hours after I leave the gym, giving me 2 ½ to 3 hours respite. It does not go away with cardio, only by lifting weights so I must give weightlifting it’s due.
Equally, I have also watched my wife who has and really suffers from the effects of Lupus and Fibromyalgia cope so much better with the ravages of those diseases because of her exercise and bodybuilding regime. It gave her back a part of her life that she had previously lost and who couldn’t help but love that?
How I Stay Motivated:
Previously, I would have said that I was motivated by what I had managed to accomplish to this point and what I hoped to accomplish in the future, but now I need to change that. I now find myself motivated by other people. Not only those that I read about here on Bodybuilding.com, which could easily be motivation enough, but also those who write me and leave such wonderful and inspiring comments and personal messages. I am motivated by those who say that I am an inspiration to them and those who say reading about what I have done motivates them to push themselves harder. How could I not be motivated by those words? Their words motivate me and keep me focused. The lady who is overweight and despite thinking that she can’t lose that weight pushes on because of my results motivates me. I am motivated by the person in the wheel chair who is still finding the strength to workout despite all they must be going through. I am especially motivated by my wife, who despite having Lupus and Fibromyalgia needs to push herself to extremes just to find enough energy to get to the gym never mind working out, which she still manages to do in a most energetic and professional way. I could go on and on but I think you see by these words why I am now motivated by others instead of what I have or was trying to accomplish, and am I ever glad that it turned out this way.
BB Accomplishments:
It is not a bodybuilding accomplishment as much as it is a body transformation accomplishment but I was chosen 10th overall in the 2007 Canadian Body for Life Challenge. I am elated over this as I didn’t even expect to be considered let alone finish so high up and to be included in the company of such fantastic people who worked so hard and achieved so much is an honour. Not only did I lose almost 30% of my body fat but I am also seeing new muscle growth and with me going to be 60 on my next birthday I am excited at the prospects for the future.
Forum Signature:
My real goal and that of my wife is to assist people in overcoming the obstacles that are stopping them from achieving the weight loss they desire and reaching their fitness goals and/or dreams. That is my idea of true bodybuilding.
This was taken the first day that I started working out at the gym. I was fat, depressed and knew that if I didn't do something about my body now I never would.
Taken on my way to the change room after my workout.
I am honored to have placed 10th in the 2007 Canadian Body for Life Challenge. My wife (Bodyspace: judimax) and I have dedicated our lives to helping eradicate the epidemic of obesity that is crippling our population.
Goal (Long):
After losing my leg I thought I was so much less of a man and hated who I was but with weight lifting and the proper eating habits I saw myself becoming someone that I liked being and now I want to try and turn my body into something that I can be extremely proud of.
Also, perhaps even more importantly, as a personal trainer I want to "represent" what anyone can do with the right desire, drive and determination and help my clients get where they want to be.
My goal for my body is to get a body fat level in the single digits and to put on good, solid, lean muscle and push myself to see what my age and genetics will allow me to become.
My major goal is to finish the book I am writing about bodybuilding and how it changed my life, my wife’s and number of my clients and a few of the “just regular” folks right here on Bodybuilding.com. I want it to be about not only my journey but more importantly about how anyone can get into the best shape of their lives no matter what their age, sex or physical ability if they follow the simple methods that I will lay out in easy to understand terms.
Weight Goal:
I want to GAIN 5 lb
Bodyfat Goal:
9%
Upcoming Contest:
Last Updated: Aug 10, 2008 1:25pm
Members That Inspire Captain Ahab:
Captain Ahab does not have inspirational members yet.
My wife Judi (bodyspace: judimax) and I have sold our house and have bought a truck and 5th wheel trailer and we are going to be hitting the road within the next month. We intend to live in our 5th wheel full time for the next 3 years at least...
Weightlifting:
I do one bodypart per workout on a 4 workout per week routine. Mon & Tue on, Wed off, Thur & Fri on, Sat & Sun off. I rotate the bodyparts as they come up on the schedule.
My schedule is: chest – back – triceps – biceps – leg & delts.
I use both...
Hey! Everything that I said is true. It is people like you at Bodybuilding.com that keep me inspired. You are making a difference in the lives of people. Thanks!
You Do make a diferentce your profile here and what you had done with you life and your wife.
Is a blessing to meny your life touches and has touch meny othr live and will continuo to do so.
I am quietly humbled after stumbling upon your profile. While it is a pity that neither you nor your wife have found complete relief from the pain/illness you are suffering, I'm glad you have changed your lives, and I am so proud to call you Canadian! You are inspiring so many people, and I will think of you when I am too tired or in pain to work out. Officially inspired. Thank you
You added a comment on my blog, which a great honor for me. So, thank you very much. I wish that I can make it stick on the top of all other comments. I also wish that I can be as inspirational to other people as you are. So again, thank you very much!
No worries. I couldn't agree with you about the epidemic of obesity. I think that laziness has a lot to do with that too. I think it's bad ass that you are able to show the young punks up. Congrats on the 10th place finish. Good stuff and keep it up. Good luck to you and your wife. FIGHT THE FAT!
No thanks necessary! Your story alone brought back my motivation to never give up on my dreams. I thank you for being such a strong willed individual and wish you best with your future endeavors!
U r welcome...it is just the truth... I have had a lot of problems with injuries I lost something I really loved doing and I hardly succeeded to step back on my feet and it is thanks to people like YOU I did it... :) keep up the great work I am sure u will help thousands of people to find the light at the end of the tunnel even if u don't know about them :) Respect!
You definately deserve it, your one amazing guy! Your living proof to the world that neither age or physical disabilities need to be a road block when it comes to building a great physique! Keep up the fantastic work! God bless you!
You are more than welcome.We are all blessed....we don't always realize or appreciate that, but you seem to have a handleon that! Keep doing what you do, friend!
hey captain, there are only two men on this site that are worthy of my vote. you and the wheel chair man, the rest of the front page in my opinon uses steriods to achieve there results, and that is not bodybuilding to me. so again i thank you for allowing me to read about your life and use it to make my life that much better. train hard, play harder. jeff
