Last Visit: Yesterday, 3:29pm Last Forum Post: Mar 22, 2008 3:51pm Last Photo Upload: May 6, 2008 2:27pm Last Profile Update: Yesterday, 2:56pm Last Blog Post: May 14, 2008 4:12pm
"I am honoured to have placed 10th in the 2007 Canadian Body for Life Challenge. I now hope to help eradicate the epidemic of obesity that is crippling our population by showing people what can be done with dedication, determination & desire."
Personal Info And Background:
Real Name:
Errol N. Hannigan
Sex:
Male
Age:
59
Location:
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation:
Fitness Ambassador / Writer
Personal Website:
Gym:
Global Fitness
Gym Location:
Kelowna, British Columbia
When I Started:
Jan, 2007
How I Started:
Due to the surgeon missing the signs of infection it became necessary to amputate my left leg at about mid thigh because of what became a life threatening infection. The amputation came after I had already endured 17 major surgeries including seven partial and total knee replacements, all of this over the course of 12 years. After the amputation came the onset of what I can only describe as horrific 24 hour a day, 7 day a week phantom pain, which forced me to ingest over 2400 mg's of morphine per day just to cut it to a bearable level. The amount of morphine I was taking according to my doctors would be enough to sedate at least 8 to 10 adults but for whatever reason the pain “eats” the morphine and takes away a portion of the pain but I am unable to receive any of the euphoric effects. Along with this I sank into an incredibly deep and dark depression and was just sitting around feeling sorry for myself along with eating badly and getting fatter by the day. One day I just broke and after much thought and feeling that all was hopeless I loaded my pistol, prepared a place so I wouldn't make too much of a mess and went and more or less told but still asked my wife to give me permission to allow me to end my suffering and take my own life. Long story short, she amazingly 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 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:
Last Updated: Yesterday, 2:39pm
Progress Pictures
Jan 21, 2007
May 6, 2008
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 honoured to have placed 10th in the 2007 Canadian Body for Life Challenge. I now hope to help eradicate the epidemic of obesity that is crippling our population by showing people what can be done with dedication, determination & desire.
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.
I have heard this term bandied about and used quite a lot but usually only when it comes to home renovations. I don’t believe I have ever heard it used when it comes to fitness or when attempting to make a body transformation, and so from now on I am going to start utilizing it on a...
I have switched to a routine of 2 days on, 1 day off then 3 days on and 1 day off. I am doing a minimum of 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps and at least 4 exercises per body part and expect to keep this same routine for at least 10 to 12 weeks and then change my program once again.
Right now Day 1...
Thank you so much for the advice. I will keep that in mind. I'm truly looking forward to working out monday and yes I do need to come out of my comfort zone I have been comfortable for way too long. Again thank you and take care!!
after reading your response,I did it, snapped a few pictures...they're great...I was nervous, but they turned out great :) All my work didn't get wasted :) YAY
Errol, I just want to thank you for finding me and sharing your story. I think of you and your wife every single day and you are both such amazing inspirations!
You look great and so does your wife. I am very familiar with body for life. I lost 20 lbs a few years ago (fell off the wagon) but I know how to lose weight and I use the Body for Life principles in eating. That honestly taught me how to eat.
You are an inspiration!
P.S. Have you bought the Eating for Life cookbook? Love love love the chicken pomodoro.
People have told me I'd never flatten the tummy completely......... that only fuels me to prove them wrong! I'm all fired up and cookin' here. How is your wife doing? Last time I talked to her she seemed to be doing pretty good. Well, you have a great day!
I have been trying to get under 128 lbs. for almost a year now. So, I am being real good with my diet the past 5 wks. and now am on the verge of going under that 128 mark! So exciting. Things are taking shape, the lower belly is the toughest. Loose skin and also a scar from a c-section. But I think if I stick with the diet, keep runnning and working out real hard, and doing my ab exercises, I will eventually flatten the lower tummy.
Good morning Captain! My workouts have been great. I am loosing fat and starting to see dimples - like on my back. So I guess the definition is starting to come which makes me real happy. It seems like that back definition takes awhile and alot of hard work. I saw 128 lbs. this morning which is my low weight since I've been working on this transformation. That was my Christmas Eve weight.
So pumped. Im i completely just stumbled onto this site. And now I love it. It has brought me so much motivation and a realistic idea of how far away from results that i am. Thanks for dropping a line!
Those are fantastic results. Congratulations. Thanks for the advice. My current plan is working pretty well so far, I am going to try restricting calories a little more and amp up the protein per Lyle McDonald's Rapid Fat Loss program. I had not previously considered BFL, but will if I am not satisfied with my results. I appreciate your insights.
Tony
