John Cutler posted on June 22, 2010 09:56
Colin Shah (Director of Fitness and Member Services): After success in NCAA basketball and business... What inspired you to get into cycling?
Sterling Crockett: Inspiration came from a dare and an early failure. Talking to a business partner about cycling, he mentioned a charity ride he signed up for so I asked “how far do you go?” He said it was about 70 miles and, boys being boys, I pipe up with “oh, I can do that.” The next thing you know, we all run out and buy ill fitted bikes and so forth and head out on the American Cancer Society ride. Following that ride, it was after last year’s Livestrong Challenge in Philadelphia when I started to become very serious about cycling. Unfortunately, I had an accident but it became the foundation for me to learn more about cycling. So, my inspiration really came out of a dare and an early failure.
CS: Since adding weight training and working with Abby how much additional weight have you lost?
SC: When I first started with Abby my weight was at 305 lbs. It was December 2009 when I started in earnest and I’m now at 258 lbs. While the weight loss has been great for my ego, the advantage has translated well to furthering my efforts in cycling. I have noticed considerable improvement in things like my ability to climb but what I’m most proud of is that for 5 years I was in a pre-diabetic state. It was difficult to get my glucose and insulin levels down and now both are back well within normal range. The health improvements I’ve made such as lowering my LDL cholesterol from 102 to 80 without medication have been remarkable. And this stems from being in the exercise program and making an adjustment to my diet.
CS: What has been the hardest change?
SC: The most difficult change has been organizing my schedule in a way that allows time to work out and plan my meals. With my role in two companies and various board memberships like my recent appointment as Chairman of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of other people. I needed time to take care of me and the decision I made was to bring balance to my life. Prior to starting the exercise program the scales were similar to those of many people--toward building oneself as a business professional. It’s been difficult to make the time but it is an important decision with lasting impact to rebalance your life and make time to exercise and take care of yourself.
CS: What have been the major changes in your diet?
SC: The major change has been transitioning from eating two very large meals a day to eating six smaller meals a day. When I came to CycleLife and consulted with you about nutrition I received, I feel, some of the soundest and easiest to follow nutrition advice. We live in an time of fad diets that change frequently but as a result, everyone has become more and more unhealthy. One of the major changes was to cut out all processed foods. The next thing was to eat a fruit and or vegetable with every meal. Leaving behind the fake foods –I was a big user of artificial sweetener--I replaced it with natural things like honey, which I hadn’t really used since I was a kid. When I started using it I realized just how much I enjoyed it. Another big challenge was the entertaining you do in business. Having the strength and discipline when you’re out with the understanding that these business functions are important but the cycling and preparing for a triathlon is important, too. It became more about having the strength to withstand peer pressure and to do what you need to do. The focus has been tremendous. I’ve never been a big drinker but alcohol is another area with empty calories that you must remember to keep to a minimum
CS: What advice would you give to others who are nervous about starting and for those who say at 50 they are too old to affect change?
SC: While it’s in everybody’s nature to be competitive, when you’ve been away from exercise for a while and you’re returning to it at an advanced age, you have to make it about your own personal level of success. When I first walked into cycle life everyone looked anorexic to me and here I am this giant towering over everyone. One of the conscious decisions I made was to enjoy the process and let the results I've achieved--weight loss, improvement to major health markers, etc.—function as a byproduct of my coming to CycleLife and having a good time.
It also helps to have two very personable trainers in you and Abby to work with who like to have fun, so when I come in most times it doesn’t feel like a workout. It feels more like I’m coming to visit good friends and we're going to workout and have a good time. My focus has been to enjoy the process and let it take care of itself. As a matter of fact, I had worked out with Abby for about 90 days before I even stepped on a scale. Before that point I was going by the way I felt and one day my clothes just fit differently. I stepped on the scale to see the change and to my surprise I had lost almost 40 lbs. That proved to me that the approach was right for me. I hadn’t noticed because I was having a good time. Even though to get there at 7 am you have to extend your day but even getting up at 5 am I’m up at that hour excited about getting to the gym and working out.
Particularly, when you come to this at a later age there’s always this sense of urgency. This is time for us to enjoy all that we’ve earned and not get caught up in the results. For some the major marker in this is what the scale shows. It’s a nice byproduct of cycling but at the end of the day what’s doing it for me is that I’m having a good time.
CS: Rumor has it that triathlon is the next on your to-do list... Have you started training for that yet?
SC: Yes, I have. My cycling is now more advanced than anything else, but I started running three weeks ago and I have joined the run group on Wednesdays. I am a good swimmer but I do plan to get some coaching on swimming.
I recently attended the Transitions course at CycleLife which gave a lot of information and also recently attended the Columbia triathlon to support my good friend and fellow CycleLife member Frank White. I came away from that event very inspired to do a triathlon. As far as the timing is concerned, I’m leaving that to the experts, you and Abby, to tell me when I’m ready.
CS: Thanks Sterling, you really are an inspiration!!! So lucky to have you here.