I went to work for my nephew who has a Deck and Dock business here in Tampa, Florida. He needed help packing Water retainers in 2 backyards. The job consisted of a dump truck dropping a huge mound of dirt in the driveway, the dirt being shoveled into heavy wheel barrows and wheeled to the backyard and dumped into the form, and then tamped down with a heavy tamper....all day.

I worked 6-7 hours a day, Monday- Wednesday with 2 guys in their 20's in 93 degree humid Florida air. My young fellow workers complained the whole time and took frequent breaks, even took off to McDonalds to "go to the bathroom". Old Gman just kept plodding along only stopping for water and a Peanut Butter sandwich. I told them stories of my long life and had great fun with them.

It's been a year and a half since my surgery. I have lost 85 pounds since then, 115 all together. Before the surgery I could barely walk up the stairs. I have been working out for the last year, stepping up the intensity every chance I could. I didn't know if I could do this job, working out is quite different from working all day in blazing hot sunlight and stifling humidity.

I stood the test. I am 64.

Great job Gman!! Them yungins can learn a thing or two from you...ha! What a great NSV!

YOU ROCK!

It's nice to work without the fatigue. I didn't mind shoveling snow like the past 20 years. Exercise builds functional strength. And let's be accurate, you out worked the young bucks. Congrats.

That is awesome. I'm in Orlando and it has been horrifically hot. I was out in it just watching baseball games and my ankles swelled and I thought I was going to die. To me that's what this is about. Not just losing weight, but changing your life. You are out there living and I think it's great. It's really inspiring.

You da man!

That's awesome! God bless you!

You are the bomb GMAN !!!!

TERRIFIC!! Feels good, doesn't it! Bet you are in better shape than when YOU were 20.

You rock Gman!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274

TERRIFIC!! Feels good, doesn't it! Bet you are in better shape than when YOU were 20.

Thanks, everyone!

I lifted weights off and on all my life and in my 20's I was in pretty good shape but wasn't real careful about what I ate and how much. I am super careful now so I just may be in better shape despite going through cancer treatment and the passing of many years.

You rock Gman!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274

Thank you!

Chelenka, you are doing so good! Congratulations!

I worked again for my nephew, this time wheelbarrowing the mountain of dirt through tall Florida amazon grass down to the pier to fill in the sea wall he built for his client. It was rainy and humid and very hot. I worked by myself for an hour and then my nephew sent a young helper. He worked pretty good for about an hour and then started taking breaks sitting in his car with the air on saying, "I've been up since 7:30". I thought that was a funny excuse. Later 2 more youngsters came to help. One exempted himself from the wheelbarrow but the other one was a good worker.

I don't want to cast aspersions on the younger generation but what kind of lillies are we raising? They know they are working with an old man who is making them look sick and it doesn't seem to matter to them. Oh, well.

I did find out that there is a harder job than moving dirt; moving a household. I loaded up a 26' U-haul, moved it to Kissimmee, Florida, unloaded it, drove back, loaded it up again, drove it to Zephyrhills, unloaded it, drove it back to Kissimmee. I was more tired and sore after that than with the dirt moving.

I love this. Seriously.

I was feeling all full of angst and irritation at some of what I read on here and then I open this thread and it fills me with joy. This is what it is all about.

Awesome NSV, Gman, awesome.

You know you really are getting old, gman, when you start talking about the "younger generation"!!

That's a great NSV!