Alan Rigerman, 65
Northwest Miami-Dade County
retired teacher
Public humiliation: Everything I see in the paper is for normal folk. When it comes to me, I'm not in a wheelchair but I have stenosis, my knees are bad and my back is screwed up. I want this paper to embarrass me into losing 50 pounds. I need to lose 90, but I'll start with 50.
Say what? I told my cardiologist I was out of breath. He said I needed to lose weight. A year later, I was not happy. After I had an echocardiogram, the doctor says, ''When did you have your heart attack?'' I said, ''What heart attack?'' Turns out I had a silent heart attack. In 2005 I had bypass surgery.
Time to lose: Everything turned out fine. Now I need to knock the weight off. I'm afraid to take Meridia, and I have the personality that would defeat lap band surgery.
Weights, cardio: I have to get back to my 5 a.m. gym regimen. Now I'm lucky to go three times a week. The Memorial West gym is terrific, but my back won't let me do free weights. The elliptical trainer is my machine of choice. I try 45 minutes plus a half-hour on various other machines and dumbbells. I also ordered a rowing machine, since I live near three lakes.
Hold the grease: I'm eating less, much less. I was at the supermarket and they had some interesting smoked pork with goodies, veggies and oil. I left it alone. I will feast on conch salad, not fried. I tried a low-fat sandwich diet, but I ended up making sandwiches in advance and eating every one of them. The only thing that works is less intake and a profound desire.
Wild things: I want to prolong my ability to care for wild animals. I deal with poisonous snakes, a lion, cougars and more. My cougars are cougars, not Florida panthers. I have a permit. I've never been attacked and I have no illusions.
Wattle away: If I lose the weight, I hope a plastic surgeon will volunteer to get rid of my turkey wattle.
