Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life [Paperback]

Keith Ahrens (Author), Eric Wikler (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life by Keith Ahrens is a fascinating and highly informative memoir about the author’s confrontation with mortality and his determination to save his own life. In this self-help book, the author shares the experience of weighing more than 400 pounds, suffering lightheadedness, and finally seeing a physician. When this sedentary man learned that he had suffered a heart attack and that open-heart surgery was his only option for survival, his efforts toward his recovery became dramatically proactive. The spirit of this book is not a confrontation for readers who are overweight, but a supportive and encouraging reminder that everyone deserves to have a long and healthy life, and that paying attention to how we live; food, exercise, regular checkups; goes a long way toward good health. For anyone seeking the inspiration and encouragement to pursue longevity, this is the place to start.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A chronicle of the author's obesity-related illnesses and his remarkable weight loss. By the age of 45, Ahrens, a Las Vegas businessman who led a sedentary lifestyle and compulsively overate, tipped the scales at more than 400 pounds. He hadn't had a physical in more than a decade but, when he began to experience frightening symptoms--shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness--he sought medical help. A battery of tests revealed that Ahrens suffered a "Remote Silent Heart Attack," and his internist, who contributed the foreword to the book, referred him to specialists. They concluded after additional stress tests and an angiogram that Ahrens needed a triple-bypass to correct the damage done to his heart by years of neglect. The surgery and the restored quality of health it brought gave Ahrens a new lease on life. By eating healthily and exercising regularly, he dropped 185 pounds without surgery, turning his life around. The most appealing aspect of Ahrens' story is the author--he's just a regular guy, and readers will likely relate to his struggles with obesity as well as find inspiration in his weight loss. Ahrens, manages to convey his sincere hope that all who read the book will follow his lead and make positive changes to their physical well- being and health. Folksy, relatable and ultimately inspiring. --Kirkus Discoveries, September 2, 2009

A man turns his life around by confronting his demons: In "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is confronted by the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, all encounters that, however harrowing, leave him with a new appreciation for, and a determination to make radical changes in, his life. It is hard not to compare this heart-warming story to the one the author sets before us. For while Keith Ahrens did not wait for Christmas for the events to take place that changed his life--they came upon him unexpectedly in an earlier season--his reaction was similar, and his story could be likened to that of a modern-day "Christmas Carol." And although, throughout his life, he has been generous to a fault, Ahrens had, according to the interesting account as detailed in "Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity," severely neglected his own physical well-being, to the point where he faced a life-changing choice--whether or not to undergo the corrective surgery to repair a life-threatening heart condition that had developed over years of devotion to work and family at the sacrifice of his health. As an executive at a Las Vegas car dealership, Ahrens would put in long hours, and make up for his grinding schedule by indulging in culinary delights. Over the years, this habit, along with a sedentary lifestyle, allowed him to put some four hundred pounds on a frame no higher than five foot ten. The figure he cut was awesome, but not in the way we usually like to use the term. By his own admission, chairs were never large enough, nor strong enough, and his unusually large physique drew the kind of attention he would rather have done without. Still, he could put up with all of the inconvenience attendant to an overweight condition, until the fateful day that found him breathless and incapacitated. That led to a doctor's visit, and a battery of tests that revealed a severe occlusion in some of the important blood vessels that supplied his heart with needed nutrients and oxygen. After second and third opinions were rendered, Ahrens agreed to undergo triple bypass surgery. This might have been the end of the story, had it not been for his determination to lose the pounds that had left him only semi-ambulatory even before the surgery. The doctors gave Ahrens more ambitious goals than he set for himself, and ever since, a successful regimen of proper eating habits and exercise has left its mark. Over a period of about two years Keith lost 185 pounds and now is able to do the many things that were off limits to a man weighing 414 pounds. "Outrunning My Shadow" is easy to read. Its content is matter-of-factly expressed, and there are no hidden mysteries or innuendo in the words. The story is simple, but as profound as the Dickens tale. Peter Duveen, OpEdNews.com August 24, 2009 - PetersNewYork.com, August 23, 2009 --Peter Duveen, OpEdNews.com August 24, 2009

Mr. Ahrens proudly pens a self help partial autobiography, chronicling his journey from obesity to an athletic frame.....  An up book, an easy and breezy read, this contribution to the medical literature is worth a look. --Stephen Z. Smith, MD Editor, Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association, Jan 2010

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Nihao Press (July 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982449909
• ISBN-13: 978-0982449905
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,106,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Keith Ahrens, CFT, SFN is America's #1 Lifestyle Change Expert.

He is an award winning and best selling author of the book, Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life.

Keith was the recipient of the American Heart Associations Start! Lifestyle Change Award. He is a Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT) and a Specialist in Fitness Nutrition (SFN) with certification from the International Sports Sciences Association. Keith is also a credentialed BLS Instructor with the American Heart Association. He was awarded The Presidential Champions Physical Fitness Gold Award, and is CPR and AED certified from the American Red Cross.

Keith has appeared as a guest on live television with ABC and has been featured on the AOL Home Page two times. Keith's journey was also named one of AOL's most inspirational weight loss stories of 2009. He has been highlighted in major newspapers and national and international publications. Keith is a regular guest on Radio stations throughout the world.

Keith is a highly sought after motivational speaker and has a Life, Health, and Wellness Coaching practice.

Keith's background is quite diverse. He taught an Aerospace Engineering Project, ran the Retail Division of a large office products firm and spent over 14 years as a finance director for an automotive company. His "new life" is now dedicated to sharing his story and helping others gain the inspiration and motivation to promote their own physical fitness and health. He was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Towson University, where he majored in Marketing/Finance.

At the age of 45, Keith weighed over 414 pounds and suffered a heart attack that resulted in life saving open-heart surgery. After surviving this critical surgery, he invested all of his efforts into losing weight without weight loss surgery and getting healthy. It took a life-or-death crisis for Keith to realize how important it is to make healthy choices, and he hopes that he can inspire others to take smart steps now to prevent health catastrophes in the future.

Having lost over 200 pounds without weight loss surgery since his open-heart surgery, Keith intends for his new book to be a motivational testament to how people can change their lifestyle for the better. He offer tips on how to start living healthy, while acknowledging the challenges and emotional pitfalls one may endure while making drastic changes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspiring, August 3, 2009

By 

Baker Betty "Tries to cook" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life (Paperback)

I picked this book up and did not put it down until I turned the last page. If you are overweight, you will relate. If you are unhealthy (but not willing to admit it out loud), you will relate. However, if you are thin, and don't understand the overweight population, you need to read this book, so you can relate. This book left me feeling; if he can do it, I can do it. This book also provides great insight to the inner workings of our bodies and what we need to achieve balance both physically and mentally. Thank you for sharing your story.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Inspirational, Easy to read, July 28, 2009

By 

Hope in Virginia - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life (Paperback)

Keith's journey throughout his heart surgery, and his incredible weight loss is extremely motivational to all who read, Outrunning My Shadow. Keith shows that with focus, determination, and making right choices, one can truly change their lives for the better. One cannot help but feel that Keith's story will inspire to change one life at a time.

Hope in Virginia

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real light when on!, August 10, 2009

By 

Carl M. Toepfer "Bo" (Southern Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life (Paperback)

I ordered this book and it got to me friday afternoon, I can't tell you how long it has been scince I have not been able to put a book down, I read this one cover to cover. Keith touches many parts of living life as a fat person and how it feels. I connected with all of his thoughts, I have make many attempt to loose weight I have lost as much as 80lbs three thimes in my life and put it all back on and then some, while reading this book I knew my conviction to get to a new me was renewed. I think about my behavior all the time , not as a puinishment but a challenge and one I will win , thanks to Keiths help!,, the book has in it what you need as far as motovation, and simple facts that lead to success, eat right move more, and before starting consult your doctor, my first goal as the wiegh goes will be to get off blood pressure meds!,

Keith Thank you so very much for sharing your life with me ( us for those who read the book )

from the bottom of my heart, when I sat at my desk That Tues morning, I had no idea what the day would bring, but in my silent suffering with this condition I bought your book! it became a life line!

I hope this review helps someone else, as I know from how this book is writen it is designed to help others,
God bless you Keith! Carl southern Maryland