Feels good

Words of Encouragement

     I think that the best feeling I have gotten from all of this, is the words that come from my wife.  Last night while we were getting ready for bed she noticed just how much I have lost from my legs.  She told me how she didn't think I had anything to lose from there, but now they were so "little" and muscular.  It is amazing how the small saying like that have a deep impact in me.  She is the biggest reason why I have accomplished anything in my adult life.

     If it was not for her I might still not be working, or if I was not the jobs that I have had and loved.  I know I never would have gone to school, I use to talk about it, but never did I act on it.  She made me believe in myself and encouraged me to take the next step, now I'm just two classes away from my bachelors degree.     

     When it came to losing weight, she was the biggest reason why.  I knew I had to and needed to do it for myself, but I think we all need external forces to help.  It was her believing in me that kicked all of this off.  For that, I thank her, for changing my life in many ways.  School, kids, and my own health.

Extra motivation and help

Walking with friends and family

     A few days ago my wife decided that we would start exercising together as a family.  This morning was the first attempt at this.  The kids were all for it, so we started by turning on some good music, doing a few stretches, and decided to go on a walk.  

     Walks are much more entertaining when you have others to join you.  It was a lot of fun being able to walk with my kids and wife and enjoy each others company.  I would highly recommend finding someone to go with you when you take your walks, it really makes it more desirable.   

     Now instead of fighting with myself on whether or not I will be going for a walk, I would have to fight with my kids and wife too.  That is not something I plan on doing, I've learned.  It is nice to have that extra motivation and drive from others who are excited to exercise.  I think this will help me get over the hump that I have been stuck on for the past few weeks.  I still have more goals to meet.  

Thank you

To my readers...

    These past few days I have had different people message me or talk to me in person about how I have helped them out.  I will be honest, I never imagined I would have had the effect that I have had on people.  I could only of hoped that my blog would maybe help one person see that anything is possible.  Instead I have heard from quite a few the impact it has had on them and it makes me truly humble that I could help.

     If we are given the trials on earth that our Heavenly Father has in store for us, and do nothing with them, we are no better than the man who hides his talent in the dirt.  It is important to know that all your trials are part of His plan and it is important to gain knowledge, experience, and  share the knowledge we receive from those trials. 

     Don't be afraid to email me if you want to tell me your story or just to talk.  Also if you send me your story and would like it published in my blog I'm more than happy to do that as well.  I feel truly blessed for the opportunity I am having.  In closing I just want to say to my readers, Thank You.  I hope you keep reading and keep coming back because I promise you, we are still just beginning.  I have 28 years of history to give insight to haha. 

     Be blessed for I know I truly am. 

Break The Walls Down

Breaking down a wall...

     Breaking down a wall can be very tough when it comes to your weight loss adventure. When starting, I set up many goals on the way to my main objective.  The biggest one was the passing of the 200 mark.  This wall, once miles away, is now at my doorstep.


     For years I have been over 200 pounds.  Honestly, I can't tell you how long it has been. I would have to say that the last time I was under the 200 mark would be sometime right before going into high school.  For years I just didn't care about my weight or what I was eating.  Looking back I wish I could take back what I was doing and change my behavior.  Of course this applies to many different situations in my life.  


     The main reason I didn't care about my weight was because I couldn't be an athlete.  So why not just eat the way I wanted to?  Food was good and I didn't want to miss out.  I didn't even think about the fact that the medium pizza I just ate was 2600 calories.  It was good and that was all that mattered.  It may be a little late in life, but I have realized that there is more to eating than, "It tastes good."


     Back to the point, 200 is huge to get under.  I didn't think it was even possible.  I figured I may just have to stay at 220 and call it good.  I have now proven that wrong.  For a week or two I have been close to going under 200.  The see-saw battle I was in finally unveiled a victor.  This morning I stepped onto the scale and on the screen popped 199.  Excited I called Katie into the room just to show her.  This has been one of my goals from the beginning.  Once unachievable, it is now life altering and a new motivation to keep going. My sledgehammer hungers for more walls to break down, and I'm ready for them!

Weight Loss Update!!!

May 1st Weight in and Measurements

     Another good month, kinda hit a plateau but still managed some weight loss and cut inches. 

Unit	April 1st , 2011	May 1st, 2011
Weight	209	203
Waist	40.5 in	39.5 in
Hips	38 in	38 in
Waist to Hip	1.07	1.04
Body Fat %	29.1 (overweight)	28.3 (overweight)

To stumble is to learn...

Stumbling Blocks shouldn't block you...

     Many times I have fallen during my diets.  I would get to a certain point or a certain weight and be excited with what I had accomplished.  However, it would only take one stumbling block to make me feel like I couldn't maintain it and would give up, reverting to my old ways.  It was one stumble after another after another.  I would allow anything to give me the excuse to quit and not worry about it anymore.  In recent years, since getting married to Kate and having kids, I tried a few times to lose weight.

     The first time I was able to get down to 245 pounds from my 287 weight.  I was going to the gym, working out, and eating better.  Then in April 2008, everything changed.  I was working at my job as a delivery driver and was hit by another driver.  My back received some compression fractures and my knee was injured (resulting in knee surgery).  I decided that losing weight was no longer important, since I wasn't physically able to do much for many months.  I know that is a good reason, but there was no reason for me to start eating the way I did.  I gained back the 40 pounds I had lost.  

     I know that it was hard to exercise while being in a turtle shell and that I was not able to do much, but I didn't track my calories anymore and was eating like I shouldn't have been.  It took me a long time to recover and give losing weight another chance.  You can look at my earlier blog and see my picture from October 2009, I still had all the weight back on me.  

     Between 2009 and up until a few months ago, I was up and down on my weight.  I would go for a few weeks while working out and eating right, just to give up or let one bad day ruin all the progress I had made.  I don't know why but I just could not keep it up.

      In December I knew that my diets would never lead to anywhere and that I was going to stay unhealthy if I didn't make a change.  I needed to lose weight, get healthy, and stop allowing one little hiccup stop me.  I became determined to instead of letting those stumbling blocks get in my way, to instead use them as motivation and create a deeper desire inside of me.  

     I prayed and I broke myself down.  When I was building up my new foundation I prayed and thought about how I can use those stumbling blocks to my advantage.  One thing I found was when I would stumble I needed to see what caused that stumble and how to get around it.  Once I would find the root of the problem, whether it be depression, anger, boredom, or just laziness, I would look at how to use that to my advantage. 

     It's finding that opportunity that seems to be the hardest part about stumbling.  In times of depression or anger, I noticed that yoga would greatly help me with those issues.  Yoga allows me to collect my thoughts and be able to just think about what it is that is bothering me.  On top of that, I would get the exercise I needed by the stretching yoga provides.  

     In times of boredom, I knew that I couldn't just sit around and eat.  I needed to occupy my mind.  Whether I read my scriptures, worked out, or went for a walk, I would find something to do.  It is very important to not let those stumbles get in your way.  I have learned that gaining knowledge and learning from those stumbles makes you stronger and healthier.  

 

It's your life... or is it?

Leading by example

     We have all heard it time over time, "It's my life, I can do what I want with it."  But what happens when we bring kids or a spouse into the picture?  Growing up was tough when having a heart issue.  It was tougher, however, being 12 and watching your Dad (who was only 37 at the time) go through a bypass surgery due to a heart attack.  It was life altering.  

     Before I go too far, I want you to know I think very highly of my father and all he has done for us in his life.  In fact I know he is going to read this, and I really hope he does.  He taught me many things in my life and has given me many great memories and life lessons that I shall never forget.  The one thing he never could teach me, however, was how to eat properly for the health conditions we had.  Our family is rattled by heart issues, but yet if you look at most of us in my generation we still have trouble with our weight.  Almost all of us have had problems with our weight, even though many of us have seen the devastating effects of it.   

     When I decided to have kids, it was up to my wife and me to show them how to take care of our bodies.  We needed to lead by example and know that what we do does not just effect us, it effects everyone that is close to us as well.  Growing up I was almost always obese, I ate whatever I wanted to and didn't do enough to eliminate that.  I have had that problem for almost all of my life.  When I received my realization of myself and what I was doing, it hit me hard that this was more than just me, it affected more than just myself.

     As a 12 year old, it was very hard watching my dad have to go through that surgery.  Being 12, it was confusing to understand exactly what was going on, but I knew something was not right.  My mother was hysterical, rightfully so, and at that time it did not take much to upset her.  Once it was decided that my father would have to be transported to Seattle, we quickly packed up and went to stay with my Grandma while my dad was transported via ambulance.   

     Even after that, the diet did not change very much.  He quit smoking, which was a great blessing, but did not dramatically change his eating habits.  Soon after, he was diagnosed with diabetes and has had other health problems arise.  It was hard growing up watching all of this.  I have seen how these health concerns affected everyone, but did not change myself personally.  I didn't realize that what I was doing and how I was eating mattered to anyone else but me.  Then came the realization that my habits affect the people I care most about.

        When we become husbands, wives, parents, leaders, we are put into a new light.  We are now showing the way for people and I have seen that what I do, how I act, affects everyone that is close to me.  My kids eat like I do.  If I go to McDonald's and eat, guess what...they are going to be headed there as well with me.  It is not right for me to put my family in that situation.  Sure, I know that once in a while it is not going to hurt you, but you have to be careful about how often it happens.  I, for one, will not eat at McDonald's anymore.  I try to stick to Subway or somewhere where I at least know what it is I am eating and I make sure to check the nutrition facts before doing so, that way I know what to have.


     I have decided to start leading by example. I want my kids to see their dad as an inspiration, much like I saw mine.  However, I don't want them to have to experience the numerous heartaches I had to go through as a kid because of how I choose to eat.  It is not just my life, I cannot eat food just because it tastes good or it's just "easy."  I need to eat for my health, for my family, and know that there are still great foods out there if I just try something new.  I have taken the reigns of my health and steered them in a new direction, I hope you do too!  


     I also want to thank my dad.  If it was not for him, I would not be the man I am today.  I know you are reading this and want you to know I love you dearly and thank you.


Live life by showing how to live life
Be the example
Remind yourself, who is watching me?