Wardrobe Change

This is the shirt I wore at last year's 4th of July Program..

Yeah.. I was surprised at how big it is as well..


And this is what I will be wearing for this year...


A bit of a difference.

One week away folks!

The Camera Really Does Add 10 Pounds

Tonight I was looking through some of my old shows that have been posted on YouTube, and I was so shocked at these videos that I snapped a few pics to share with you...

These were all shows from 2010... I don't think I can blame it all the camera...





The camera never lies.. I really was massive. haha.

It's always a good idea to look back and see how far you've come. I can guarantee you...

I don't look like that now.

Just a couple more weeks until the big unveiling. I'm excited.

Create your own Energy

Hey all,

Well just a quick update. I am doing fantastic, and getting things all ready to roll for the big unveiling of my new self at the Vernon 4th of July program..

By the way, this year at our program, KSL's Doug Wright will be our guest speaker, so if you feel like joining us, let me know and I can give you all the details.

I think it will be fun and I am very excited.

I am always trying to think of new blog posts, and exciting or pertinent things to talk about. It can be tough to think of new things all the time. So I'm always listening to what others say or questions people ask me that would make a good blog post.

This morning during our spin class Justin said something that got me thinking.

He said, "Create your own energy, don't be the person that constantly feeds off of other people's energy."

I thought about myself and if I'm the type of person that creates my own energy or do I just feed off of others.

I think I used to be just a feeder.

Now days I feel like I can take control of my life and create my own energy for others who were once in the same boat I was.

It didn't appear over night. I had to learn and watch from the best.. Justin.

He has a way of motivating people and making people feel like they are worth something better than anyone I know.

Anyone who hangs out with him for just a few minutes will realize it.

So if you are the one continually leeching off of other people's energy, stop and think of some things you can do to create your own energy field. So that people who are where you USED to be, can find their own too

Be Your Own Best Friend

I love that movie!!

You don't need to be half man/half dog to be your own best friend.

Be tough, push hard, but remember, there is no need to be mean to yourself...

What do I mean by that?? I am not talking about taking it easy in the gym. I am referring to the mental game.

It's a pretty sure bet that people who struggle to lose weight, really aren't on good terms with themselves. I know I wasn't.

You've beat yourself up long enough. Now it's time to start being friends. After all, you spend every day with yourself, so wouldn't it be nice to actually enjoy it.

Having said that, it's important to be a true friend, not an enabler friend. Be the kind of friend that will push you to be your best, call you out when needs be, and does it in a positive way.

If you try and go through a weigh loss process hoping it will go perfect. Believe me, it won't. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone gives in to temptation every once in awhile.

That's okay.

Use it as learning tool, and go about it differently the next time you are in the same situation.

So as corny as this whole post sounds, it is vital to your success that you begin to mend the fence with you and yourself.

Remember, you don't have to be hard on yourself to succeed.

One Thing

Nobody says it better than Jack Palance in City Slickers.

So last weekend I talked to quite a few people who saw me for the first time since I dropped all this weight. I'm not gonna lie, it felt good to receive their compliments and pats on the back..

But I found it interesting that after the initial compliment, everyone asked the same general question.

"How did you do it??"

"What's your secret??"

followed by these sort of comments...

"I wish I could be that motivated."

or, "I could never do that."

So unlike Pepsi, Coke and KFC, who keep their secret ingredients locked up. I am about to unveil my secret ingredient for success..

One thing.

Okaaay, so what does that mean?

The "one thing" is the initial motivating factor that makes you want or need to change your life.

For me, the "one thing" happened on a night I remember very well.

It was mid December, I was sitting on the couch, eating of course, and watching the season 10 Biggest Loser finale. My mind started to wander and I began thinking about my future.

There I was 29 years old and weighed 320lbs. Since I just kept eating and gaining, how much would I weigh in a year? or 5 years? or 10? I'd just get fatter and fatter.

Then I thought about the risk of diabetes which runs rampant in my family. How much longer would it be til I had it?

All of these thoughts kept running through my mind. Then I looked up at the TV and they were previewing the season 11 contestants, and there were my pals, Justin and Rulon talking about their weight loss goals, and i knew that if they could do it, I sure can. Plus I didn't want them to come home skinny and still find me fat. haha.

Right then and there, something clicked inside me and I felt more motivated than ever before. I had found my "one thing".

Just like Jack said in that video, it is different for everyone.

I saw my Uncle Reece for the first time in many months on Sunday. He had lost 70lbs.

What was his one thing?? Well the doctor told him that if he didn't lower his blood pressure by losing weight he would have to go on medication, and to top it off, he was denied life insurance because of his weight.

So these motivating forces can come from anywhere.

Once you have that one thing in your mind, then you can begin to build on that with other motivating factors.

In my case, I built on my one thing by making my weight loss a very public matter. I created accountability. Someone to answer to. Someone who is counting on me to succeed.

What could be yours??

After you have built up this motivational brigade, the next step is sticking with it.

It can be hard to do it alone, so get a workout buddy who's not afraid to yell at you and push you. Or join a workout group that has the same goals in mind as you do.

Finally, celebrate in your accomplishments. Don't ever think about how much more you have to lose.. Think about how far you've come, and how the shirt you are wearing used to be so snug and now it drowns you. haha.. Go out and party for each weight loss milestone, anything to keep the spirit up and the "one thing" constantly at the forefront of your mind.

So there ya have it... My secret!

Now that you've read this, go back up and watch that video again. Find your "one thing"