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"

The Game Plan

I hope you all had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. I know I did. It was nice and relaxing but again it's time to get back to work...

It's hard to believe that June is here. It marks the last month of this little journey.

Will I make it to 100??

Only time and a whole lotta sweating will tell..

For the final month, I am kicking it into high gear, my workouts are gonna become more intense and maybe a 4th visit to the gym everyday is in store. It is gonna be hard but I'm excited.

I want to make sure I reach that goal and maybe even surpass it.

So I am going off grid, as far as pictures and weigh-ins are concerned. I will still be blogging about different types of things. I have a few in mind already.. I had a lot of interesting conversations this weekend that I would like to talk about.

These next 30 days I will be working to make the littlest me possible. Buckle your seat belts, it could be a bumpy ride.

I will be unveiling my new self, in person, at the Vernon 4th of July program. So stay tuned.

10,000 +

Who'da thunk it???

My blog has surpassed 10,000 visits.. That's incredible!

Thank you all for continuing to visit, and for your comments...

Keep it up!

The Finale

I hope you were all able to watch the finale. It was a great end to a great season.

Justin did awesome, he was soooo close to winning the at-home prize. But congrats to Deni on winning. She lives in Centerville, so it was still nice for a Utah person to win.

Justin worked super hard and it paid off, here is his before and after pics


He is planning on putting on about 30lbs of muscle now that the finale is over.

Some of you texted me last night wondering if he was okay.. He is fine.. He gets a little nervous when he is on TV and if you have ever stood and talked to him for a little while, you'd notice that he likes to move around. haha.. So he is all good. No worries. I'm sure he appreciates your concern.

The next big question I was asked was "Where was Rulon?"

Since Rulon walked off the show he wasn't eligible to to attend the finale. But I see him quite often and he is doing great. He is back at his competition weight and is even contemplating another go at the Olympics. Which is awesome.. Check out his before and after shots.


So there ya have it, I hope I have cleared a few things up for you.

It was fun to watch them change all season long.

So here's an update on me...

Still working hard... I was home last weekend to celebrate my Ma's 60th birthday..

We had a great time.

Truth be told i have not hopped on the scale for weeks now. I have been gone every Saturday for awhile now.. But I'm still losing and my clothes are getting bigger.

I now have nothing nice to wear because all my clothes are too big.

It's Always Better in a Group

First off, my apologies for once again slacking on this here blog..

With only a month and half left to go I have been really trying to buckle down and focus on working out and eating right, not blogging. haha

But I digress...

I wanted to talk a little bit about groups. We are social creatures, most everybody likes being with people. But there are some times when I prefer to be alone.

For example, in college I HATED when we had to do a group project. It never worked out well at all. There was always that one person who never pulled his weight and just let everyone else do the work. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when it comes to the hatred of group work.

When I first started working out I liked exercising alone. With the exception of my trainer. I didn't like going to the classes the gym offered because there were a lot of people and that just wasn't for me.

I think I had this paranoia that people were always watching me. haha.. So I steered away from the group workouts.

Well since I have joined forces with Justin and have been kinda forced to go to group workouts, I have grown to love them.

Now I am to the point where I can't workout alone.. It is just boring.

It's great to feed off the energy of Justin and the rest of the class. Plus everyone in there is going toward the same goal which makes judgement disappear and encouragement enhance.

Plus it makes me more accountable. Not only do I have to answer to Justin if I slack off, but also the rest of the group..

So if you're looking for that motivation to get to the gym, join a class or find a group that has an awesome instructor and people who are working towards the same goals as you.

It will make a huge difference.

Welcome to the Thirties

Today is my 30th birthday...

Thank you all for our well wishes.

Here's to 30 more, then 30 more after that.

13 Miles and Two Days Later

Me, Kari, Wendy and Matt at the starting line...


Hips hurt, quads hurt, knees hurt and ankles hurt.

Worth it?? You Betcha!!!

I can honestly say that I would have laughed in your face if you told me a year ago that I would:
1. Want to run in a half marathon and,
2. Actually finish.

But both came to pass last Saturday.

What a day it was, the weather was just ideal and the company was too..

Once again my buddy Matt was right there helping me blast through the chatter for the first 5 miles then he went on ahead.

I ran the first 10 miles which impressed me. I wasn't planning on running straight for 10 miles, but when I tried to walk all the blood that was pumping through my legs made it difficult to walk decent, so it was more comfortable running. Isn't the body great..

The last 3 miles I did intervals, I would run a little while then walk for a bit. By the end my running was the same speed as my walking. haha

The chatter was getting pretty loud by about mile 11 and my body was running out of steam. It's funny, I wasn't out of breath or exhausted but my legs were spent, they felt like tree trunks. But I pressed on.

When I rounded the last turn and saw the finish line in the distance, I knew I was home free.

What a great feeling it was to get close to the finish line and have family and friends and complete strangers there cheering you on and clapping and whistling. I felt like a million bucks.

My official time was 3hrs 8 minutes.

I am very glad I did it.

Next up? Full Marathon??

Well maybe not yet. But I am planning another half marathon for August.

Twas the Night Before Racing

Hey All

This post is gonna be quick, I'm just about to jump in the car and head to Provo..

Tomorrow morning is the big race day.

Half marathon here I come.

I am super excited about it.

If you don't hear from me in a couple days you may want to check the Herald Journal obituaries. haha

Wish me luck!

Greeky

For those of you who once enjoyed eating this:


Then this is the yogurt for you:


If you are looking to lose weight, this greek yogurt is the bomb. It's packed full of protein which helps build muscle and burns fat, plus it's low in calories.

And because it is full of protein you will feel full longer.

There is just one problem, and I eluded to it at the beginning of this post.

THIS STUFF IS THICK...

It really is like eating paste. So if you were one of those kids in elementary who was really into that, then rekindle that old flame.

If you weren't. Well the benefits of eating greek yogurt outweigh the cost of choking it down.

You do get used to it, and it is pretty good.

Week 17 Results

Lately it seems like the weeks just run together, I think this is Week 17.

If it isn't... Who cares.

It's been a great week. Ran my first 5K, got a great time, and I am now beginning to lose weight quickly again after gaining back 7 a couple weeks ago.

I normally post this on Saturday but I didn't have time, so I guess it's better late than never.

Week 15 Weight - - 274lbs
Week 17 Weight - - 269lbs

_______________________________

5 lbs = 51 lbs.

I also haven't given you a measurement lately.

How bout this???

When I started my gut was 56"

Currently it is 46"

10 inches. That's cool.

Here's a couple more pics of Saturday's 5K

5k? Sure no problem!

Today was race day.

I was nervous leading up to it then just excited as it got closer and closer.

I have gone to a lot of these races as the "support crew" but never as a participant. It was a great feeling to walk up to the registration table and pick up my official number.

Once we started I learned very early about the importance of having the right mindset. We picked a pace and we stuck with it.

My buddy Matt came up from Salt Lake to run with me, and I'm sure glad he was there. I know he could've gone a lot faster and been done a lot quicker but he stayed with me and helped me "blast through the chatter."

Blasting through the chatter is what Justin calls the ignoring and overcoming of negative thoughts in your head. Thoughts like, "You can't finish this, it's just too hard."

I had two goals going into this 5k...

1. Run the entire thing.

2. Finish under 40 minutes.

I did both... We kept our pace the whole time, and finished just over 34 minutes.

It was a thrill to pass that finish line and have people cheer for you.. Much better than being on the "support crew."

Here is a pic of us all at the finish line. Justin, me, Matt, and Meg.
Just to clarify, my number was pinned to my hoodie. haha

It was a great day.

On the sleeve of Justin's Call Out shirts it says, "Damn Proud of Who I Am," today I know what it means.

Next weekend: Half Marathon. Bring it!

(P.S. I will be posting weigh-in results tomorrow. Didn't have time to get an accurate weight this morning.)

"I Just Felt Like Running"

The title of this post is something I would never say..

I don't really like running, and even though I am much smaller now than i used to be, I am still not a fan. But I do it anyway..

In my 30 years of existence I have never participated in any form of race or charity run... until now.

I am happy to announce that this weekend I will be taking part in my first ever 5k.. Most of you probably have done dozens of these, but it's a big step for me.

The following weekend will be an even bigger step. I will be running (then walking..then probably crawling..then being hauled away in an ambulance) in a half marathon.

I am terribly excited for both.

It is fun to think that 4 months ago I couldn't walk up the stairs to my apartment without becoming out of breath, and now here I am running in races.

Crazy man, just crazy!

Back from the Mother Land

My apologies for going a week without blogging. I'm sure you were all just starved for inspiration. :)

This past week was eventful. On Tuesday night my parents came to town..

Now I know I had said I wasn't going to see my family until July, but I had given my parents tickets to "Fiddler on the Roof" which was being performed up here on Tuesday and Wednesday.

When I gave them the tickets, this whole "road to 100" thing, wasn't even in my mind.

Anyway we went to the show, which was fantastic, and enjoyed the next day just hanging out.

Since I had already seen them I decided I might as well give the rest of the fam a sneak peak of my almost sexy bod. So I went to Vernon for Easter.

It was great to be home and in the town I love.

Easter was great, Vernon was great, and the fam was great. But now it's time to get back to work. July 4th is coming up fast.

Falling into 30

So my 30th birthday is gonna be here in less than a month.

May 11th to be exact.

Since this has been a year full of change and enlightenment; I really want to do something I have never done before..

I've been thinking about it over and over, and then I saw the Biggest Loser episode when they arrived in Ocklund New Zealand and jumped off of the Sky Tower..

It looked awesome...

I obviously can't just hop on a plane to New Zealand and jump off the Sky Tower, but it got me wondering about what they offer down at the Stratosphere in Vegas...

Lo and behold!

They have the same ride.

Check it out!


So that is what I want to do for my 30th birthday.
The greatest part is, there is a weight limit and I'm below it. haha. That hasn't happened in a long time.

Who wants to go????

Week 15 Results

Well for the past two weeks I have been doing a whole new workout routine. It's involved a lot of spinning, planks, circuit strength training, and my new love...boxing.

These have been awesome workouts, huge calorie burns, and I feel fantastic.

Perhaps I can whip these T-Rex arms into shape after all. haha

Well I didn't weigh in last week and when I jumped on the scale today it was quite a shocker..

Week 13 Weight - - 267lbs.
Week 15 Weight - - 274lbs.
_____________________________

+7 lbs. = Total Weight Loss of 46 lbs.

Now you would think I would be distraught about this. I am a little shocked. But my clothes haven't got any tighter, I don't look fatter, and I've never felt better in my life.

These past two weeks I have been working out harder than I ever had. So it's no surprise I have been building muscle, which in turn will burn calories quicker.

So I am excited to see where this week will lead, I am learning that weight loss isn't all just about a number on a scale.

The Sweet Smell of Victory

Today while I was on the elliptical I kept getting little whiffs of a pleasant scent.

I couldn't recognize it but it smelled like cologne, and I thought.. "Who wears cologne to the gym?"

So I turned to see who was working out around me... Nobody!

"Well that is weird, I guess it was just somebody walking by," I said to myself.

Then a little bit later I could smell it again..

I finally realized it was me...

And I smiled.

If anybody is looking for an awesome deodorant, that makes you smell like a million bucks, while sweating it out in the gym.

Here ya go..


And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear deodorant to the gym. Meg and I had the most unfortunate experience of working out next to a teenage boy whose mother obviously did not stress the importance of wearing it.. Whew!

This morning was almost a puke workout, but not because of the work out.

Smell fresh my friends.