Adapting to change can be a faithful resonse.

Jesus said, "Abide in me and I abide in you." John 15:4

I have recognized that I have been blessed in more ways than one. My wife, my beautiful children and friends and family that sound me. But I have to admit that since the end of May, I can honestly say I have struggled with doing what I can to stay active and at times forgot about those blessings. At the end of May I was in a car accident in which another car ran a red light and slammed into the back driver side door of my car. 

 

It was a habit changing event. I went from running when I wanted for however long I wanted and from working out in my basement to INSANITY or P90X to not being able to do much after that. After developing a routine for 2 years and then having the routine changed dramatically it was extremely frustrating. I was down on myself, I was frustrated with the situation and didn’t know what I could or wanted to do. One thing I did know is that I didn’t want to go back to being that guy that was ‘comfortable’ at 217 pounds. I have continued with the Physical Therapy and continue to do what my body allows.

Unfortunately, I’m not absent pain. However, I am determined to continue to do something. I have gone back to what helped me through difficult times in my life. I turned to Jesus to help me deal with my anxiety, worries and frustrations because I felt like I was moving away from him. I didn’t lose the weight alone before and I knew that the pain and other external variables wouldn’t go away without him either. So I prayed and put my faith back in his hands. The pain is still there, but by the grace of God, good doctors and therapist and patience I pray that it subsides and eventually goes away.

It has slowly gotten better allowing me to move more. I’m able to do shorter runs, 3 to 6 miles with minimal pain. I’m a huge fan of Shaun T’s INSANITY program and knew I couldn’t go all out and not be uncomfortable in the process. When he developed a program called Focus T25 I knew that it would make a difference in people’s lives, so I bought it. 

 

 

I can honestly say I was a tad nervous. Lower impact, a visible modifier and only 25 minutes a day! I know, I sound like a commercial here but I was able to keep up doing what my body let me do. I want to heal and I want other people to heal. I want to feel better and I want other people to feel better. It can be done, and we can do it. You can do it alone…but it is so much more fun when it’s done with somebody else and when it is done for the right reasons.

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.

Mark 4:31

People will come and people will go in your life.  It’s the ones that come back that you know are truly your friends.  Or it’s the ones in your life that you can tell the same stories over and over and still laugh as hard as you did the first time you told it.  You know these types of people.  Either way they encourage you and support you and are always there for you to lend an ear and bounce an idea or two off of them.  I have been blessed to have both types of friends in my life. 

I have a friend that I’ve known since 8^th grade and we’ve been close ever since.  He married a wonderful woman and they have 2 beautiful little girls.  They’re family to me.  When I started this journey a couple years ago they were a part of it.  We had the chance to vacation together up in Michigan and I was training for my first ever half marathon.  They were accommodating with some of the foods I ate and didn’t eat (smores for breakfast), they put up with the running I ‘attempted’ to do most mornings.  A year later I was down another 15 pounds when we saw them again.  My life changed.  My life style changed.  My mind set had changed.  My physical appearance changed as well.    

They decided to join me in this experience and make some of their own changes.  Of course I was not aware of this initially.  Nearly 3 months ago they both, as a partnership and with the intent to hold each other accountable, purchased a home work out program.  INSANITY, by Shaun T.  I did this program from January through the middle of March of this year and fell in love with it myself.  They both finished at the end of September.  During this 60 days experience I warned them that it is hard but it will get addictive, especially when you start feeling and seeing results.  Well, needless to say, they are hooked!  Now they doing “HIP HOP ABS” and “FOCUS T25”.  I’m thrilled for them.  This is from a year and a half ago.  All of us have transformed, but our friendship hasn't.

 

 

I have asked them to share some of their stories, successes and struggles.  This is my blog, but as I’ve said before, you are never alone.  These two people, along with wife and another friend I’ll introduce later, are holding me accountable and I am holding them accountable.  They are transforming their lives and are examples to their children and friends on working hard and getting results.  My journey will continue, just like the mustard seed we start small.  I’ve just add a couple more people to go with me.  I will add more.  And by the grace of God we will continue to change lives.

I'm just getting started.

Yes I am.  I'm just getting started with putting up this blog to talk about my adventure in weight loss, getting fit and staying fit.  Well, this is why:

 

And, this is why:

 

     More than two years ago now I was comfortable with my self, content with how I felt, how I looked and where I was physically, mentally & spiritually.  My wife encouraged me to do something that I talked about doing several times, but never did anything about it.  She encouraged me to sign up for a weight loss challenge.  At the time I was around 217 pounds, and really didn't think to much about it.  Nearly 9 weeks after dedicating myself to the challenge, I lost 19 pounds, 4 inches and 4% body fat in 9 weeks.

     One thing that it showed me is that there is always room for improvement.  But, not just physically.  I noticed that my two kids were watching and paying attention.  That's when my heart changed from doing this for me to doing this for them.  I knew I wasn't alone either.  Beside my wife standing by my side during this transformation and felt a stronger presence.  My spiritual strength had exploded in my heart.  After 2 years, I am now down to 175 pounds, doing things I never would have thought about doing, like running in Half Marathons, etc. Now, I feel like I'm being asked to do the same thing my wife did for me, I'm being directed to do this for others. 

     A month ago, by the grace of God, doors opened and I approached my church about starting a small men's Fit and Faith group.  On October 8th it happened.  We meet once a week, share our stories, have a short prayer session and then put in an intense 25 minute work out.  We are a small group, but we will get bigger.  More doors will open.  More opportunities will present themselves.  And more importantly more men & women will come to the Lord through staying fit. 

     Please continue to follow me, my family and our group as we pave the way to the Lord through staying fit, keeping active and eating right.