Pam and I have been online running friends for a while now. Her fitness journey has been been one of determination! Her change both inside and out has been pretty awesome to watch! I’m really proud to have her as one of my coaches and on my team as well.
Monthly Archives: July 2013
Opportunities: Do You Procrastinate?
I’m going to get deep for a minute, and I’m not talking about a deep squat or deep swan dive pose. This week, I dove into personal development…reading books and articles, watching videos, following leaders, you name it. Why? Because I desire to learn and grow.
Today as I was reading, I realized I procrastinate on opportunities. Sometimes it’s me being stubborn or prideful, sometimes I think I have to think more about it, and sometimes it’s fear. What I am learning is opportunities come…in our personal lives, in our careers, in our families, and even in our health journeys.
This is the question: Will you grasp your opportunity and move to the gratification of your deepest desires or will you hesitate, falter, and fall behind?
**Words paraphrased from The Richest Man In Babylon, George S. Clason
Success Saturday: Mason B.
- I let myself go after having open heart surgery back in December 2009 to repair a failed aortic valve and a massive aortic aneurysm. I ended up having to get an artificial aortic root and a mechanical valve. Prior to this, I was traveling to several states competing in 100 mile ultra-endurance mountain bike races. When you compete at that level, you are CONSTANTLY training and eating thousands of calories a day. When you get sidelined and can’t exercise as hard, your body still thinks it needs all the calories you used to give it. 3 years and 30+ pounds later, I was sick of the excuses. My oldest son was 4 and my twins were 2 months old when I had my surgery. They are 8 and 3 now. I am 46 and they need me to be around and to be an active part of their lives. So I decided to challenge myself to take my fitness level up a few notches and keep it there. Insanity helped me accomplish that goal and gave me a great platform to continue training for a better life.
- Primarily Insanity. I also did some good mountain bike rides and the occasional run/ walk on the treadmill.
- I followed the Insanity meal plan as close as I could. Eating 5 small, healthier meals a day instead of 3 larger meals. I also cut out all fast-food and only drank water, coffee, no calorie sports drinks, or milk.
- I took a men’s multi-vitamin formulated for heart health, and drank protein powder after my workouts. Unfortunately, I cannot drink certain supplements because of the high level of vitamin K. Vitamin K is what the body uses to aid in clotting blood in case of injury. I am on “blood thinners” to keep me from clotting so the mechanical valve stays smooth and clot free.
- I had plenty of support! My wife was my #1 inspiration, doing the Insanity program with me and helping me eat better. I also had online support from Carin Schaab on Facebook, used MyFitnessPal to keep record of my meals, and lots of self-discipline.
- I feel great about myself again, and am not afraid to take my shirt off at the beach! I know this is exactly what I need to do to be able to be active with my children for as long as I can.
- My next goal is to shed the remaining 8lbs to get to my goal weight of 180lbs. I am incorporating some light weight lifting to get lean definition, and will continue with Insanity and possibly T25.
Success Saturday: Erin B.
Erin is a long time friend of mine, and came to me a few months ago for some help to get healthy for herself, her husband, and her two adorable girls. We worked on her nutrition and she started on an exercise plan that she could also do with her girls at home, while working on her Master Thesis and her doctor approved of her doing. Here is a little bit of her story while she is still working on meeting her goal!
1. Why did you decide to lose weight/change your lifestyle? (Any and all reasons)
After having my second child in Dec 2011, and gaining a bunch of weight in 2012, I decided to make 2013 the year that I got healthy. It wasn’t about a size or a number on a scale, but about feeling better and being a better mom and wife as a result. Of course I want to fit back into those old skinny jeans in the back of the closet, but my focus has been on feeding my body the right fuel.