Friday, July 19, 2013

Motivation

Motivation is so tough to keep going. I touched on what motivated me in my first post to start my change and now I want to give my tips on continuing - maybe you will come up with some ideas from mine. I do not have all the answers, maybe we can share.

For the first change, you have to set an obtainable goal: I use 25lbs at a time. Now I have a lot of weight to lose, more than most people, so you can start with 5 and make a realistic time frame that fits you.

Second, you need to have a support team - I can help you! Email me at Djuell30@gmail.com or leave a post. I have my family and friends that hold me accountable and encourage me along the way. They call me out when I fall off the wagon, which this time I haven't because of the support I get from all of you.  When I tried other programs, I did fall off the wagon and eventually, I lost track of the program too.

You have to eat better and motivate yourself. You have to know why you are doing it.  Inform yourself, search the internet, use commonsense. Start with these videos (can be viewed at Youtube, Netflix, or Hulu):
These videos lead to other related video recommendations. Also, I love Dr. Josh Axe. He has good books, cookbooks and also a free podcast - listen at work to learn some basics on healthy eating. Once you educate yourself, you won't want to put that stuff in your body and it will keep motivating you to eat better.

Next, when I need a lift to work out, my most recommended video on YouTube is  Crossfit - Killing the Fat Man: Episode #1. In this video, Gary Roberts is showing that anyone can do it, whether you sign up for Crossfit or something else, watch it! In Crossfit - Killing the Fat Man: Episode #8, Gary gets his father who just recently had a triple bypass surgery to do it. If his dad can do it after that, you can too - and get your parents or grandparents to join you!! It's real - I am living proof! I was scared the first time I went to Minnesota Top Team (MTT). I have a friend Ben H. who is a member there and I have worked at a "gym" before, but this was different. I watched their videos and looked at other places online. It was totally different then I expected. Jennie C., one of the owners, greeted me when I came in the door, gave me a tour and got me signed up for Crossfit fundamental classes. (I am not a paid spokesperson for MTT - I wish I was) The fundamental classes were intense; I felt muscles I did not know I had (and I'm a former athlete). The trainers truly focus on scaling it to your abilities. It's not like they're a bunch of meat heads that run around telling you to "do the workout or get out!" Sometimes it looks intimidating, but it's not! All you have to do is walk through the door and they take care of the rest. I've come to know them as my second family. The trainers and the rest of the group help motivate each other to get through the 'workout of the day' (WOD). This is my motivational place; it could be yours too! Or find some other place that works for you!

Sunday, July 14, is now important to my motivation for two reasons:
  1. I ran my first 5k run! It was the Color Run at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It was great and on very short notice I was able to fill in for someone that could not make it. I ran with a group of friends from Wisconsin. I'll admit I was pretty nervous, but I think I did a great job for my first one. I did not finish last, so that was a good thing.

BEFORE
AFTER

THE LADIES AND ME
It was a great success and did not cause too much pain afterwards :)


2. It was also a bittersweet day because it was the anniversary of my mom's passing eight years ago. The reason it was bittersweet is because she and my father are the reason I am on this journey and I am finally doing it.
My journey is going great so far and I know they would be happy for what I am doing.

Ok - next time I promise will not post any sad news.
Thanks again for reading, and all your support!


  

Saturday, July 6, 2013

First post ever.

Hello,

I am a big guy - for now. I was encouraged by friends to start a blog telling my story, maybe it could motivate other people to lose weight or make another change they've been putting off. I am not a confident person, but four months ago I changed my life and I want to share that journey here. It started officially on April 8th, 2013. Essentially, I am in an ongoing battle to lose weight, which I have been in most of my life. I was always a big kid growing up. I would lose weight wrestling and playing sports in high school, which did not help my mental state any. After high school, my weight took off out of control when the activities stopped, and I ended up around 4 bills. I do not want to say the number because is is just disturbing to me to think that I actually made it to that number.

My wife and I would go to bed every Sunday night complaining about our mutual weight issues and how much we wanted to change our habits, but never did. So what made me all of a sudden change? In March 2013, my father died in a car accident. He drove off the road (reasons still unknown), and the coroner's report indicated he had a 90% blockage in 2 arteries, fluid in his lungs and just overall poor health.  These things could have contributed to his crash, but we will never know for sure. I also lost my mother in 2005 due to complications of an infection that could have been worsened by her poor health and obesity. My mother's death caused me to eat more, but my father dying in March pushed my wife and I over the edge and we decided to finally do something about our own health. I know everyone has their story and their tragedies, and mine may not be as bad as yours, but I am just a normal FAT man trying to get his weight and life under control.

I saw my friend on Facebook doing a 10-day cleanse and I was thinking to myself that I needed something like that to get me started. I asked him questions and learned that the cleanse was just a part of a total 24-day challenge through AdvoCare. It peeked my interest, so I did more research about it. I have done other diets or 'lifestyle changes' in the past, like all of us have that wanted to lose weight quickly. I also found out that he was going to a gym in Eagan, MN called Minnesota Top Team. Years ago, I even worked at a fitness club, trying to get myself motivated to lose weight and that OBVIOUSLY did not work. I have joined other clubs and that would help for a little while. I would start to get in better (so-called) shape - not really, I just could do the stairs better than before. I would always quit after awhile, when I got bored or lost motivation, but seeing my friend's results inspired me. What's different this time, someone reading this may wonder (if anyone beside my wife ever reads this), is that I know I have too much to lose and do not want my kids to have to lose a father or mother at a young age, like I have lost both. I am going to do everything in my power not to die young of natural causes. I started the AdvoCare 24-day challenge and my membership with Minnesota Top Team on April 8th, 2013 and lost 30 lbs. and 11.5 inches. Three months later, I am now down 58 lbs., and my journey is just beginning.

I eat better now and I am realistic. I have to be that way - I am afraid of failure. I am motivated by the people I know that are just waiting for me to fail and put the weight back on. I am also motivated by the information I learn everyday on how some foods are so bad for you, those that marketers are trying to get you hooked on, whatever it takes - like cigarettes, but worse. (More on this in a future post) I eat "clean" - no pork and no dairy (except in raw forms). I limit beef to mostly grass-fed when I can and I try to eat more chicken, turkey and fish. I eat no fried food and limit fast food restaurants; I still go out to eat, don't get me wrong, I just make a lot better decisions. For example, when I go to Culver's, I order a salad called "Avocado Pecan Bleu" (not available in all markets) with grilled chicken, no cheese and usually no dressing. At Chipotle, I order a chicken salad with no cheese or sour cream. I skip the beans and rice, and top my salad with onions, peppers, mild and medium salsa, corn and guacamole. Sometimes I feel like I am pretending to be lactose intolerant. When you go out, you have to be smart and most places are really understanding now because there are so many food allergies. They want people to keep coming back, so they accommodate. Sometimes I joke with the staff about being difficult and they are very nice about it.

I have tried a lot of nutritional products (multi-vitamins, shakes and supplements) and done a lot of research online and in stores about health food and vitamins. I am not a professional or a doctor, just trying to be an informed consumer and share my story. I started using the AdvoCare products when I started with the 24-day challenge and I continue to use them. (I'll explain more about the benefits of these in a future post.) I started with the Spark energy/focus drink, a great tasting powder you mix with water. Spark has three- to four-times the vitamin amounts compared to anything else that I have seen at Target or Whole Foods. The AdvoCare Spark and shakes taste better than the other ones I have tasted. Some competing products even scare me after reading reviews. I trust AdvoCare as an organization and believe in their products, so much so that I am now a Distributor. I am not a salesperson, I do not push anything on anybody, I just want to help people like I was helped and honestly, I wanted a discount on my own products. That is what most people do it for and whatever else you do with it is up to you.

I think I have rambled on enough for my first post. My new motto: DO FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT.  Thanks for reading my blog, Losing the Fat Man, and if you like it, come back to follow my journey, win or lose. Let me know if you have any questions!!!