For some, the journey starts out of necessity. Others may start their journey out of want. And some even happen to stumble upon it. There is no right or wrong way to start your journey ... the hardest part is finding the right path to travel down. I don't think I've ever told my story. It's not one of great peril, disastrous circumstances or unimaginable miracles. I would say my story is a modest one with moments of self realization, dogged stubbornness and an ending that hasn't been put to paper as of yet.
"Life's not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself." - Ben Feliciano
I've never been overweight, bulky or obese. But I've also never been muscular, toned or defined. I was your 100lbs dripping wet type kid most of my life. Even in my twenties i could easily hide behind a pole. I wasn't the fastest kid in town either. Even though I played soccer at various levels during my youth, I was still the short scrawny kid who got picked last for every team at recess. It really never bothered me that much. Really what was I going to do, will myself to grow and bulk up? Trust me, I tried and it didn't work. I just sort of accepted it and moved on.
I played soccer for many years (school and community leagues), but wasn't really that good. I loved to play, but honestly the team was better off with me on the bench. All that running, an unending reserve of energy and a fast metabolism kept the fat off me but I was never successful at adding any type of weight. Probably didn't help that I never picked up weight training either.
In my twenties, I didn't really exercise all that much. In fact I probably went the other way entirely. While attending Moorhead State University, I started something that would plague me for a very long time, smoking. Yes, I am a former cigarette smoker. At one point I was up to nearly two packs a day. I thought it was cool, liked the flavor and it was a social thing that led to meeting new people. Even after leaving Moorhead, I continued to smoke, sometimes very heavily, especially while out at the bars. Drinking and smoking while throwing darts became second nature. This was during a time when you could smoke inside and enjoy a Blue Moon. It was also during this time that I was drinking heavily every weekend (sometimes weekend binges spilled into the weekdays) with buddies and having a blast doing it.
As time slipped away, I wandered from job to job, industry to industry not knowing what the hell to do with life. After what seemed like forever, I settled in with the service industry. I loved it. The energy, social interaction, being on the "go" all the time, and most importantly, the drinking after work with your co-workers. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I enrolled at The Art Institutes International Minnesota for the Culinary Arts program. I guess I figured that I could make it in an industry that embraced all of society's rejects who couldn't hack a "real" job. Besides, all the skulduggery and shenanigans that Anthony Bourdain wrote about sounded fun. And it was a ton of fun. I got to cook, grill, fry and eat my way through school. At the end, I was a well fed culinary graduate who had dreams of being a chef. After being in "The Industry" for a couple of years, I was up to nearly two packs of cigarettes a day, working 70 hour work weeks on a regular basis, not sleeping much, and drinking way too much. It was a path that didn't require much thought or care. Looking back now, it was a destructive and selfish path that I knowingly chose.
The Change
It all changed pretty quickly for me. After meeting my wife Catherine in late 2007, we started dating seriously in a short time. Both family and friends took to her right away. Catherine's friendly personality won over my family and friends easily. I was told (by more than a few people) that she "was a keeper" and I better not let her get away. I took that advice and married her in 2010. As many of you know (and if you don't know ... surprise!) I walked right into the starting role of being a stepfather as well as a husband.
So within time, I quite smoking for my own health but also because of Catherine's two wonderful children, Adam and Megan. Even when I did smoke, I had a disdain for smoking around children. In my world, smoking in front of a child is something I wasn't willing to do. So, I quit. And to this day, it's still one of the hardest things I've ever done. Hard but rewarding. I still have cravings today but that what gum and willpower are for ... Just say no!
After leaving the service industry for good in late 2010, I knew that changes were going to be needed. Those changes would come in time, nothing swift or quick but gradual and consistent.
"I presently struggle with ..." - Tony Horton
It all started with a chance. And I really had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that a buddy of mine wanted me to give something called P90X a try. I had no idea what I was getting myself into or what type of challenge I was about to take on.
I don't remember the first workout, but I can guarantee it wasn't easy. What I do remember was seeing Tony Horton, Daniel Haas and Dreya Weber and who ripped they looked. The crazy thing about it was that I jumped right in without knowing much about P90X, Tony Horton or even about weight lifting. I was never one of those weight room freaks or a gym rat. I actually was very afraid to go to a fitness club, I was extremely intimidated by them. Self conscious, very much so. But I knew a change was needed and after a few workouts I was hooked. There was something I connected with in that program, something I completely gravitated towards.
In time I become completely, hopelessly and utterly addicted to P90X. I bought fully into what the program was about. As I continued through the P90X schedule, I began to see the results. Within a short period of time, I realized how out of shape I actually was. Everything from strength, agility, balance to posture and speed were not good. All those Sundays spent eating bags of chips watching football, all the deep fried foods and sugar loaded soft drinks had caught up with me. Just cause I was "thin" looking didn't mean I was healthy.
And P90X reinforced that simple notion. I had a difficult time traversing through the workouts to the point where I nearly gave up. But I didn't give up. I kept trying and pushing for ... well, honestly for some kind of self vindication that I wasn't going to be beat by a DVD. I wanted to know that I could finish what I started and that I could do it with a measure of grace (except for Yoga X, which I was truly ungraceful at). Being blindly stubborn does have its advantages sometimes. And during my first P90X run that dogged stubbornness helped me push through pain, failure and disappointment. I kept going and pushing because I wanted a better tomorrow, a healthier day to give myself as a reward for working my ass off.
I wanted to lose the gut and gain a small measure of what Horton had. So I began to change my ways .... slowly. I started to replace bags of chips with healthier choices, added more vegetables and fruits to my diet, stopped drinking soda/energy drinks, and cut back on the deep fried foods I loved. I become more aware of what I was eating and started to eat smaller portions. Multivitamins, protein powders, and all sorts of supplements became routine for me. To this day I take GNC multivitamins twice daily, use some type of whey protein powder (currently using Hydro Whey) and creatine. I've also added in CLA (helps promote a healthy weight distribution and improved metabolic rate), thermogenic supplements, and pre-workout mixes.
After a shoulder injury, back spasms, and many sore joints later I finally was a "graduate" of P90X. And I could see muscles! I wasn't ripped like Horton, but I was happy with the foundation that I started to build. After graduating, I kept pushing play every day and worked to improve my body further. P90X also helped the mental side as well. If you listen between the lines that Horton says, all the funny bullshit, the nonsense, he has a very crystal clear message that most of us P90X'ers get. It's not about all those pull ups you can't do or the Rockstar Hops in Plyometrics that you can't do, it's not even about the Fly Row Press that you can't do. What he's trying to get at is simple ... struggle with, not can't do. Change your thinking to "presently struggle with" and begin your journey. It's about perspective and how you approach your workouts. If you say that you can't then more than likely it won't happen. If you approach a workout or routine with "I presently struggle with", you have a better chance of success.
Kia Kaha
The next big adventure involved is still a work in progress. Its one chapter in my journey that has not been completed yet. I can't tell you how it'll end, but I can tell you that I'm thoroughly enjoying this chapter very much.
Since purchasing Les Mills Pump, I've fully bought into the Les Mills philosophy of "for a fitter planet". Beachbody teamed up with the right people and put out a DVD at home program that has caught on like a wildfire. Les Mills Pump is based off the very popular Les Mills BodyPump program. Tapping into the Les Mills worldwide fan base (Les Mills is based in New Zealand), Pump has become exceptionally popular in the United States. And having a team of international trainers just shows you how serious this company is about "ending the trend" of globesity. Together Beachbody and Les Mills have a common enemy and a singular focus that has become a deadly weapon against obesity (read my "A UNIFIED BATTLECRY" blog for more). And it's that focus, energy and determination that I fully believe in. This isn't a fad, phase or just something I'm going through. This is it ladies and gentlemen, this is what I believe in. I fully believe I can change my stars, that I can have a better tomorrow. And it all starts today. Each and everyday starts with that mentality. Build my better tomorrow by starting today ..... each day is today, it's that day where you start to push harder, longer and faster for more results. You stay hungry for more and when you get to your "more", then you reach higher the next go around. We all have it in us, we just might need someone to remind us about that hunger, about that tenacity in us.
Julie Willson found it with Power90 and then reinforced that hunger for more with Les Mills Pump. Wayne Bruns has done it. He's taken that hard first step and started Les Mills Pump not long ago. And guess what? Wayne is hooked, he's already bought more weights for his bar! Addicted? If not, Wayne is surely on his way. And you know who is addicted? My wife, and former couch potato, Catherine Heerwald. She loves picking up that bar and giving it 110% each workout and seeing the pounds sweet off with each rep. What pushes me? Personally, my determination comes from an assortment of sources. Many are the LMP trainers (Asa Eriksson, Ben Feliciano, Sheldon McBee, Petter Ehrnvall, Joel Freeman, Les Mills Jr, Jericho McDuffie and Dan Cohen all are HUGE motivators for both Catherine and I) while other sources are quotes, friends (Julie and Wayne) also help me push hard and the biggest motivator is seeing my wife completely change her life. That has to be the most gratifying and motivational factor for me. Knowing I had a small part in helping transform her future is something I keep with quiet pride within myself, but proud nonetheless. And it's probably the single biggest reason why push (sometimes too hard) myself to the brink. I love my wife so much and it's joy to see her smile because her clothes don't fit! Im so happy for her happiness and all that she has gained back in life. It's all thanks to Les Mills Pump .... It's all because of determination, drive and the tenacity to push beyond the pain for a better tomorrow.
"We do today what they won't so tomorrow we can accomplish what they can't." - Dwayne Johnson
Do what does tomorrow hold for me? What is that better tomorrow I'm always talking about? And when will I get there? Honestly ... ... I can't answer those questions yet. I have not found my better tomorrow yet. But I do know that I'm finally traveling down the right path. And I'm doing it with someone I absolutely completely love and cherish. I don't have to search for my better tomorrow alone anymore. I don't have to put the world on my shoulders and expect to win everyday. Now WE ARE working towards OUR better tomorrow.
I'll let you know when we get there .... But until then, I'll keep picking up that barbell and fight on the front lines for our tomorrow.
NOT THE END .....
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