To start I'd like to tell you that my weight has been a struggle most of my life. When I was a young kid I was typical weight and size, that is until I was about 10 years old. Even though I was going through puburoty (before all the other boys) I also grew side ways. I became the "fat" kid in school. Not the biggest but in the Top 3.
Ever been there? All the names called, bullying, pushing around and feeling like a freak? It was horrible! And it was even worst with the girls! Having boys making fun of you is one thing but girls!!! OMG! I thought for many years later that no girl would ever like me or go on a date with me.
My teenage years where a yo-yo contest with my weight. Worrying about my weight affected how I acted with people. Instead of the happy, outgoing and fun personality I was inside I retreated from almost everything in my life. Hurting my confidence to the point where I seemed shy and quite on the outside but I was only afraid of beening rejected and called names.
Until I was in college. I said to myself, "Screw this! This is not me!" I started to fight against my mind that keep me where I was. By focusing on improving myself through execerising and becoming more active with my friends I eventually became thin! All this a few months before my 19th birthday. Shortly thereafter Frank the Tank was born! No longer will I listen to all those assholes and idoits! No more pretending I'm some shy and quite guy! Life is too short being something you're not!
The years following college the old yo-yo game back with vengence. Up to a point where I totally was going to give in to it.
Decemeber 28th 2006: The Turning Point
I went to my first chrioprator visit and there they did all my body bio-meterics. I knew I had gained more weight over the last year or so but I didn't want to know what my weight was. I told myself, "Well I maybe 230ish." LOL well sadly enough that wasn't the case. The result...243 lbs! OMFG! If it wheren't for the fact a few days ago I commited myself on improving myself and my weight I would've died on the spot. It was hard news to swallow. That realization confirmed that I needed to break the excuses cycle and get to work. Boy long way from the 21 year old, 6 ft 1 in, 180 lbs guy that sign up for the Army Reserves! Here I was 33 years old and in 12 years I had gained 63 lbs or about 33% of my total weight!
This is where my story or as I call it my journey starts. Even though my story here has an end the journey never does. We continue down lifes travels.
There I was staring at the goal and destination I had made. 200 lbs in 6 months! That would mean if all went well by July 1st, 2007 I'd be 200lbs. Thinking more about my life and my weight I told myself I was content where I was. But on the inside I wasn't truely happy where I was. Not with myself. I knew deep down I wanted to be what my mind had in stored for my life. I looked at the mirror and took the longest look at myself and yelled, "NO MORE EXCUSES! NO MATTER THE COSTS. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES! I WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED EVEN IF IT'S HARDER THAN THE LAST TIME!"
So the commitment had been made!
While planning for my goal I knew I hadn't worked out in a few months. And it wasn't too much. I also knew I was telling my mind a bunch of excuses like...(maybe you've heard these before)
"I don't have anytime to workout!"
"I'll start to workout next week or next month or next year!"
"I don't FEEL like working out!"
So I had two main enemies from the start. I would have to start off slow to get in shape to be able to get in shape and I had to find ways to find time or make time for it.
Just then I heard, in my mind, a commanding voice say, "Private! You are mine! You will do EXACTLY what I say or else! You got that Private Numbnuts!"
WTF? "Er..yeah I heard..." I started to reply.
"Dammit Private Numbnuts! Don't you have any balls at all! Or you going to go home crying to momma!" barked the drill instructor.
"NO SIR! NO WAY SIR!" I said as I increased the volumne of my voice.
Looking sterner than ever the sergant screamed, "Bullshit I can't hear you!"
"NO SIR! NO FUCKING WAY!" I screamed back.
"Good that's more like it Private Numbnuts!" the drill instructor snapped back.
In order to get to my goal I knew I would need to break it down and create mini goals. Forming new habits is always hard for me. The good news is once they stuck they would stick forever.
My goal for the first week was get on the ellipitcal for 5 mintues twice. Hell I could do that right? I mean I could just go to bed 5 mintues late or skip out on watching some TV! Have you heard the saying, "The first step is the hardest...just getting started"? That was me and it was so true. I got on the ellipitcal and only in it for about 2 mintues I'm already feel like I'm dying!
"Keep going Private Numbnuts!" the segerant barked out.
It took all my willpower and energy to make it through the 5 mintues. At the end I could barely breath but hadn't work much of a sweat. Damn this is going to be REALLY hard and it's going to take me forever! This damn freight train of a body of mine is going to take a while to start losing weight.
I told myself, "Hey stop that! No more negative thinking!" I had just finished and I got on the damn ellipictal and made it through the 5 mintues.
The serg was back, "Dance bitch!" So I celebrated my success for the day. Only had to do it one more time this week and my first goal would be accomplished.
Let me tell you that second time...OMG it was worst than the first time! The drill instructor keep yelling and screaming the whole time. I keep gasping for air but told myself keep doing. You can make it. You have to make it! After that second time and I had caught my breath I jumped up and down singing "I made it! I made it!" Mission accomplished. Goal #1 done.
I sat down to come up with week 2 goal and made it the same. I need to get my body use to workouting out and another week like this one will help that. And hopefully I won't be dying as much LOL!
Week 2. Well that third time was just slightly easier than the second time but still harder than the first time. After the end of the second week it had felt like getting off that first time. Great, getting there! I made my week 3 goal the same and also reduced my food intake. (Hindsight: I would've not done that if I knew what I know now. It may explain my results on week 8.)
Week 3 goal accomplished. The following weeks the drill instructor of my mind tells me to keep it up. Go faster. Go longer. Push more. I went to 7 mintues, then 10 mintues, then to three times a week, then to 12 mintues and finally 15 mintues by the time of my week 8 results. I was due for a check up on my bio-meterics at my chrioprator and I was wondering how I was doing thus far.
Feburay 27, 2007: Results of my eight weeks!
Ok time for weigh in. Result: 234 lbs. WTF! only 9 lbs in 8 weeks! I better update my goal and add in more time to meet 200 lbs!
He was back! "What! Stop thinking like that Private Numbnuts! NO MORE NEGATIVE THINKING!" the serg screamed at me. "It's just a set back. Get over it!" he continued. I told myself, "He's right! I should celebrate in my success so far! I moving toward my goal and I haven't slacked off one bit! I watch what I eat and get on my ellipicatial on workout days!" I had finally made working out a habit in my life. And as I said earlier making habits for me is a killer. I had to stay focused on the positive and expand upon it. With that I pushed myself to keep going. In the weeks ahead I slowly added more time and went to four times a week. I had finally gotten the freight train body of mind moving. And I wasn't about to stop it now! In fact I keep shoving coal faster into the fire! Until.........
March 13, 2007: The Big D!
After years of putting up with shit I had finally had it. Congress swiflty granted full authorization of the call to war to the utmost. Def Con 1 declared! Within mintues the full nuclear ICBM arsenal had been launched and was headed to it's target...divorce. The newly minted SDI (Star Wars System) would be fully put to the test. If it failed to divert the relialorty strike nuclear winter would come early this year.
So great! Go from an already stressful situation where I was working on losing weight and add 10 gallons of gasoline to the stress fire! Opha!
"FUCK IT!" I screamed and nothing and no one is going to get in the way of my success! It really wasn't World War III but at times it did feel like it. By focusing all my attention to my well being and improving myself I stayed on track and stayed the course. For the first time in my life I was asking myself what I wanted in my life and what I wanted it to be.
In early April I noticed my one pair of blue jeans seemed looser. Cool! I hadn't weighed in since the Feburary week 8 results but maybe I had lost some more weight. Boy was I in store for an eye opener in the days and weeks ahead! I went over to my mom's place the second week in April and the first thing my mom says and notices, "Hey kid did you lose some weight?" I said yes and I had to pull my jeans up all day there. Damn maybe I had lost quite a bit! I told her about the Feburary weigh in but wasn't sure how much I had lost since then. After that day I decided to weigh myself the next time I was at the chriopartor, which was only in two days. That day I noticed a pair of my boxers where very loose. Hmm yeah I know now I lost some more weight. So I go and weigh myself in and it's at 226 lbs. Nice 8 lbs in 6 weeks! Better than before! Just about every day the next week more clothes where starting to get looser and looser. More maybe? Next week weigh in and it's 222 lbs. 4 lbs in one week!!
"Out-fucking-standing Private Numbnuts!" prasied the drill instructor mind.
The follow few weeks came in at lost weight of 3, then 4 and then 2! WHOA the freight train was now zooming past the landscape at neck breaking speed. One day I got up and was putting on a pair of boxers and they went straight to the floor! Damn it I must haven't put them on right...I hate mornings! I grab them back up but they immedidately fall to the floor again! I had to go through two more boxers in my chest to find a pair that would at least some what stay on my hips. Then came the blue jeans! They too fell to the floor! OMG! I went to Julie's house (my girl friend at the time) and she laughed and said, "Yes you have been losing a lot of weight recently! You need some jeans that fit you better." So seeing as I may lose more we went over to the Salvation Army and found two pair that where almost new! Not bad for $14!
A few weeks after that and I had the same problem with those two new ones! Again back to the Salvation Army for two more snugger jeans. By this time none of my boxers would even stay on my hips. "Fuck it! I don't need them!" I said as I just put on my blue jeans and went out the door in commando style. And that's what I did all summer. It was already warming up so it was all good. Oh and it felt great! I thought it would be weird but found out otherwise. (I'm a big commando freak now! Shhh don't tell ANYONE!) Soon I started to add abs workouts and light weights to the mix. I was senseing I could maybe reach my goal of 200 lbs by July 1st. I wanted to reach it so BAD. More focus and not letting go I pushed fowarded. Nothing was going to get in my way!
June 18, 2007: The Big D is Final!
Yeah the war is over! And I was closing in on my goal. I had almost two weeks to go and was at 204 lbs! The next week came in at 202 lbs. One more week! Then finally my next appointment....
July 3, 2007: Victory!
I weigh in at 199 lbs!!! OMFG! I made it! I actually made it! It took a few people in the office to restrain me I was that exicited! I looked back at where I was and all the things that I did and accomplised. Boy I had come a long way! Changed forever! And to think when I first started that first week that I may not make the goal and then after week 8 weigh in and had only lost 9 lbs. Even the drill instructor mind of mine was impressed and with praised said, "Well done solider! I'll even let you join in the Infantry of my beloved Corp!"
After boozing it up on the 4th weekend and letting the fireworks celebrate my victory I started thinking...Why stop? How far can I take this? What other things in my life can I apply myself like I just did? I felt as if I could move mountains and nothing could stand in my path of my own success. And that's when I heard the segarant again.
"Private Anderson! When you are done partying up I have a mission for you!"
WTF?
"What you thought it was over! HAHAHA! I've just started with you solider!" the serg laughed. "I've heard we have a man down behind enemy lines."
"Really?" I replied.
"Yeah it's Frank the Tank and he's stuck in you and we are going to get his ass out of there! You hear me solider?" the segarant asked.
"SIR YES SIR!" I shouted back.
Without give away more details here is a summary of the events of my journey after that momentize goal.
- Added more weight training to the mix: 4 times a week
- Cardio went to a rate of 160 bpm for 45 mintues: 4 times a week
- August 30 - September 6: Buy entire new worerobe. Everything I own doesn't fit! EVERYTHING is too big. After new clothes people at work are like...WTF Frank! Did you lose more weight?
- October 30, 2007: 183 lbs, 60 lbs total weight lost. Frank the Tank is no longer POW/MIA.
- Starting gaining some weight both fat and muscle.
- January 15, 2008: 198 lbs WTF? Stronger now however. I add pushups now. Real ones! Wow I never could do those before!
- Set back! Major flu in Feburary 2008. Bed ridden for days. 198 lbs
- Work hard and change routine for summer. My mondays I join my chiropartor in a running session. Start out 196 lbs.
- June 24, 2008: 191 lbs. Lost 5 lbs of fat. No muscle lost!
- July 1, 2008: 2008 Harley Fat Bob. Boy I look hot on it! One year and have been under 200 lbs the whole time!
- October 6, 2008: Pick up material on fat lost.
- October 20, 2008: Start changing my diet from the ground up! Increase number of meals, less calories at night, more protein, less carbs and better quality of food. Start tracking weight and % body fat weekly. 189 lbs. Started thinking about becoming a Personal Trainer.
- December 9, 2008: 179 lbs. Lost 13 lbs of fat, gained 3 lbs of muscle for 10 lbs total lost.
- December 12, 2008: Last day of work for the year until January 5th! I hope I don't gain too much fat.
- December 12 - January 4, 2009: Crazy times! Didn't work out as much and a little worst on my diet (but no major no-no's like most people during X-mas!)
- January 5, 2009: Back to work! WTF! Three weeks over in a few days!
- January 6, 2009: Weigh in after three week vacation. I don't want to go on that scale! OMG it's 178 lbs! LMAO I actually lost a pound of fat and no muscle lost. Guess my body needed the rest! During this week I put a lot more thought into becoming a Personal Trainer.
- January 17, 2009: I meet Seema for the first time at Starbucks.
- Febuary 4, 2009: I'm let go at work. In the my entire history of my work career I have never been fired or let go. No warning they give me two weeks pay and say, "Get the fuck out of here!" Damn ecomony!
- Febuary 23, 2009: Carido is now 6 times a week!
- March 5, 2009: Signed up for certifaction class for Personal Trainer!
Today I'm still at 178 lbs and at 6 ft 1 in at 35 years old I'm in the best shape of my entire life...EVER! And a lot more stronger as well! I have more energy and feel awesome! I know my confidence is sure off the charts these days! And I also know that my health is in much better shape. Nice side effects from losing weight don't you think?
The journey never ends! Thank you for letting me share my journey and story with you. Only our limiting thoughts is what stops us from acheiving greatness. Our minds can be our greatest enemy, failing from the start before we even try. However our minds can be our greatess ally and strength, keeping faith and beliving in ones self when tested. It is the day by day changes and actions that lead us to where we are in our lives today.
If you don't know me well I would like to impart a few things with you about me. I have a great NEED to help people. Read that again. NEED not want to help others! I have also always lived my life to lead by example, not bullying, not bossing and not belittling others around like I saw in the Automobile industry I was once an engineer of. As I write this I find myself out of a job and at another major cross roads in my life. I reflect back at where I've been and all the hardship I have overcome in the past. My willpower and resolve are as strong now as then. I will pick myself up from the ground to emerge even more determine and stronger than before.
You may know of this man that said, "Yes we can!"
Believe those words! Don't listen to the nay sayers and people that will attempt to drag you down.
Also in a movie someone told me (Mr. Anderson), "I am only to show you the door. You are the one that has to walk through it."
At present I'm in the mist of taking a class to prepare myself to be certified as a Personal Trainer. Even though I'm not one now I encourge you to embark on your own journey. Weither it be fitness or otherwise. Please contact me if you choose to proceed with improving your fitness and well being. I can share my experiences and impart some advice on how best to get started.
But above all believe in your mind and thoughts that you can do WHATEVER it is you seek in this life. Have an image of what it is you are after. Post it all over the house. Look at it everyday. Dream big! Shoot for the stars! And when you need help don't be afraid or embrassed to ask!
Let me share your journey with you. Let me encourge and inspire you along. One can achieve great things. But together we can do what others say to be the impossible!
Whatever path your journey takes you in this world I wish you great success and I salute you.
Yes we can and YES YOU CAN!
Frank
