8-18-12

270+ pound smoker headed for an early grave May 2011:
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/578824_143080525829879_1788907322_n.jpg


Smoke free and team teaching Group Ride with Coach Becky Holcomb July 2012:
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483380_135909586546973_329895146_n.jpg
In May 2011, I weighed 270 lbs and smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. I had been overweight for most of my life and hated myself. I've tried all the quick diet pills and quick fixes and had more failures than I can remember.

Late June 2011, the light bulb went on and I decided to arm myself with knowledge on getting healthy. I studied nutrition and started exercising.... the only way to accomplish body transformation is to master caloric deficits. ACCOUNTABILITY IS KING.

This blog will show my intense journey to losing over 85 lbs in the past 8 months, while quitting smoking. If  I can inspire some more people to do the same, my journey would be even more meaningful.... this has become my higher purpose. 

Thank you to Alan Hirsch and Joe Stierwalt for their guidance in getting this blog rolling. 

Interesting to be on a cut, NOT losing weight thus far, but still pleased with the results. Definitely getting leaner. The easy part is maintaining an aggressive exercise program :
A. Doing so is FUN
B. Super easy to stay motivated when I work out with a bunch of badasses in group fitness classes

I truly believe this has been my best week as an instructor. I have found my calling in life. To be in a position in which I am able to not only share my passion for fitness, but to help and encourage others sure paints a strong picture of how much I have grown as a person this past year and how blessed I am. When I see my students believing in themselves..... pushing themselves.... having fun..... and, best of all, the times I can see fire in their eyes ......that same fire my instructors see in my eyes.........

it makes it hard to leave Studio NFL after class. Even after class, there is such life to the atmosphere of the room. The effort my students put forth makes my class life affirming.

I'm going to pick on a student, Annie Bass. Just want her to know how proud I was when she told me she wants to become an instructor. Annie is going to start practicing with me next week and I guarantee she will make a great instructor in any class. She looked like a natural in her 1st Group Ride class ..... that is shockingly rare.

Annie's talk + my intro to Pilates from Abby Hurst + inspiration in Group Centergy from Diane Ravenstien (thursday night) and Becky Holcomb (friday morning)
set the stage for one hell of a Group Ride practice session Friday morning. It wasn't just any set of music I was practicing -- it was the October 2011 release, a very special set for me. The set contains my favorite Intervals track (can't wait to unleash it on my students!) and a climb track that makes me sentimental.

11-25-11
Group Ride class instructed by Krazy Kirby Kerschner :
Jade and Alex Carvalho were there. My son Jerry was beside me. It was my 2nd day as a nonsmoker. Climb track was a historic first for me. As a smoker, I was gasping for air by climb track. I remember how ragged my breath would get. I had to strategize to make it through the track, specifically the last 10 seconds, the point I felt my heart and or lungs were going to explode. I used rage to get me through the track. Looking back, I wonder what the person next to me in class had to be thinking as I was growling or whatever it took to get me through the track. The things I had to yell inside my head were not pleasant.

11-25 was different.... I could BREATHE through climb track. It was the 1st time I  felt like Superman in Group Ride. GOD BLESS JOE STIERWALT FOR HELPING ME QUIT SMOKING. 


Next week will feature planning for my new class that begins in October. My workout week will begin Monday with a session with my personal trainer and  will end Friday with Group Ride practice. I will have 3 opportunities to lead my students in between. I have a couple things in mind I hope they will enjoy. One goal for my week is more detailed coaching in options during my class. I talk about options, but know I have a tendency to get caught up in the excitement of class. I just need to make sure I make enough emphasis on options for my newer students.

Closing note concerns my practice yesterday. Before I started practicing the Oct 2011 set, I warmed up with tracks from the set I taught  Tues and Thurs. I had intended to just do the 1st track for warmup, but ended up doing the 1st 5. Track 5 is my favorite Chase track, Kickstart My Heart. If I could bottle, market and sell the explosiveness I had at that point in my workout, there would be plenty of $$ for everyone in my Genesis family to quit their "other" jobs and just work on fitness and fun.

Thank you to everyone who is helping me become stronger every day.