12 Week Before/after! Thanks 4 The Support

[GregCP]

Day 1 of Challenge (August 4, 2008)



Day 84 of Challenge (October 26. 2008)

(Oddly, my actual weight didnt change much -(start) 200 lbs (finish) 198 lbs)

My weight and health has bounced around worse than the stock market. I’ve always had a problem with weight, but I never had a problem with exercise. Diet and exercise is something that I’m used to and I’m able to accomplish short term goals when it comes to my weight, but my biggest frustrations come from my ability to sustain them. My regimen was a mix of over exercise, extreme calorie restriction, fat burner supplements, and a lot of time criticizing the man in the mirror. Even though I had ups and downs with my weight, I’ve been on a steady decline, in my health, as I got older. I was getting emotionally and physically exhausted- it felt like I was swimming as hard as I could, against the current, and not getting anywhere. Come to find out later, it wasn’t a matter of me not doing enough…it was a matter of me doing it all wrong.

Before the challenge, I always thought I was in pretty good shape, boy was I wrong; I guess if you’ve been living unhealthy year after year, you get used to the feeling of being out-of-shape. I was fooling myself to think, that as long as I kept exercising 5 days a week and dieting, I was “healthy”, and that gave me the justification to binge eat, drink booze everyday, smoke…I was literally bargaining with my health each and every day. It took a growing waistline, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a poor liver, and a feeling of worthlessness to make me realize I needed to change. There was this void in my life that I didn’t know how to fill. I had a happy marriage, a great career, wonderful home, financial stability….but I still felt empty. I thought that maybe I should go back to school, join a charity, maybe change careers, or learn to play an instrument, etc…I was trying to come up with ideas to make this feeling of worthlessness go away. After coming across the Body For Life Website, my struggles with my health and my feelings of self worth finally connected- the reason I was unhappy was because I was unhealthy. That’s when I made the commitment to change. How this goal was different than any other goal was because, this time, it’s for life.

For the most part, I followed the program to the letter. I never missed a workout. I always ate at least 5 times a day. Cut off all beverages and drank only water. I also gave up alcohol, my obsession with diet soda, casual smoking, and dining out 3 times a week- it was a difficult sacrifice, but I knew that I was trading it for something better. I read through the book twice and I did mindset exercises in the BFL journal. I was in this to win, I wanted a better body, I wanted a better quality of life, and I didn’t want to have any excuses at the end, so that’s why I made a promise to myself, to have faith in the program, do my best to follow it, and finish the 12 weeks.

Now, I’m writing you on the final day (free day) of the 12 week challenge. Words can’t describe the pride I feel, the sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and feeling that I can accomplish anything. I don’t have a BFL Champion body, but I sure do feel like a BFL Champion inside. I never want to go back to the life I had…the constant feeling of self doubt, worthlessness, and low energy. This will be a new life for me and I plan to continue following the program, with some slight modifications of course.

I have to admit, I couldn’t have done this alone. I have my wife to thank, for helping me prepare meals and her constant positive reinforcement, also I’d like to thank the people in this forum, everyone’s guidance and encouragement has been very invaluable to me through this entire journey.

[Maljonic]

You look great, your weight may not have changed much but your body definitely has. You look much more athletic.

[GregCP]

Thanks Maljonic, i really appreciate that. What I should have done was calculate my BF% prior...because i did pack muscle weight in replace of fat loss, to my estimation, a pound for a pound.

[Marc]

Hey Greg, Well done man, you are busy building a killer body and i think your mindset shift is incredible! Good luck for the future!

[pcrossley]

Greg,

Great job! That is an unbelievable change. I can really notice your loss of mid-section fat and how it's given you a more v-shaped torso. Overall a great accomplishment. Don't quit just because your 12 weeks are over; keep it up and keep enjoying more success like you've had. Great work!

[Chris]

Hey Greg, nice job! Your transformation is obvious... V-taper, bulging muscles, self-coaching, and positive attitude. Fantastic!

Ready to start round 2? What are you going to modify? What goals are you setting to tackle that long-term "problem"?

Keep up the great work! You're well on your way to making this "stick". Cool

[RobBroadhurst]

Originally Posted by GregCP

Words can’t describe the pride I feel, the sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and feeling that I can accomplish anything. I don’t have a BFL Champion body, but I sure do feel like a BFL Champion inside. I never want to go back to the life I had…the constant feeling of self doubt, worthlessness, and low energy.

Beautifully put.

[GregCP]

Good questions Chris. What I'll do this time around is incorporate a little more cardio into my workout sessions..about 30 min mod intensity with my 20 HIIT days. What I'd like to do is lose at least another 5 lbs of fat. My main goal is to continue eating at least 5 meals a day, continue with my weight training regimen, and free days.

To help prevent myself from "rebounding" back to old habits is to go through my journal again....everyday there is a section where Bill Phillips says some words of encouragement, along with a message from past champions....you feel inspired reading it each day. So I'll make it a goal to read it everyday.

[statona]

Nice job Greg - I love it when I see others transform their attitudes and get super great results!!!

[randerson]

That is awesome