Get Motivated

It was about a year ago when I hit rock bottom.  I weighed over 330 pounds.  I wasn't happy, and I wasn't being a good husband or father.  I hated my job and lacked the confidence in myself to even go look for a new one.  I sat behind a desk all day at work and then came home and played videos games until very late at night.  I knew I needed to change, but I was afraid.  I didn't really know how to start.  Then, I saw a video created by Ben Davis.  It was his story of going from a 360-pound overweight, lazy gamer to losing 120 pounds, running a marathon and completing an Ironman.  WOW...  That sounded a lot like where I came from, and if he could do it, so could I.

Christmas 2010, 333 lbs.

That is when I became inspired.  I wanted to change but still had no idea how or where to start.  I decided I was going to run.  My family laughed when I said "run!"  I would not run a mile in high school.  What made me think I was going to stay with it now?  I was determined to do it, though.

I started telling everyone that I was going to start running and getting healthy.  I have tried to lose weight before, but nothing stuck, so I planned.  I wanted to start after the new year and to be really ready.  I started researching what works.  I talked to a nutritionist.  I found a beginner's running program.  Because I was telling everyone what my goals were, friends started giving me tips and advice.  I asked for running shoes and a scale for Christmas. January 3rd came, and I felt prepared and went for it.

This coat was a 3XL.

It has not been easy, and I still have a little ways to go. But it has been almost a year, and I am still doing it.  There have been several things I wish I knew before I started, and I wanted to share some of them with you.  I hope my story has motivated you like Ben Davis motivated me.  If I can do it, anyone can.

This is all from the point of view of someone who started at a beginner's level and is still progressing.  I am not a professional by any means, but these seven tips below are things that helped me and things I hope help you.

Make a Plan/Goal
Plan it out.  You can't just wake up and say you are going to start being healthy and expect to stay healthy without a plan.  Do not get me wrong; it is a good thing to be inspired as a start, but you need to put some pen to paper.  Plan out meals, workouts, and strategies to keep you going when it gets hard. Put your plan/goals where you can see them. Read them daily.  Remember how you felt when you set them!

Tell Everyone
You will be surprised at how willing people are to help you, how ready they are to be a motivator and a support.  You will also be surprised to find out how many people have been there and have lost the weight and changed for the better.  Some of the best advice I received was from friends who knew what it was like to start running extremely overweight. I would've never known it if I didn't tell people.  Part of my telling everyone was starting this blog.  It has turned into much more, but it started out as a way for my friends and family to check up on me and make sure I was getting my daily workouts and runs in.  If I didn't post, people asked me about it and checked if I worked out or not.  Also, a lot of people sometimes just need someone to do it with.  Several of my friends started working out the same time I did to support me and get their health in order.

Join a Gym or Club
The best thing I did was join a gym and find a running club.  It was very intimidating for me when I first joined the gym, because I felt like people were judging me, but I made friends quickly.  For the most part, people do not judge you. They mostly do not even notice you, and if they do, they are excited that you are working out.  I made friends quickly in my boot camp class, and they were a major support to me.  I joined Nixa Running, and they are all a bunch of running crazies that love me for me!

Plan Out and Buy Your Meals In Advance
Jenn and I make a shopping list every Thursday and shop for a whole week's worth of groceries.  We plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner and healthy snacks.  That way we are not tempted to go out to eat, and we know how many calories we are putting into our bodies.  Plan healthy meals and make sure your portions are under control.  Talk to a nutritionist or research online what you should be eating.  I am still learning how much I should eat for how much I run.

Sign up for a 5K
Once you sign up for something, it will help you stay motivated to get every training run in.  I started the Couch to 5K program.  I knew I had to run 3 times a week.  I wanted to be ready for my 5K and was really motivated to run every single training run. Once you run the 5K, sign up for another. When a 5K becomes easier, look for bigger races.  I remember my first 5K; I prepared for it like it was a marathon.  I carb-loaded the day before.  I created a facebook group and invited all my family and friends.  Now I sign up for 5K's all the time.  Always have something to work towards, and it will keep you out there on the road getting your miles in.

Do Not Let A Bad Day Ruin You
You will have bad days.  You will feel like you have failed sometimes.  Do not let that get you down.  I have had days where I felt like garbage and wasn't good enough.  Why am I working out? It isn't helping me...  I am so hungry...  Everyone does so much better than me.  Guess what? We all have bad days.  Get up and keep going.  Do not look for excuses to quit.   Remember where you came from and the big picture.  You didn't put that weight on overnight, and it will not come off overnight either.  I have to remember this daily.  As my good friend Shannon would say, "Suck it Up!"

Treat Yourself
I am not talking about with food.  If you reach a goal, go get that thing you have been wanting.  You have worked hard.  This helped me a lot.  I knew that if I reached a weight loss goal or a running goal, I was going to get something cool.  Treat yourself!

I treated myself with a Do Life sticker.

I am so glad I have changed my life.  I love living healthy.  It has improved me in so many ways.  I am a better father, employee, and friend.  I have met so many people I would have never known otherwise.  My son talks about running marathons now instead of video games. I got a new job.  We eat healthy as a family.  My wife discovered a natural talent for running.  (1:45 half marathon!)  So many great things have happened because I decided to change.  Your health does affect so many things in life.  Get motivated, and start today!