It all started in May 2012 with my wife telling me that she was going to start a healthy diet with her mom. She asked if I would support her.I looked at myself and decided that it was worth a shot. However, I clearly remember saying, “I won’t give up my Sprite.” Clearly, I wasn’t sold on the healthy life quite yet, but I knew I needed to change.
I weighed in at the highest weight of my life (232 lbs) and at 5’10” that is not a healthy weight. Life had just gotten the better of me, instead of staying active like I did in high school and college I became less and less apt to be active and ate anything I wanted to. I simply did not pay attention to my health and my body. I remember thinking, I am not a kid anymore (yeah I finally came to that conclusion at age 33 with two kids of my own). I have got to take care of myself, so I can stay healthy, so I can be there for my wife, my kids, my family. I also just wanted to be the best “me” I could be in all aspects of my life. And I currently was not the best me, at least not physically.
It’s not easy, but it is great. Typically in life that is how it works.
I remember thinking, this is all the food I get for the day? How am I supposed to even walk a ½ mile with this little amount of calories? My wife and I made a commitment and we were sticking to it. Eating healthy and exercising 5-6 days a week. We were eating lean protein, non-fat dairy, lots of veggies, and fruit with very little carbs. Really it was just a well-rounded diet with emphasis on portion control. We already belonged to a fitness center (we didn’t go that much before this commitment). We were now actually getting what we were paying for, the use of great equipment and access to trainers to give us ideas and options. But it wasn’t easy, especially at the beginning. We were resetting our lives and our bodies.
We motivated each other. We found motivation in the pounds coming off and in our overall energy level going up. It started to be fun and rewarding. I started to feel great about myself. We were doing cardio work and cross training/weight training. At the beginning I could barely run a mile without having to stop. My feet and knees really hurt. My wife was fit tested and had a gait analysis done and was running on solid running shoes right for her. As for me, I was running on the cheapest pair of running shoes I could find at the local discount store. Big mistake! I knew I needed the right equipment for this journey, especially, shoes. I searched and searched and did analysis on my gait. I found what I wanted: Mizuno Wave Alchemy. Now I needed to find the best price. That’s when I came across Holabird Sports. They had the best price on my shoes and had them in stock. I was impressed by the selection and prices, so I checked them out. Come to find out that they have a Facebook page that has all kinds of motivational posts, cool contests for merchandise, etc. Checking out the posts was just another way for me to stay motivated on my journey to a new me. That is the trick to this journey – staying motivated!
Slowly over time my runs became less painful and more enjoyable (albeit challenging). Now I am running 5-6 miles a day 5-6 days a week in my Wave Alchemy running shoes. My speed is going up and so is my stamina. My blood pressure is dropping and so have the pounds. Now our favorite saying when going to the gym is, “Let’s go make our fat mad!”
I am happy to say that as of January 2013, I am down to 176 pounds (56 pounds lost). I feel great and have tons of energy. Not only that, I think this journey has made me a better father, husband, and worker. It has given me confidence in myself and my abilities. I know I am stronger in body, in mind, and in spirit. I am not somehow more special, you can be a new you too. Find that motivation and get moving. You will be amazed at the changes in your body and in your mind.
Find that motivation!
Jason, thank you for sharing your story with us! We are proud to have so many loyal customers who are willing to share their stories and help others get in shape. Visit facebook.com/holabirdsports for more motivation!