I go where I’m needed. I stay where I’m wanted. Life’s too short. This was me in March of 2009. 340lbs. And determined to better myself.
Starting in 2007 at the age of 20, I weighed a maximum of 378lbs,
I signed up with Anytime Fitness. Going to the gym at 1am where there was no one else in the gym but me, I was able to work out without feeling the pressure of being watched. Without the feeling of being watched, it didn’t matter how ugly or grotesque I looked…I hustled. I sweat. It hurt. But I pressed on.
My motivation was my dream of growing up to be famous and marry the most beautiful girl in the world. They say, its what’s on the inside that counts, but from my appearance, I can testify that being a glutton showed on the outside. I aimed to change all of that. I used what I’ve always used to push ahead. I drove on anger and animosity, the thoughts of everyone being against me, is what made me smile. I know that’s weird, but its how I operated.
For four years, with the encouragement of a few friends along the way, I kept up the hustle. I started out on the bike for 45 minutes, five days a week. Gradually, I stepped up to the treadmill when I found out that working the treadmill burned more calories than the bike. I started out at 45 minutes. But whenever I got comfortable… I increased the difficulty.
I increased the speed. I increased the steep incline. I increased the amount of weights I could push. I pushed myself to try the exercises that I once could not to when I was so overweight. I stopped drinking sodas. eating so many carbs before I went to bed. I reduced my portion sizes. I counted my daily calorie intake and found healthy substitutes for what I once indulged on.
I started out like this…
To working out to this –
And this…
Trimming down to this –
And by the time I turned 24…I abstained from taking new pictures.
I began to see the changes, but didn’t want to buy new clothes and reveal my new body, otherwise it would be difficult for me to notice any changes. I’d be discouraged. Moreover, the people around me wouldn’t tell a difference. And yeah, impressing the people around me is important to me. So I kept wearing the size 48 pants, the 3XL shirts to hide or conceal the changes.
So finally. In August of 2012…I turned twenty-five. Went shopping and tried on new clothes that actually fit me. It was an amazing feeling to know where I’ve come from. To now see me in this. I was in JC Pennys…
I had my photographer friend take pictures of the new me and it shocked my friends and family.
After four years of hard work and discipline. I dropped from 378lbs to an ideal 230lbs.
This August I’ll be 29 years old. It’s been three years since I’ve reached my goal and I’ve managed to keep it off. My dad told me recently, “Rock. If you don’t have a kid until you in your 30s, then you might not be able to play basketball with him.”
I laughed at the thought. With my memory and ability to jump back in time on dime, I know there’s no way I’ll ever go back to the way I was. For the rest of my life, I’ll always be in athletic condition. Because that’s the beautiful thing about life. That no matter what, there’s always room for improvement. Till the day I die, I’ll never stop doing just that.