A Successful Losers Story

Monday, 06. 7. 2010  –  Category: Uncategorized

Check Out Our Loser’s Stories:

I have asked some of our “Biggest Losers”; those that have lost 75, 100, 150 pounds or more to share their story with you.  So, from time to time we will be sharing with you our  “Losers Story”, we hope that you can learn from these very successful losers on how they kept their focus, how they picked themselves up when they failed and how they kept going and never quit.  They will share their pathway of success with you.

We hope you find motivation, inspiration and renewed determination from their stories.  Our story this week comes from Michael, aka Mikey.   Mike is an amazing success story.  He joined our program and totally embraced every element of it, to ensure he would succeed.  And, SUCCEED is what he did, he is our champion loser with losing close to 170 pounds in just over 1 year.  He is truly a renewed man!  He has a new love for working out, loving to lift weights, and is now a runner.  In fact, both he and a few of our “top” losers recently successfully completed the Rothrock Challenge, which is a 18.6 mile trail run that was held on June 5.   Mike is a very humble man, not fully realizing the impact of his accomplishment.  He has already touched the lives of so many helping them to BELIEVE there is hope and that you can accomplish anything you put your heart and mind to.  We hope someday soon he will become a trainer so he can continue to help more people just like him realize the life’s dreams!!  You can find Mike mentoring and helping out some of our teams at the Denver facility and some surprise visits to our Reading facility.

Mikey thank you sharing your story with us.

Our Message is simple  Believe and you will Achieve, wishing you all continued success!

Here is Mikes Story:

The Biggest Loser program changed my life.

I would step on the scales where I worked (because most scales did not go high enough)  and over the years I watched my weight climb.  I used to step on the scale and say OK when it hits 300 – I’m going to do something.  Then it was 350 – Then 375.  Well, I couldn’t believe that I was creeping up close to 400lbs.  It started to affect my job.  I couldn’t get into certain places and  I was afraid to go up ladders.  I then developed some foot pains.  I talked to my wife, Gina and told her that I was  going to start working out.  My mom and step dad were at the Ephrata Rec Center every day.  So I asked my step dad if we could set a time to meet and start working out with me.  I used to love lifting weights and I thought that would be a good start.

Just going to join the gym was stressful.  You just think that everyone there is going to make rude comments behind your back.  I really had some anxiety about going.  I still remember my first day there.  I did not want to be there!  I would have rather been at the dentist!  While I was there I would see the Biggest Loser teams running around.  I would occasionally talk to one of the trainers Anne Hess – who I said would never get me on that big red ball!   I was feeling more comfortable there and my wife wanted to go to the Biggest Loser informational meeting.  I had lost around 30 pounds on my own and said that I was not going to do it, but I would go with her.  I was still embarrassed to go to the meeting.  Once I heard everyone, I decided that if my wife was going to do it I would do it also.  I needed it and I wanted to support her.   Sometime later that week I had written down the pros and cons of me doing the program.  Basically I set a goal list for the future and I was unaware of it.  Here they are:

• Miserable at amusement parks = couldn’t fit on the rides.
• Unhappy/unsociable at public events = I was ashamed of myself – embarrassed for my wife and kids.  I did not want my kids to get teased, because of my obesity.
• Doctor’s office = The first thing they do is tell you to step on the scale and I would have to tell them that I weigh more than 350lbs.
• Restaurants  = I would get mad if the family picked certain restaurants because all they had were booths and I could barely fit in them, if at all.
• My job performance = there were certain tasks that I would have to get someone else to do.
• Family vacations – Like the beach, I did not go already, purposely not getting off of work, I did not want to take off my shirt.  Which also kept me from swimming pools & pool parties.

I missed out on a lot, because of my obesity which led to my insecurities.  My family has suffered the most, but  I am really looking forward to this summer.  I plan on taking my boys to Hershey Park as soon as school is out.  We have a summer vacation planned the last week in July!

I did not do it alone!  That is why I also feel the need to thank those around me that have supported me.  My wife, my family and there are many people in Bfit that I should thank, but none more than Anne I would not be where I am today without her compassion, encouragement and belief in me.  She’s the best!

Whenever I reflect on this I get very emotional and that is why I do not like to speak about it.  I have tears of joy, because of what I have accomplished and tears of sadness, because of how much of my life I wasted.  I now weigh 215 pounds.  You can do the math.  I am a different person and have a new outlook on life.  The number one question I get asked is – “What’s the secret?”  Well, for me it was hard work.  Is it easy?   NO.  Is it worth it?  Yes!  Every ache, pain and sore muscle. I wake up now and proclaim, “It’s a great day to be alive!”  I really want all of you to realize that anything is possible and if I can do it so can you.

Your Greatest Fan,

Mike