What is your favorite thing about PNP?
The friendship aspect of it. Talking with people that can identify with the same struggles I face.
What tool have you learned that is a MUST do for someone looking to lose weight?
It's really about changing your mindset. You didn't get fat in a week, you're not going to get skinny in a week. It's what you do day-to-day EVERYDAY that makes the difference. You'll have good days and bad, you just have to work towards having mainly good days and find ways to keep the bad ones from being so bad. I've lost weight in the past, but never changed my lifestyle, so it always came back. The way I eat now and my attitude towards eating is different. It's also the change in mindset towards cardio. I've lifted a lot over the years, but this is the first time I've gotten the same kind of intensity for my cardio. That's what will really help with the body fat.
What is your FAVORITE strength exercise and why?
Curls for the girls. Probably a standing curl using individual cables. When I'm doing that last rep, my arms probably look the best that they look in that instant. Your biceps are popping out, the shoulders are bulging out and you just look mean.
What is your FAVORITE cardio exercise (routine or other) and why?
Probably the elliptical machine. I can really do some good HIIT on it. Plus with my leg issues, I'm able to train harder without the impact on my hip.
How long did it take you to reach this milestone?
From when I first started, it's been a little over 2 years. I started with Corinne at the end of May 2007. Weight wise I've probably lost about 12 pounds with her but I have dropped my body fat a good bit. I've lost about 4 inches off of my gut and about 2.5 off my waist. In total I've lost about 72 pounds.
When you have a tough day living the lifestyle, what keeps you focused?
Realizing how far I've come. This has been a long journey, but at the start of each of the last 2 years I was in better shape than the year before. Hopefully that trend will continue. It's hard to see the small changes you make in a week, but just take a look at a picture from when you started and you get a quick reminder that you're on the right path and you'll get to where you want to be eventually.
When you fall off the wagon, how do you get back on?
I've got good and bad qualities. Bad in that I'll have a "just screw it" attitude and not just fall off the wagon but set it on fire and run away screaming. But I can let go of it quickly and not dwell on yesterday. Yes, yesterday did stink but that doesn't mean today has to. I think this journey has taught me a lot of wisdom. It's not about being hard core 100% of the time, it's about being making smarter decisions and being patient most of the time. It's realizing I can't just eat the way I want to because that equals fat. I have to make the choice of how I want to live, it's up to me and nobody else can make the decision for me.
Name one person in your life you want to thank for making this journey easier for you. (non-PNP member)
Can I go ahead and say Lorie since I guess I'm the only one whose spouse is a member? Lorie and I have been together since we were sixteen (coming up on 18 years now). We've done most everything in our lives together. We both come from homes that had terrible attitudes toward food and no sense of fitness. So it wasn't much surprise that we started putting weight on over the years. We've battled together here and there but we decided to make a conscious effort to be healthier for our kids and be better examples than we had. It makes it easier for both of us that we've worked together towards this. Neither of us are "naturally" skinny so it will always be a struggle in our house.
Name one PNP member you want to thank for making this journey easier for you.
I hate to just say Corinne, but that's really why I joined. She actually tried to hook me up with her trainer when I started. She was leery about working with a guy. I mainly wanted to work with her over Bill because she had been where I had been and had gone through the same things. He looked like a skinny guy that had always been skinny. I wanted someone who could relate with me. Originally, I wasn't really looking for knowledge as much as I was someone to be accountable to. I had lifted weights on and off for years, I knew the techniques and form and all that stuff. I needed someone to help light a fire under me. She's gotten me to do things (and eat things) I never thought I would (i.e. broccoli, half marathons, etc). Plus she got me to change the method in which I did things to which my body really responded. I had done the same things for so many years, my body was just used to it. I had to throw some new things at it. I still may not be the fastest guy around but if you had a race where after every mile you had to stop and bench press your body weight 10 times, I'd beat more guys than beat me.