Truth is I’m not the biggest, strongest, fastest, most gifted, talented or privileged… I’m definitely not the youngest or in my prime. The struggle is real and there are days and even weeks where I want to quit. My body aches, and I’m tired and frustrated. With a towel draped over my head to catch the beads of perspiration at 4 something in the morning I look at the sweat-drenched shirt and a 70lb weight vest and make contact with the whites of MY OWN eyes in MY OWN reflection and decide to be stubborn on purpose- ALWAYS prove them wrong. ALWAYS fight YOUR fight. ALWAYS grind and work the hardest.

ALWAYS lead by example. ALWAYS be extreme so they know where you stand. My mother’s voice screaming through my ears, “CANT NEVER COULD BECAUSE CANT NEVER TRIED.” My dad’s voice is ringing, “What do you want to be. There’s always someone bigger & badder & tougher but you CAN out grind them- out work them and overcome them. RELEASE THE MONSTER that lives inside you.” And my Debi, the DIFFERENCE MAKER -her voice is the calming factor that keeps me confident and going, that BELIEVES IN ME and makes me think I could rule the world with her by my side. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS BUT I KNOW WHAT I BRING TOMORROW- MY best, MY all, MY grind, and at the end of the day it might not be enough to bring home the hardware but it will be enough to kick in the door and introduce myself. You fight, you never quit and you’ve already won because you’re not facing the 20-something-yr-old or the genetically privileged or the talented. You’re facing that man staring back at you in that reflection. Once you’ve beat him up and pushed him beyond his limits and made him the best he can be at that time- you are the champion. You have won.

This is how to let the MONSTER out of the cage-

Step 1- Meal plan, Life Time Fitness has the tools to get you where you need to be & it all starts with what I consider the toughest battle- FOOD. Food prep is the key to success. I did 6 oz. of chicken or cod 6 times a day with a cup (130 grams measured) of rice, asparagus, zucchini or 8 oz. of potatoes per meal. I meal- prepped for the week on Sundays after church, then again on Wednesdays.

Step 2- Walking through the doors to the gym is the next biggest obstacle. A friendly face at the welcome desk like Candice’s helps tremendously. I worked 1 muscle group a day along with cardio. Fasted cardio in the mornings either at home or at the gym, then a workout after work, 2-a-day. If you don’t know where to begin then Life Time has the people and knowledge to get you where you want to be reaching your goals.

Step 3- Consistency, consistency & more consistency. Have a goal… know where you want to be & smash that goal. Write it down… I wrote my goals on my bathroom mirror to remind me each & every morning of where I want to be. Follow through & be consistent. It isn’t always about the prize but about the journey. It’s best to enjoy the process and use the change as a springboard to push you through. You reach your goals you’ve already won. That’s the bottom line and where the rubber meets the road. It’s about being the best you that you can be.

Last, I want to thank you for reading my journey & hope it inspires others to be the best YOU that YOU can be.