The past year and a half has seen a variety of changes take place in my life. My now-wife and I purchased our first home, I turned 30, we adopted our first (fur) baby and we got married in October. We have experienced a plethora of changes along with numerous emotions on top of us both being busy with our careers. During this time, my wife and I developed one goal for me — to get in shape for our wedding. The goal was achievable yet also vague, so I am not proud to admit that it did not go as I had imagined; it really didn’t go at all.

Toward the end of last summer, my wife and I discovered a Life Time was opening shortly after our wedding.  After doing some research on all the amenities the club would offer, we both became founding members. We were going to a different gym at the time because I was not planning on waiting until after our wedding to get in shape. When we first met in 2012, I was 50 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of the 60day. I had a good level of endurance, but I had never considered lifting weights. If anything, I relied on distance running to maintain my fitness level. Even so, that was my best body and how I wanted to look on that special day. She and I deserved it, but unfortunately, I let us both down.

Our wedding still ended up being an amazing day — the best day of my life. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, even if I didn’t achieve the body I wanted for the event. While I wish the past 60 days had come before our wedding, having them now is still worth it. This 60day has given me much more than a small transformation, it has evolved the way I think about food and my outlook on exercise.

My old routine was waking up and going to my 8 to 5 job where I sit at a desk all day. After work, I might have stopped at the gym . . . if I felt like it. Often, happy hour or other events would get in the way and I would procrastinate or just skip the gym entirely. Previously, the only other idea that made sense — waking up at 4 or 5 am to get to the gym — was a dreadful thought. Why would I want to get up early just to drive somewhere and hop on a treadmill? Then I’d be sweating for the next hour, plus showering and getting dressed anywhere other than my own home sounded very uncomfortable.

Life Time Franklin opened in November and I started going a couple times a week over the holidays. In January, my friend Carlos and I started lifting weights before work every day. My outlook on strength training before was that I didn’t know what I was doing, thought I looked stupid or wasn’t lifting enough and was also being judged by others. However, after a couple weeks of early mornings with Carlos, I finally felt comfortable. I also got to the point where I didn’t need Carlos to make it to the gym to push me, I could push myself through my workout with confidence.

While there are dozens of treadmills, ellipticals and more weights than I previously knew what to do with, one of the things that really set Life Time apart for me was the locker room area that includes nice showers and a steam room. After working out I have a space to cool down, recover, and get ready for the day as comfortably (if not MORE comfortably) than I would at home!

Fast forward a couple months and I have been lifting almost every morning. Then, one day I walked into Life Time and saw the posters for the 60day. I signed up that same day. At the start of the challenge, I participated in a training session and took the Active Metabolic Assessment with my trainer, Sam. We added four days of cardio on top of my lifting, but I also decided to accelerate my results by eating healthy and eliminating alcohol from my diet.

I weighed in on February 11 at 246.9 pounds with BF of 29.60 percent. I just had my final 60day weigh in that ended up at 214 pounds with BF of 21.30 percent. While I’m pleased with my numbers on the scale, the best results are my clothes. I now comfortably fit into everything I wore 5 years ago, and I feel much better! Not to mention the money I save on not drinking or eating out all the time! Besides the physical results, my entire life has changed. I can’t imagine a week where I don’t work out at least 5 or 6 days and I simply have no desire to eat certain types of unhealthy foods anymore. The opportunity cost of replacing the foods and activities I used to love with healthier habits has only been my waistline. The more I see my body transform, the more I am motivated to stay resilient and persevere. While I made some great changes over the 60 days, I am truly looking forward to continuing this way of life to become the fittest and healthiest version of myself I can be.  This change is for both me and my wife, and not just for a single day, but for a lifetime!