It wasn't for me...

...it was all about my kids, my wife and my family. That, and nothing else is what has driven me to get healthier. *Before anyone says it yes I don't have any kids yet...but I will someday (NO LISA ISN'T PREGNANT!)

Yeah, initially I struggled with the weight loss due to my own selfish motivations of "looking" better physically, but honestly the most change has occurred when I used my "kids", my wife and my family as my motivation to be healthier. Healthier isn't necessarily skinnier, but in my case I had let myself go so much to get healthier I was naturally gonna shed weight...and boy did I ever!

January 2012- 255 POUNDS...and miserable. I wasn't happy, sure I acted like the go lucky fun joker I always was but was anything but happy with what I was.

Late 2011 just before the 255 pounds

January 2013- 217 POUNDS...I had done well the summer of 2012, but un-able to keep the course on minimizing my food intake just kept the weight coming back on.

Christmas 2012, just prior to the official 217 pound weigh in.

April 5th 2013- 184 POUNDS...This was when I truly switched my mindset from losing weight for personal reasons and just desiring to be healthier and feel better! I went from just portion control, calorie analyzing and tedious exercise to simply being healthier.

Taken just last weekend...picture with our God-son Bennie!!!

Gone are the days of processed foods. Only organic, natural in nature occurring foods...and as raw as ultimately possible. Just a mere week eating like this (no more dairy, red meat limited big time) and I felt lighter and more empty on my insides than I EVER HAVE!

It did help that this time period corresponded with lent as I did a progressive lent which saw me give up coffee, pop, red meat and bread...helped to stay the course due to the religious side of things.

I now don't drink any dairy products, only almond, soy or coconut milk for me. AND I USED TO BE A MILK ADDICT....EASILY COULD DRINK A GALLON A DAY IF IT WAS THERE. No cheeses or VERY little if at a restaurant or friend's house. Bread is really non-existent in my diet, but I would do healthy breads well before a huge steak or dairy due to how our body processes/digests them. Bread truly isn't missed due to it's a filler that took up too much space and while I don't watch calories I don't feel bad eating 3 or 4 heaping tacos (veggie or some chicken mixed in sometimes) using romain/kale or other greens as the tortilla as I would if still using 120+ calorie tortilla shells!

I DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO CARBS/SUGARS and am just conscious of not over doing the fats in seeds/nuts. If it's natural I eat it.

MOST IMPORTANTLY IF HUNGRY I EAT...ANYTIME...ANYWHERE...AS LONG AS IT'S A FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE. 

As a fan of eating this is the best part of being healthier!

**Also no worries hunting buddies...I love meat too much to give it up, I will just be a lot smarter with it and probably not keep all the deer I harvest. Gifting some of the meat to relatives and friends who can use the meat. Hunting is way to spiritual for me to give up and will eat the meat before letting it go to waste for sure!

So if you're tempted to try and lose weight or get skinny again...first get to the point you're doing it to be healthier...the other things will follow suit!

I know because I decided to be healthier I have no doubt that unless something unforeseen occurs I will make many many more memories with my kids, my wife and family I may have missed out on by staying or getting more unhealthy!  <--and that my friends is true motivation!

Blessings...

Yesterday was Easter...today is...

...what you choose to make it. I don't say that as a way to show that we as humans have the ability or the power to choose how things in our lives operate, but that it is our conscious decision as to where we place our faith and hope in.

It's true so many place their hope in themselves and their abilities...and while self-confidence is good one must never forget there is only one thing that mankind has proven we cannot do: We cannot be perfect, and have proven to be 100% capable of failure.

We strive to be a better man or woman, we desire it at times more than anything...but fail.

We hope to break the addictions that plague us only to give in one evening out with friends at the bar or alone in front of the computer screen.

We fail.

We make a plan for success in our jobs, work harder and stay later only to realize while we may have stepped up the corporate ladder our home and family was burnt to the ground.

We fail.

As a father you've sworn to always protect our sons and daughters from hurt, but we cannot protect them from everything...we cannot protect them from that first broken heart, or first lost pet...

We fail.

As a spouse we promise to always love, honor, serve and care for the other...ALWAYS...

We fail.

I don't say all this to make it sound like it's hopeless or that we should simply give up...as a matter of fact quite the opposite. This should make us realize we need God more than we perhaps ever realized. God designed us to be perfect, but it was pride and selfishness that made us fall from that perfect mold. After that fall we've seemed to continue to struggle with the idea "I can" and "I must" and "This time around I..." instead of requesting God help us and view our walk more as a "We can" and a "We must".

God not only provides that second part to the we statements, but he also provides other broken and failing people to help, encourage and love you through things. Only by His grace and love can we at times accomplish the ability to succeed in conquering our addictions, loving our spouse unconditionally and becoming a better father or mother. ONLY by Him.

He never failed, is failing or will fail.

He doesn't stop there though, not only does He assist us in our day to day walks; He also has cleared a path for us once this life is over. For you see, the day before yesterday we deserved to die...but because of yesterday we have been granted eternal life. Thanks to Him giving and sacrificing is only Son we cannot be held by death any longer.

So Yesterday was Easter...today is...either going to be an "I" day or a "We" day; that choice is entirely up to you.

HERE for source of picture