The Incredible Shrinking Man

The incredible shrinking man has now become my nickname at work. I think that it fits my waist line, but as person I'm growing with leaps and bounds.

My colleagues have been a huge part of my weight loss this year. The weight loss challenge started there and has turned into a lifestyle change for the rest of my life.

I weighed in this morning at 201.2 lbs out of the shower and I can just can't imagine I'm going to be under 200 lbs before you know it. I look back just six months ago when I first stepped on the scale that I bought for the weight loss challenge at 238.6 lbs. I'm amazed, but I know that I can accomplish anything I want to do.

Let's talk about my new class of choice. Kettlebell is by far the best workout I have ever been put through. John the instructor will push you until you are on edge of collapsing and then still wants fifty more reps. Question why I want to put my body through this, but you see great results. The class is efficient because you work your entire body, heart and muscles by going from one exercise to another with no rest. The workouts involve movements like pushups, jumping jacks, crunches and other body weight exercises. The difference lies in the intensity. In Kettlebell, your challenge is to take your body to its limit. You work, you sweat, and, best of all, you burn calories like crazy. John's website is below, so take a look at something you should do for yourself.

This week like the last few I leave you with a quote I found to be so true. Money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed. Health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied. -Charles Caleb Colton

bodybyjohn.com

Wellness reaches into every aspect of life

Wow, time really does fly when you are having fun.

This quest has made me feel so good and be very positive in day to day life. The last five weeks have been a growing experience for me and in my mind-shaping path for the rest of my life. Did I say I feel GREAT!?!

This past week, I took Cardio Pilates twice for the second week in a row. I have to say that this class brings you to the edge of failure, but you seem to always push through it. Zach the instructor pushes you harder and harder each time you meet. I can say that this class is a must take if you are looking for ultimate workout.

It was hard to see Zach leave for the summer, but I know I will be in his class upon his return. I wish him the best in his summer internship in Florida and look forward to the new things he brings to class in fall.

I'm also still searching in my mind to find the goal to push me beyond this ten week Quest. I know it will come to me in time, but it has been a great thing to think about daily. The sky is the limit in my mind, so I have so many great ideas I just need to narrow it down to a few I can focus on. One thing I do know is that there will be no moving back to my old ways. This has been a common theme of this year and I will not let this fade moving forward.

In closing this week, I would like to say that being in good shape and exercising changes your whole life. I always thought this was just lip service, but it is the truth. You don't feel tired and sluggish going through the day. You instead feel like you can do anything and want to take on anything in your path. You become positive about everything in your life instead of always trying to find something to be negative about.

Your relationships get better. Your passion for your career becomes focused. You seem to find a sense of clarity.

Please take time for yourself and your family to get out and do something to move you towards this I promise you it will be one of best decisions of your life. I think the only decisions in my life that have been greater are marrying my wife Norma and the birth of my son Aidan.

"I can't believe that we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well. I can't believe that we would lie in our graves dreaming of things that we might have been." # Dave Matthews.

So maybe I don't know everything

So we made it through the first month and I have to say that I'm getting a little sad to think this will end. I have enjoyed this experience so much.

The staff at The Landing has been so accommodating and helpful in every way possible. Catherine our personal trainer has pushed me to be my best and got my shoulders in line. Bravo!! The team of fellow "Questers" has been the biggest bonus. We have become a little family making sure we all get the best experience possible.

The new experience of the week was meeting with Paige Stapleton and Brian Stark of Stapleton Stark Coaching.

They are working with the group on goal setting for the future and how to stay on the right track for a health productive life. Being through several sales coaching and training classes at first I thought I already knew this stuff.

But I found that I was not breaking things down to the lowest common denominator to see where my behaviors are coming from. I think this will help me focus moving forward.

I also found that I'm very focused in my professional life, but less so in my day to day life. This was a surprising revelation due to being a little OCD. The thing I'm focused on know is setting the goal I want to achieve for the future. I believe in my next blog I will be writing about that goal.

In closing I went to see an icon in the sales training field this week: Zig Ziglar. I have seen this man speak on several occasions and he has inspired me over and over. I have read all his books and listen to many of his cds over the years. He is one of the people I look up to as a true sales person. Zig had a fall a few years ago and has become impaired due to it.

As I sat in the audience and listened to him speak, I was saddened by his inability to be that powerful presence he once was. I then quickly realize this man has touched millions of lives over the years and if I can just do a fraction of that I would feel quit fulfilled. "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." -Zig Ziglar

Successes are piling up and inspiring others

What a week!

It all started with our Monday work out, which like usual
Catherine pushed us all of us to achieve our best. I want to say the
group that was assembled to do the Quest for your Best is now becoming a
little family. We have a great time together and push each other to do
our best. The Landing has become like home for the group and the staff
there makes you feel so welcomed.

Tuesday I got a year older and had my first experience with Reiki. I will
say it was one I will never forget and will make me continue to want it
as part of my life. This session put me such a relaxed state and
brought me to a level I have never achieved. You are so focused after
you leave the session that you feel like you can do anything. I went into my
session with an open mind and was rewarded with great experience. It was a
great birthday present!

Friday came and the regular routine lead to the most challenging class
to date. Cardio Pilates is not for everyone, but I loved it. This
workout brought to me back to the torture I put freshman through when I
was captain of the wrestling team back in high school. Except now I feel like a 32-year-old freshman.

I will take this every week for the rest of
the Quest and believe it will be one part of my success. I think this is
a class you hate during and love the results after!!

I had another proud moment last week: I was at one of my accounts on
Friday and they have started a weight loss challenge in their office
because of my success. They are three weeks in and one of contestants
thanked me because she was down sixteen pounds. It was a great feeling,
but I told her it was her that she needed to thank because she's the one who did it.

Down 22lbs year to date and I will achieve 30 by the end of the Quest
for your Best!!