My 25 things before I turn 25 an update of sorts

So bottom line my blog has been slacking and I apologize to anyone who actually reads it. Anyways I made a commitment to myself and my readers that I would complete 25 tasks/goals before I turned 25. I am almost 3 months in and was thinking today that I haven't even gotten started, but then I looked back at my goals and was pretty surprised at the progress I have made in less than 3 months. I promised to keep my readers updated and that's exactly what I'm going to do.


Had to throw in a shot of the good stuff, Just about to start using it can't wait!

For the full list you can refer to my February post and read through. Here are some of the obstacles I have made at least some progress on so far...

7. Donate at least $2,000.00 to Charity-
Ok ok so I know I didn't donate $1,000.00 of my own money to charity yet, but I did raise that much for breast cancer prevention back in March and money to a good cause is just that. I'm counting it, 1 more G to go!


9. Compete in Natural Body Building contest-
Probably the task I have made the most progress on so far. I've lost 53 LBS since the last post and been in the gym and on my diet to a T. Not only that but I have been in contact with INBF competitors and judges and I am extremely excited and feel good about my chances in August 2010. Just wait, I will win it...


11. Read and understand the Bible-
Its not an easy read and much of my learning has been done at church with the pastors interpretations. I'm not saying everything he says is exactly right and how it should be interpreted but I know I didn't spend my entire life learning about the book so I will concede that he knows quite a bit more than I do. Either way making great progress and feeling much more content with life.

12. Get in the best shape of my life-
I feel absolutely amazing right now. I have made such huge strides and I know that I am locked in for good now and there is no going back. Locking in with Team Scivation has made all the difference in the world in keeping me motivated and on track. I have gone from wearing XXL's that were tight on me and 46" jeans that were snug, to 40" pants and XL shirts that have room to breathe. I feel alive and ready to conquer the world, and stubborn bodyfat of course.

13. Be able to do 25 Lat pull ups (wide Grip)-
Not gonna lie I can't even do one yet but losing over 50lbs should sure help. 35 more and I am going to be starting these.


14. Bench 315lbs-
I don't know where I am at because I haven't maxed recently. However I did throw up 225 LBS 6 times un assisted last week and can feel how much stronger I am getting. It is just a matter of time till this one is checked off.

15. Get an article I write published-
Nothing close yet, haven't been trying too hard but some doors have been opened for me and I am now interested in not only travel writing but potentially fitness writing as well. We will see how the next year plays out but I have something in the works...

16. Record my life through my blog weekly
Ok so not weekly I know but I have been doing a decent job at staying on top of this minus the past few weeks (no internet at the new house). Be assured I will be back on my blog tip.

18. Make my own CD in a studio-
I got some beats mixed for me and am working on lyrics, this shits gonna be legit seriously. I wouldn't make it at all if it wasn't. More on this soon.

19. Run a 5k-
Started running the other day after taking a 4 year break haha. I feel surprisingly good. It sounds dumb but my sprints felt very fast. I am working at getting my distance up but am adjusting to outdoor running which blows. I'd say a 5 K by August should be no problem.

So as you can see I am making progress but as they say "Quitters never win and Winners never quit" Which means I have to bust my ass and keep on keepin on.

Oh and a new short term goal lose 38 more LBS by August 15th... And it will happen!

Breaking down the Wall, A fight to remember

8...9...10 ahhhhh, I grunted and dropped the 60lb dumbbell beside me on the floor. I just paused there for a second, bent over on the bench with sweat pouring off my head and splashing down in the floor. My breaths were deep and fast and I was exhausted from the intense workout I had just completed. Now upright and sitting on the bench I thought to myself, this is it, I have broken down the wall that has stopped me so many times before and I am now in control. The past month I have battled like I never had before in my life and now it is over. I am the winner, and I am again in control of my body and let me tell you its feels great.

A month earlier I stared up at the ceiling as the light reflected off the Puget sound and through my blinds that were open. It was 1:00 p.m. and I had been laying like this for over 2 hours. In that one fateful moment I had realized that my life was circling the drain.

The dream condo I had once bought with my lovely girlfriend was 2 months from foreclosure. The lovely girlfriend? she was gone too. The six figure bank account was now 2 digits oh and my income from real estate was non existent as well. The Excrement had hit the fan to say the least and to say I was down and out would be an understatement. At my heaviest weight of my life I was also in the most depressing part of my life. 331 lbs was what the scale read and I was shocked and embarrassed.

Sometimes you need a wake up call to pull you out of a rut that you are in. This was more than a wake up call, it was more like waking up to one of your frat buddies pouring ice cold water on your special place. As I layed there paralyzed by fear, resentment and anger I knew there were two options and two paths I could take. Give up and let go, or battle like hell back to the top. Luckily I choose the later.

This morning I stripped down took a few deep breaths and hopped on the scale for the moment of truth. I knew it's be close, maybe tomorrow I thought. 3 seconds later and unfamiliar number popped up starting with a 2. That 2 was all I needed to see, I let out a loud extravagant grunt, batted my chest and threw a fist pump of Tiger-Like proportions. I had lost 32 lbs and more importantly broke the 300 lb barrier that had been haunting me for over 2 years.



While this is only the start of my journey, this is what keeps me going. I seem to be finding "new-old" outfits everyday from my lighter days and this keeps me excited to keep hitting the gym on a daily basis. In celebration of this feat I'm taking a 2 day break and recuperation, even eating a little bad before getting back on the wagon so I can keep my sanity. I'm not there yet, but I know now that I will be. 299.7 lbs and its falling everyday. While the rest of my life is a work in progress I can tell it is all turning around. Bittersweet from anyone else's prospective yes, but it sure feels sweet from mine today.

More soon...

7 months to a new me

Well as you know if you've been following my blog, I am on a mission over the next 2 years of my life to complete 25 life changing tasks. I have broken them into 4 terms to simplify them and ensure that I actually complete them.

For next 7 months, I have broken down my list to 7 main goals. They are as follows:

1. Lose 90 lbs and get into excellent shape.
2. Complete a 5 k Run with a respectable time.
3. Build my website to a $2,000.00 a month profit margin
4. Study the Bible, go to church every Sunday and learn about my religion.
5. Learn to speak Spanish fluently, or enough to hold conversations.
6. Make 1 lifelong friend.
7. Donate or raise $500.00 for charity

My future blog posts will cover my progress as well as other adventures and fun facts I'm sure.

So how is the first week going? Well it's only been 3 full days since I turned 23, but I have made some major steps in the right direction. I have started on my new workout regimen which is going very well, as well as a strict diet and no alcohol policy.


I really don't want to look at all like this.

Here's an example of my workouts so far:

Monday- Chest & Back with 15 min cardio warm up before hand. Cardio is 15 minutes of walking on the treadmill anywhere from 3.2 to 3.8 MPH with an incline of 0-7 to maximize fat loss and minimize muscle loss. I will progress to higher intensity cardio after i lose a bit more weight and start preparing for the 5K.

Dumbbell Bench press- 3 Sets descending reps 55X15, 60X12, 60X8

Dumbbell Incline flyes- 3 sets descending reps 30X15, 35X12, 35X8

Lat-Pull downs (wide grip)- 3 sets descending reps 130X15, 130X12, 140X8

Dumbbell Rows- 3 sets descending reps 60X15, 60X12, 65X8

Tuesday- Shoulders & Cardio. 20 min Cardio, walking on treadmill

Overhead dumbbell shoulder press-3 sets 35X15, 40X12, 45X8

Machine military overhead press (finishing exercise) 1 set 120X13

Wednesday- Bi's, Tri's and cardio- 20 min cardio on treadmill.

Dumbbell Bicep curls- 3 sets 30X15, 35X12, 40X10

Preacher curls machine- 3sets 90X15, 110X12, 120X10

Tricep Push outs(standing overhead)- 3 sets 90X15, 90X12, 100X9

Machine tricep push downs- 3 sets 90X15, 110X12, 130X8

Thursday Leg Day- No cardio

One legged leg press- 3 sets 90X15, 180X12, 230 X 10

Quad extensions- 3 sets 90X15, 110X12, 120 X10

Hamstring Curls- 3 sets 90X15, 120X10, 140X8

Calf Raises- 3 sets 150X15, 170X12, 190X9

So as you can see nothing too fancy here, I'm trying to ease myself back in and avoid injury set backs. The final sets many times I will work to failure, this is why the rep counts change.

If you would like to follow my workout progress or track your own also be sure to visit www.Bodyspace.com lots of cool gadgets to track your progress. I personally like the weight loss graph, at least I do when it is going down.

Now this next part I wasn't going to include for the public to see but I decided to anyway because I'm shameless. It is always embarrassing for a big guy to share his weight especially for me. But in order to complete my challenge I figure it will give me a little motivation. So here it goes...

My highest point (aka wanting to kill myself)- 331lbs

Currently- 313lbs

Goal- 240lbs

Total lost- 18lbs Still to go 73lbs

So there it is. If I wasn't 100% confident I will complete this challenge I wouldn't have written that believe me.

As far as the other goals go?

Well I worked at a call center Monday for 7 hours and raised about $900.00 for breast cancer prevention cold calling. I guess I can cross off Number 7 on the list. The website is coming along, albeit very slowly with way too many dumb issues. And I'm looking for that new lifelong friend(no homo) so holler at a player if you see him in the streets.

More updates soon...