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...

Down 25lbs in less than 2 months!

Well it's about that time for another progress update. First off I was going to write a conclusion to the My Life posts, but I just can't do it anymore to be honest. I thought some one was real who ended up being the exact opposite and that is that.

On to the good news!

Starting weight- 331 lbs Goal- to lose 91 lbs

Current- 306 lbs

Weight loss- 25 lbs

Still to go- 66 lbs

I'm over a quarter of the way there already and it is only getting easier. The most encouraging part is that my diet has been far from perfect with my personal life currently in shambles. When the diet is perfected this goal should be attainable very quickly. I initially alotted myself 7 months to complete this but I have a feeling that I can get it done sooner. I have all the motivation I'll ever need!!!

Cardio has been upped to at least 30 minutes or 45 minutes on non lift days. I can tell a huge difference from the cardio and it is starting to help me drop weight again. I have a feeling 300 will be broken by next wednesday for sure.

I've been lifting as well but am really just trying to get back in the flow and strengthen my stabilizing muscles while getting back to where I used to be. I got up to 50 lb dumbell curls for 8 reps which is a very promising sign. I can tell a huge difference in the way my clothes are fitting and the way my upper body is getting more sculpted.



In a month or so i will post before pictures and my progress pictures up on the blog. By then I'll be a bit more comfortable with my shirt off.

More soon...

An inspiration and a promise for 2010

So lets get the real news out of the way first. August 2010 I Rick Griffith will be competing in the 2010 INBF Washington State Natural Bodybuilding Contest. Yes we are a long way from there I know, and I have a whole lot of work to do, but I'm going to win it. Seriously.

I'm not sure which division I will be in at the time of the competition but I'm sure I can be close to the heavyweight/light heavyweight cut off and decide which division I have the best shot in. Possibly the novice men's division would be a good starting point, however I really want to win the men's heavy weight and think I have a shot. Starting German Volume Training again this week so that should kick my ass pretty good.

If you read this blog and enjoy it by the way please leave me a comment at the bottom of the post. I have heard some good things from friends and it is nice to have the support.

Here are last years winners...

Last years winner heavyweight

Light Heavyweight

Novice Men's Heavyweight


Amazing transformation

Before

After
I recently ran across this link and thought I'd share it with you. This guy is a real inspiration and his progress is remarkable. Losing 210 lbs is absolutely amazing, see his story for yourself.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bradley_davis.htm

More on this next week...

One Week in, I need to network!!!

Well I am a week into my 2 year plan and feeling pretty damn good to tell the truth. Down 7lbs this last week and falling by the day. Just got out of the gym hit my chest hard and got some cardio in so I'm feeling great. For all my future workout updates visit my Bodyspace blog at http://blog.bodybuilding.com/RickAGriffith, I'll be updating this 2 times a week at least and letting you know how my progress is going.

It hasn't been an easy week in alot of aspects of my life but things are looking good, they really are. I have a job opportunity at Edward Jones Investments that looks really good to me. They have a great company set up and I think i could be immensly succesful there so keep your fingers crossed for me.

So I'm not going to lie I've been blowing off networking events on a weekly basis and coming up with excuses to why I can't go like,"well it is a 1/2 mile walk". Bottom line is I gotta get out there and meet some new friends and business people. I dont do nearly enough of this and this is how connections are made and things are accomplished.

Heres the breakdown of what I did to move toward my 7 months goals this week

1. Lose 91 lbs- Worked out 5 of 7 days and pushed myself very hard while eating pretty well. Down 7lbs this week, 72 to go.
2. Run a 5K- Lost some weight and started increasing cariovascular health should be running by late april.
3. Grow my business to a $2,000.00 mo profit margin- Got some great ideas and designs for our own brand of jeans custom made for each customer.
4. Read the bible study it and go to church- Whoops, I gotta do this next week better
5. Learn to speak spanish fluently- I went to El Pariso does this count? I gotta get rosetta stone.
6. Make a lifelong friend- Met a very nice guy named Onur who is helping me make my business ideas come to life.
7. Donate or Raise $500.00 for charity- Raised around $900.00 over the phone cold calling for Breast Cancer Prevention.

So far so good...