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!

Turning new page, my road to redemption.

This article is also being posted on my workout/diet log on Bodybuilding.com in the forums. Username is RickAGriffith, so look me up if interested in future updates.

So I am starting my journey with Team Scivation's diet and workout program today and I am very excited. To say the last few years of my life have been tough is an understatement and it is time for me to take charge of my life and get back to having a great physique.

To let you know a bit about me and my story I'll give a brief timeline of the past few years. I could write about 40 pages describing this but in the intrest of saving time lets make it quick.

Growing up I was always overweight. I went on weight watchers countless times and tried everything I could before I was even 12 years old. Finally in my junior year of high school I started to Body for Life program, which worked very well for me. I went from 245 lbs, to 180 lbs in less that 5 months. I said right then that I would never let myself gain the weight back again, and I didn't for quite a while.

looking good in my senior pics...

I always struggled with acne in high school on my face back and chest and made the decision to go on Accutane (which I don't recommend to anyone). The doctor made me stop lifting weight, which I was now addicted too, and started me on the medication. My prom night was about 1 month into when I had been taking the medication and I ended up having to leave the prom to go home and eventually to the walk-in clinic.

My face had swollen up very big and I had no idea what was going on. I felt like I had been robbed of the senior prom I had worked so hard and lost tons of weight too look good at. I ended up spending 2 days in the hospital before being released after they were sure it wasn't mrsa.

My body started reacting very bad to the accutane and my entire back got tons of acne. I would bleed through any shirt I would wear and I would wake up each morning pulling my bed sheets out of what now looked like open wounds on my back(very painful to say the least). I missed most of the days of school the rest of the year and a severe depression was setting in.

The Accutane eventually stopped any acne from showing up anywhere. While it had done it's job, the severe reaction on my back left permanent scarring all over. I would end up gaining over 50 lbs by the time I finished my dosage. Feeling very ashamed and depressed I would gain over 150 lbs in less than 3 years. Mixed with some very toxic relationships I let other things in my life go to waste as well. My once successful Real Estate business went down with the market and I was in a bad place.

Me currently 45lbs down from my highest weight.

After getting cheated on twice by the girl I lived with and planned on marrying I ended the relationship and decided it was time to get back on my feet. Over the past two months I have lost 45 lbs and have made a commitment to myself that I will never be defeated again.

I have joined Team Scivation for the support and knowledge that I need to get through the tough times. I am started the CHA diet along with the workout I was sent and will be updating my progress and posting results frequently.

I'm not writing this because I want pity or people to feel sorry, just because I want them to know that I am on a mission to change things for the better. Not to judge me from the past, but from what I am going to achieve in the future...

Exciting News and some Progress Pictures to come soon!

Mark and Derek the founders of Team Scivation doing a little flex down.

So I have been slacking a bit on my blog game and thought it was time to step it up a notch. Then again you can't really blame me after the workouts I've put myself through this week on a low carb diet. It's amazing I haven't passed out or thrown up in the gym yet, Although I almost threw up Wednesday actually.

So for the news, I've joined Team Scivation and will be receiving diet, workout and contest prep instructions from some of the very best in the game today. I have been reading some of the books that I now have access too and I am extremely excited to get this started as the information is extremely pertinent and valuable. I am hoping that this will propel and motivate me to keep heading in the right direction and eventually win my competition next year.


Gary just doing his thing

I finished my first full week of workouts for German Volume training along with my good friend G Spot Rogers, or Gary as you may know him. This kicked our asses pretty good this week and was a nice change in intensity from the old routine. I look forward to hitting it even harder next week.

I can see a huge change in my body composition and the way my clothes are fitting already. I was flexing in the mirror last night (don't lie guys we all do it) and notice how good my arms and shoulders are looking. My back width is now more visible and not covered with a fat layer and it looks like my lats are still pretty huge. All in all it is awesome to see yourself changing day by day for the better.

I will include progress pics in my next post...

7 months to a new me part 2- An update

Im just gonna throw in some pics of the beautiful places I want to go in South America.


Well it's been a month since my 7 months to a new me post which means two things, I'm 1/7 of the way there and it must be time for an update on my progress.


Punta del este

I had set out some specific goals and now it is time to let you know that I'm not just talking a big game but following through as well. I also need to update some of these goals to relate to changes in plans.

Last month I set the following goals:

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

So here we go...

1. Lose 90 lbs and get in excellent shape. Did really great on losing weight this month, losing 31 lbs of the 91 I need to lose which puts me way ahead of schedule. Unfortunatly I caught a prett bad cold which killed my workouts over the last week and caused me to gain about 3 lbs. No big deal though I'm gettin back in the gym monday and hitting it hard. I'm perfecting my diet currently and finding new ways to shock my system into losing bodyfat quickly while maintaining muscle mass. Veggies are basically my magic diet pill, when I eat them I lose weight, period.

2. Complete a 5k run in a respectable time. Losing the weight helped in my quest to do this as I am getting closer to being able to run long distances without too much pressure on my joints. I have been doing 30-45 minute cardio sessions to start training to run outside. By the start of may I will be starting to run at the track.

3. Build my website to a $2,000.00 a month profit margin. This one needs some modification. Due to the fact that the website I have is discontinuing the store feature and charging way too much for it and the fact that all my suppliers are horrible except for one I may have to put the site on hold. It is a great idea and can be profitable, but I simply don't have the extra cash to sink into it right now. I'm finding alternate income sources currently and will come back to this when I can make it work.

4. Study the Bible and go to church. This has been my best month of my life as far as learning about religion and going to church every week, if not twice a week. It was just in time too as I really needed it. This and my weight loss goal are definetly the most successful so far.



5. Learn to speak Spanish. Well haven't started this yet, however I got the Rosetta Stone spanish version burned for me (props to Apodoggy) so that is a big step in the right direction. Plus the fact that I'm going to have to postpone my argentina trip temporarily will give me some more time to complete this. I am thinking 5 to six months to become convesational.

6. Make a life long friend. No one yet, haha kind of remind me of the movie I love you man whic was awesome. Hopefully I wont meet a guy who is actually gay and tries to make out with me like the movie haha. I have not made any real good new friends however I have repaired friendships that were not on the best terms and I can say that I am close as ever with my mom who has always been the one person I can count on. Things are starting to turn around for me and I look forward to hopefully finding some new positive minded people to hang out with.

7. Raise or donate $500.00 for charity. I raised over $900.00 at a breast cancer call center so I consider this done, especially since I didn't get paid for it like I was supposed too.


All in all march was one hell of a rollercoaster ride for me to say the very least. Lots of ups but a whole lot of downs too. I am very optimistic about what april is going to bring. I found my tattoo that I've been looking for for 4 years and I will be getting it as soon as I lose 40 more lbs. More updates to come...