At the beginning of the twelve week challenge in January, 1999 I invited others to join along as I embarked on a journey to lose fat and build a better body. I asked if perhaps you would like to dive into the challenge as well. If you declined please reconsider, the results are real and your life will be enhanced in many ways. I continue my lifestyle with twelve week fitness challenge and my ultimate goal is 10-12% body fat. If you should decide to make a commitment to have a better body and don't know how to start please feel free to contact me.

Fortunately the turning point wasn't a heart attack or some other overweight related disease. Was it a health club flyer in the mail? No, it was a luncheon, of all things, and at a place that had less than healthy food choices to boot. I was at an Exchange Club luncheon one afternoon in July of 1999. The guest speaker, Allen Boone of a local fitness supplement store, was speaking about health and fitness. He asked the audience "How many of you would like to have a better body?" Well, everybody raised their hand, including myself. He went on to discount the common excuse of not having time for fitness. He stated "We all have the same twenty-four hours in every day, including  those fit individuals that are just as busy as us".  This statement made a serious impact. His speech came just days after I was pondering why I could not find the time to get into shape. After the luncheon I paid Allen a visit at his store and admitted that I really didn't have a valid excuse for not living a healthy lifestyle. He was kind enough to elaborate on the basics of proper nutrition and fitness. He even called me a week later to see if I had begun my new life style. The rest is history in the making...

Update:October, 2000
It has now been fourteen months since I first made the decision to change my lifestyle to a healthy one. I continue to live my life in twelve week fitness cycles. There has been plenty of adversity along the way and through that I have maintained my healthy lifestyle. Below are some before and after notes for comparison.

August 1999
229 pounds
42 Inch Waist
XL to XXL Shirt Size
Can't run half a block

October 2000
185 pounds
32 Inch waist
Medium shirt size
Prepared to run a 5k race at any given moment

I never imagined that at 37 years old I would be an athlete, a finely tuned machine. Don't self impose limitations; you can make these types of changes as well. Feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.