Mind = Blown

My family at open casting call of "The Biggest Loser" 

with Season 15 Runner-Up, David Brown

It was before dark. Hopefuls started showing up at the Planet Fitness in OKC when most people were still asleep. They brought lawn chairs and blankets. They came by themselves. They came with friends and families. It didn't matter the age. Male or Female. Everyone was there for one purpose. They were all hopeful they would get picked for the next season of "The Biggest Loser." Everybody had different stories. Everybody had their reasons. There were a few at first. Then more showed up. The few became ten. The ten became a hundred. Till eventually the line wrapped around the strip mall and around back down the alley. More than a thousand people had showed up. Each one hoping they would get a call back. 

I was one of the lucky ones. The company doing the casting held a contest on Facebook. Be one of the first five people to take your picture in front of the Planet Fitness where the open calls were being held and get a front of the line pass. The odds were against us, but me and Melody drove fro our little town of Washington, just south of Norman, to 44th and Western in OKC. Soon as we pulled up, Melody said #4 just posted a picture. We hurried and pulled up. I jumped out and she took my picture. I got my picture sent and clicked on refresh and saw another picture ahead of mine. CRAP! I just barely missed it! I sat the phone down and drove the sad ride back home. A little while later Melody picked up my phone and noticed a message. It was from the casting company. I had made it! I was number 5!

So, here I sat with my family waiting for our chance to go in for our shot at greatness. Excitement filled the air. The current season had just ended, and the runner-up had been from OKC. Everyone in line was talking about how another Okie would get picked. Our plan was simple. I'd wait with my family. If we got in before I could use my pass, I would. If not, I would use my pass, then come back and set with them and help them prepare for their interviews. As you can see in the picture above I was the largest one in our group. At that time I weighed 425 lbs. I was desperate to change my life.

Then the buzz happened. It was small at first, then got loud. We were looking to see what it was all about, when we saw David Brown coming towards us. We shook his hand and asked him a few questions, but he said something that stood out to me that day. "90% of your struggle is in your head."   I could quite grasp what he was saying, but I couldn't forget it. The question I kept having was, "How can I change my way of thinking, when I don't know how to change my way of thinking?" When I started my journey, I kept looking for that magic trigger. That one switch I could flip that would change me, but I never could seem to find it. As I started losing the weight, I started to realize for me there wasn't a switch, but there were two. 

1st Switch - You finally get so fed up with being you, you decide to change. I call it the straw that broke the camel's back switch. One of my favorite sayings I've told myself during this journey is, "If you always keep doing what you always done, you'll always get, what you've always gotten." That drives me to change. I can't keep eating like I've always eaten. I can't keep sitting on the couch like I've always had. If I do, I just going to get fatter and more unhealthy. I've got to change my habits. 

2nd Switch -   Be Active. That's it that simple. Get off the couch. Get out of bed. Do something. Eating is an important part, but activity is just as important. I'm not talking exercise, but moving. I find adding little changes in my daily life has yielded the best results. Instead of lifting a 40lb crate I work, I'll lift 2 and push myself. When I go to the back of our store, I'll take a different route instead of the most direct route, just to get some extra steps. If I have to get up and do something, I try not to get upset that I'm having to get up, but to get excited that I'm being more active! 

Don't get me wrong. Everything isn't all Sunshine and Rainbows. I still have to work hard at losing weight, but when my mind is right, I find it easier. 

Latest Update - Current weight loss is 75.4 lbs. lost. I started with a size 56 waist and last week, I fit in to a pair of  size 48's! I have my first 5k this weekend in the Warrior Way 5k if you happen to be in Washington, OK on the 5th, around 9:00 that morning, stop by and cheer me on! I'd love to see you!

My picture that won me the front of the line pass.

Me in the same shirt tonight. It's a little loose.