WEEK 2 IN THE BOOKS AT HOME

Hello team Monk !!!!! Well, it's Tuesday which means another day for me to face the scale. Got off work this morning and came straight home and jumped right on the scale. Just new I was going to have great results, but 2.5 pounds later I got off shaking my head asking what happen. Trust me, love the fact I lost weight, but this put me in a blah mood with the amount of work I put in this week. Then I started to think most of the day about what I could of done wrong, at the resort we learned of several things that can effect your weight loss. Then I realized that a few of these things have been effecting me this week so maybe that could be the reason for the low results. Maybe I'm not eating enough calories or not listening to my body (Hurting). So as I type this I'm still lost for words on if I did something wrong this past week. One things is for sure, a few Months ago I would of said screw this and went out for that pizza Ive been craving along with not working out. Another thing for sure, I'm in a better mind set now then several Months ago. Its all good, tomorrow is another day and next Tuesday is another day when I get to face the scale again. With this being said, I'm going to tweak a few things and have a monster week.

This past week, Ive walked/Hiked over 30 miles along with hitting the gym several of them days. Another problem, my knees are hurting me really bad so it was frustrating this morning after all the hard work to see that number. Like I said last week, it's not how you fall but how you get back up !!! Some days I feel like 1100 may not be enough calories now that I'm home. It's not about being home but not having all my meals cooked for me to keep my body going hard on 1100 calories. With this being said, I'm not going to go crazy this week but may raise that number between 1100 and 1500 for my daily intake. On a good note, I went for a 5 mile Hike once getting off that scale this morning then spent an hour in the gym. I'm sure a few of you are saying that 2.5 pounds is good after the week I had last week and this may be true. I'm just being stubborn and hard on myself because Ive raised the bar high for myself and I will achieve my goals.

Now that Ive been home for two weeks, hardest part is eating the same food all the time. I bought the cook books but it's a lot to prepare them meals they gave us at the resort. I need to work on a few things over the next few weeks so I don't get tired of the same thing. I have started a daily journal which keeps everything honest. Stay tuned for another blog next Tuesday on week 3 of being home !!! Remember .... we got this, let's all do it together !!!!!

WEEK ONE IN THE BOOKS AT HOME !!!!

Where do I start, let's start with me being home for a week as of Sunday !!! My weigh in day will be Tuesday (Off Work), but my boy Dan called me Sunday with his results. While at the Resort, Sunday was our day to relax, but first we would face our biggest fear (The Scale). Over the past 6 weeks, Ive learned the scale is not the enemy anymore, it's all in our head. Bottom line, you put the right food in your body and put the work in you will have great results when you get on that scale. Once I came home, I got on the scale that Tuesday and was down another 4.9 pounds which everyone told me you would notice that coming home. So, I started my new journey last Tuesday at home with a 4 mile Hike and a trip to the grocery store to stock up. Since Tuesday, Ive walked 4 to 6 miles a day along with going to the gym and being active in playing sports. Each day I burned between 4 and 5 thousand calories a day, that's sick !!!!! Not going to lie, I felt really confident about this past week with the work Ive put in at home, still keeping my daily intake between 11 and 1200 calories a day (If it's not broken, you don't fix it) !!!!

See, I'm not much of a writer because I went from talking about results for Dan to mine !!! Anyway, my little brother Dan lost another 14 pounds this week, Good Job !!!! This puts him at 65 lbs in 6 weeks while at the resort, he has one more week left (You got this, You've become a man). Now back to me, I got on the scale this morning and lost 18.9 pounds since coming home last Sunday. Do what, this is crazy ... I must of got on and off that scale this morning 5 times until I thought about the amount of dedication and work I put forth this past week. That means I lost over 14 pounds this week myself at home and thought we should celebrate the achievement. Now your thinking Nooooo , but I went and did a 5 mile Hike, then went to the gym for an hour before picking my son up to celebrate. That's right, this is how I roll now in my new lifestyle change and I must admit I'm loving it. Each day I'm working out, my girl Tonya is always with me in my head which helps me continue pushing myself.

I won't lie, doing this at home takes dedication and a just suck it up and do it attitude. Because now I'm home, it's not all about me because I'm back too reality. However, I make sure the time is made for ME each day to get my work in. I learned to be smart and cook my meals for several days in advance so all I have to do is heat them up.

I'm still over whelmed by the amount of support since being home, each day while on my Hike Ive had multiple people stop me and say welcome home, keep up the good work, we've been following your journey. I was in shock, I told my other fellow brother Opie that's been going with me that this is what keeps me going. Trust me, only one person should I worry about doing this for but I would be lien to you if I told you that I felt that way. Not only am I helping save my own life, I'm helping so many others leading by example. People tell me all the time that Ive inspired them, but they don't understand that these people inspire me just as much and keeps me pushing myself every day. It's in my blood to help others, that's what us Fireman do so if what I'm doing is helping others then I will keep pushing until my knee falls off then I will hop.

While on the subject of support, my buddy Dan called me Sunday and told me that he had someone at the Resort because of me. This is what I'm talking about, because of me people are trying to make a difference in their own life's. So I got on the phone with Scott from Chicago who just booked 5 weeks at the Biggest Loser Resort. He told me that my Blog and story was what brought him to Malibu, so I had to call and check on how he was doing today. That's right Scott, I heard that your Hike was a Challenge today my brother, keep your head up and keep pushing. You will have many more days like today, it's not about how you fall but how you get back up. Just remember, Pain is Temporary ... Pride is Forever !!! Just remember what brought you there and keep putting 100 % in and I can guarantee you will look back on this week after your doing two/three times the work in a few weeks.

I still have a long way to go but I'm feeling really good about my first week at home. This journey is going to last a life time, but that's okay because I'm ready for this Challenge. One thing Ive learned over the past 6 weeks, nothing can stop me if I put my mind to it !!! If anyone has any questions for me, shoot them to me on Facebook and I will be more than happy to help you out. Once again, thanks for following my journey and I will continue my Blog once or twice a week with my success at home. Let's all do this together, we got this !!!

Remember this .... drink water, then drink some more water, then keep on drinking water !!!!

FINALLY BACK HOME IN MARYLAND

"Life is surrounded by people who will judge you. The truth is, these people criticize you when you succeed and talk about you when you fail. Live a life that makes you happy and only you happy because truth be told, life is too short and you can never make EVERYONE happy."

Wow, it's crazy how much things in your life can change in 5 weeks !!!! I miss the Biggest Loser Resort so much but it's time to continue my journey at home. Got home late this morning around 2am, finally got to bed around 3am. Man did I miss my son, it was so nice walking out the doors and looking at the smile on his face when he saw his daddy. Got to spend most of the day with him, just sucks because I have so much to do with being gone for 5 weeks. Not only was this a very physical past Month, but it's been a very emotional one as well. I have so much on my mind it's not crazy, guess this is another hurdle being thrown at me in life. I will figure all of this out, just need time to get myself together and see what the future has in store for me. One thing I do know, this journey doesn't end now that I'm home. Went to the store today, bought me some good food for the next few days. I will start back with my routine of Gym/Hike tomorrow morning and continue my new healthy Lifestyle.

Most people are curious about my last week at the Resort, it was a very emotional week for me as I made some really close friendships over the past 5 weeks. My last week I lost another 7 pounds to put me over 50 pounds in 5 weeks at the Biggest Loser Resort. I will never forget this wonderful Opportunity Amanda and the Biggest Loser Resort "Fitness Ridge" in Malibu gave me. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and the amount of support everyone gave me through my journey.

I have learned that this support is much needed when you get home, I have a lot of challenges that I must tackle along the way. I have a wonderful support system around me, this should help me reach my goal this year of being back under 250 pounds. Well, I will continue to Blog once/two times a week on how everything is going now that I'm back home. Just have a lot on my mind tonight, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Thanks for all the support and following my journey !!!!!

I MADE IT .... ONE MONTH COMPLETE AT THE BIGGEST LOSER RESORT

Well, this past Month has been an amazing journey for myself !!!! I must take a quick second and thank everyone at the Biggest Loser Resort in Fitness Ridge for giving me this opportunity to save my own life. Amanda, you are an amazing women and I just want to say thanks for everything your doing for myself and the other 9 who won the contest. This past Month, Ive learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of doing, Ive done things here that I thought would of been impossible. I am grateful for the 5th week so I can keep my knee being evaluated while taking part in the program. I'm 47 pounds down for my Month here at the Biggest Loser, still have a long way to go but I'm going to continue my journey once I get home on April 8. I will never forget this experience here at the Biggest Loser, this is a fresh start for a healthy life for me, along with me finally taking the time to be happy again. On Sunday, two ladies who started the same time as me went home, just want to say thanks Angie & Natalie for all the support you two had when I was having a bad day along with all the good times we shared during our past Month here together. Wish both of you nothing but the best at home and I know you both will continue your journey and be successful.

The past two weeks have been so amazing here for me, I have made some friendships that will last a life time, it sucks we all will be so far away but I know were all going to keep our support system together. Over the past Month, Ive made friends with so many wonderful people who are going through the same thing as me. The support system here is wonderful, nobody judges you and everyone is here for you. I went to Hollywood this past weekend and it was beautiful, one of the best weekends Ive had in a long time. I'm in love with California, I can't wait to come back once a year and do this all over again. This has been one heck of an experience this past Month, I have one more week here to continue what I started.

I lost over 100 pounds before I came, so doing this when I get home can and will happen until I reach my goals. This is a journey I will be on the rest of my life, this is not about a diet but a Lifestyle change I must make for myself. Everyone at home can do this as well, if anyone ever needs my support I'm here for you and we can do this together. It's only Monday and this has already been a very emotional week for me on the reality of this all coming to an end.

Dan, we've been through some good/hard times this past Month, just remember your only 19 and your already a man in my eyes. Your kicking ass and saving your life as well, don't ever think down on your self. I know your sad I'm leaving, but like I told you .... now you have two brothers. We will stay in touch and continue our journey together. You say I'm your roll model and that means a lot to me, but you've inspired me in so many ways little brother. Keep your head up and never look back and go get all the things you want in life, your fighting this battle at the age of 19 and your in for big things in your future. I wish that at the age of 19 I did the same thing, because it gets nothing but harder as you get older. You got this, keep up the good work and I'm very proud of you.