WEEK 3 IN THE BOOKS AT HOME

It's Tuesday, the day I look forward too now because this is the day I face the scale. This week was like know other, I was very excited to jump on the scale this morning after another ass kicking week. For the second Tuesday in a row, I got off the scale "SMH" in frustration about my results. This week I gained 0.4 which put me in a very blah mood, once again I kept my cool and in my heart new I'm busting my ass. With that being said, I must be doing something wrong and I will figure this out because their is NO quit in me. That guy who always gave up on himself is gone, each of us are Worth so much more and deserve everything in life we want. Not only do you have to work hard getting things in life, you must work hard to get your body the results you want and to stay living a healthy life. The easy thing here would be to quit, but that's not an option anymore so I'm going to figure this out and stay focused on the main prize. So I didn't loose but 2 pounds in two weeks, let's make something positive out of this situation. I didn't gain which is a plus, and Ive Hiked over 50 miles in two weeks with spending countless hours in the gym. Not to mention I am off all my medications and just now take vitamins so that's WINNING. Once I got off the scale I immediately e-mailed the nutrition at the Biggest Loser Resort (Skylar) and asked for help, what a great feeling to have such an amazing support group built around us so we can continue to be successful on our journey. It has to be my daily intake, Ive been really trying to stay around 12/1300 calories a day which I think my body just needs more.

On another note, a lot of people have been asking about my knee?? Them Blankety Blanks have been really bothering me each day after I'm done working out. Thanks for all the support from everyone telling me to slow down or take time off. However I just can't do that, Ive learned at the resort it takes 66 days to create a habit so I'm going to push through this pain. Just like anything else in life, nothing comes easy and my knee's are just another road block that won't stop me from reaching my goals. Today I did 5 miles and about an hour in the gym and my knee's ace but not hurt like normal. Only bad thing about being back at home is not having that beautiful pool at the resort to take the pressure off my knee's and still get my work in. It's been great having all the people offer to Hike with me and my little buddy even did 2.5 miles with me this past week.

People are always asking me for advice, I'm still trying to figure this all out myself. I will give this advice to everyone, your worth it .... stop making excuses and fight for what you want. Yes, I was that guy over 160 pounds ago saying that's easy for you to say, but now I'm that guy who followed that advice and lost over 160 pounds. I did all of this with not making excuses anymore and just pushing through the pain. I will not lie and tell you it's going to be easy, but I will tell you that if you put your mind to it, you can do this. People loose weight in various ways, I'm really proud of myself doing it the way of hard work. Not taking anything from anyone that's had surgery because I was thinking about it myself, but deep down inside I new that I'm one bad "MF" and have the heart to get this done.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to read my blog and continue to support me on a journey that will continue for the rest of my life. What's been great is all the people in the public who approach me and say your that guy, keep up the great work, you look wonderful. All of you make me wanna push that much harder each day, everyone says I'm motivating them but you all don't realize how much your doing the same for me.

Congratulations to Lyndee for a great Month at the resort, now my fellow brother (Firefighter) Chuck is starting his journey at the resort.

Until next Tuesday, wish me luck trying to figure out what's going on with my body and too another great week !!!

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.

WEEK 3 IN THE BOOKS, NOW STARTING WEEK 4 HERE AT THE BL RESORT

It's Tuesday of week 4 here at the Biggest Loser Resort !!!!! Last week was really good for me, I took on the scale Sunday morning and lost another 11 pounds. If anyone is doing the math, that's 37 pounds in three weeks here at the BL Resort. I spent Sunday getting a few things done and just relaxing as the weather here was nasty. So Monday came, had to miss my Hike so I could get some personnel stuff done at home/work. I am 90% done with having a 5th week here at the BL Resort which would be amazing since Ive lost time because of my knee injury. However, since Monday Ive been in a funk and for some reason can't find myself getting out of it as of now (Tuesday Lunch). This is not good, one thing you learn is stress hurts your journey of loosing weight. I really won't say much on what's going on, but hopefully everything will be worked out before Wednesday so I can try and salvage this week. Time is coming to a end for me here at the Resort and I need to utilize it and push hard for my short time left.

I am kinda sad this week as well, Ive got really close with my Hike group and most are gone or have been moved to another van. I should of been moved weeks ago, but they are holding me back because of my knee. This sucks, but I have to look at the big picture that if I can Hike 4 or 5 days in Van 1 that's better then only 2 in a higher Van. My girl Angie got moved this week and she is my Hiking buddy, she rocks and I will miss her this week. She is one strong lady, she is over 50 and she is kicking ass and I'm so proud of what she has accomplished over the past 3 weeks here at the BL.

Yesterday I did have a really good work out in all my evening classes and I hope to follow this up today after lunch because Ive been in this huge funk since Monday morning. Today, I'm going to work out for open gym instead of relaxing so I can try and get out of this slump. We have hump day tomorrow and it's time I turn it up for the remainder of this week. To my fellow brothers working on my issue, thank you for the support.

Once again, just want to thank everyone who has been sending me cards, e-mails, text, etc for all the support through this amazing journey. When I started this back in December, a family friend named Richard Baxter posted a comment that said basically don't do this for anyone but yourself. He went on to say that it may sound messed up but you will understand it when you figure it out. I must say that's stuck with me and I can say that this is 100% about ME !!! I am doing this for ME and I'm taking this time finally for myself to change my life for the better. I may be leaving here in a week/two but this journey doesn't stop when I get home. I must take everything Ive learned here and put it into my every day life and keep going strong to reach my goals. This will happen at some point this year in 2012, and I can promise this time I will not be returning back to my old life style that made me miss out on so much. My goal is when I get home to keep going strong and pay it forward to anyone who needs my help.

Until my next Blog, everyone enjoy your week as I try and reach down and figure this little bump in the road out I'm having.

10:12/Team Monk Rocks !!!!!

www.shutupandsweat.com for Celebrity Supported. Athlete Approved gear !!!! Thanks again for the shirts Mike & Rob !!!!

CHECKING IN FROM THE BIGGEST LOSER RESORT AFTER A NICE HIKE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL THURSDAY

What is up team Monk ???? It's been another amazing start to my third week here at the resort. Update on my knee's, they are still hurting me badly (Pain Is Temporary ... Pride Is Forever). I can promise you one thing, their is no quit/stopping in this guy who is on a journey to becoming the man Ive wanted to be. Over the weeks, several people have asked me how do you do it with the knee's ???? As Tonya would say, suck it up and remember what brought you here, you can do anything for 2 minutes. I can't get her out of my head no matter what the Challenge is here and it makes me push to a place that I never knew assisted. She is the best, truly amazing person and I feel very lucky to have the pleasure of working with her while here at the Resort.

I told myself this weekend, that I'm going to try and take it to the next level this week and push myself until I had nothing left, I'm well on my way of having another wonderful week doing just that each day. Last week I could only Hike three days because of my knee but I put so much extra work in the pool and the gym to still have a 10 pound weight loss on week 2. This place is all about your Journey, but I'm a person who is very competitive when it comes to doing things. We could be tossing rocks at a tree and I want to win, so here is my point. This past week Ive wanted to be the top dog of my group, so Ive used everyone to make myself push harder to accomplish this goal of mine for week three. Monday we had a Hike and it was a Challenge, I crushed this Hike and did what I wanted to accomplish. On Tuesday I wanted to repeat this and I did just that having another wonderful Hike. On Wednesday I took the Hike off (Knee) but really did well in the gym. I had a emotional roller coaster though trying to support a fellow brother here who was having a hard day, then I had to meet with the life coach before lunch. I got a lot off my chest but have a lot on my mine as well.

Here comes Thursday, this morning we did a Hike with another van, here everyone is put in various vans depending on your pace. I was not feeling it this morning, but when I found out a higher van would be going with us, I put on my game face and was once again in the front of the pack. It's definitely not about being better then someone else but it's just human nature to want to push yourself which I'm doing. Today we visited the place where "Mash" was produced back in the day. Myself and my buddy Dan really pushed to finish this Hike in the front of the pack which we did by a long shot, very proud of ourselves. We actually ran out of time so the van came to get us but myself and Dan would not stop and wait and took on this monster hill before they could get to us. We started what we finished, taking the easy way out is what got us here.

With us getting back so late, I'm taking this time to ice my knee's before lunch and wanted to Blog real quick and say hello to team Monk !!!!! With this being said, keep moving and take your life back now before it's to late, Handwork and Dedication is what's going to win this race !!!

It's time for me to go have lunch and finish this Thursday strong so everyone have a good weekend !!!!!!

PS - The Hike guide made me very happy today, she told me if it wasn't for my knee I would so be in Van 5 !!!!