One Year

I was sitting on the plane, praying for my grandpa, praying for my family.  I'm sure a lot of my prayer and thinking was wrapped up in legacy and wanting to be a part of the legacy my Grandparents had begun when the smack came.  You know those smacks, right?  The kind you aren't expecting, but when they come boy do they hit you.  When I got smacked, I was left sitting there in the plane wondering about what that smack meant, about what I needed to do.  I didn't know, other than that things needed to change.

When you get hit with the reality of your mortality, general unhealthy-ness and complete lack of stewardship...there isn't much else you can do other than begin to make a fundamental change in how live, act, and eat.  Sitting at around 260 lbs with a 40in waist; my reality check came the day before I was to play in a golf tournament fundraiser for an awesome organization.  Mandy and I talked and we were intent on getting signed up at a gym and it was just time to get healthy.  Next day at the golf tournament I'm given a box of Spark and I was introduced to to the supplements that I would partner with healthy eating and exercise to completely change my health.

Now, one year later, I'm down around 210 lbs, easily fitting into a size 36 waist, lifting what I was lifting in college and running like I never have before.  I cannot believe the change in my health.  I cannot believe I've maintained it that long!  Thank you again to all those who have believed in me, encouraged me, and challenged me to make this lifestyle change permanent.  You are all a blessing!

To those of you who have watched my journey on Facebook or this blog...no matter how infrequent I post...to those who have watched and wondered if you could to, the answer is why not?  The only thing stopping you is you.  I had all the excuses, too busy, my family is all like this, i've got bum knees...and yet, when it became a priority, a necessity, and spiritual issue...all those excuses faded away.  Don't get me wrong, it was hard, absolutely.  There were many mornings where all I wanted to do was hit snooze, or grab the easy snack or meal...all of those temptations remained and still remain.  And yet, one decision, by one decision, by one decision...you build up discipline, you build up strength, you build up courage, and you build up your health.  Be encouraged, let me know how I can encourage you.  Don't give up on yourself, get out there, get after it, and believe in yourself.

I do.  I did.  I am.

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what's in a name

Everyone knew it.  And if you showed up to my house unaware...you knew before you left.  It was my deal really; inherited from my family.  Something I took pride in, something I enjoyed being known for.

You never left my house hungry.  If you did...it's on you.  Because we always had food, and I made sure there was a substantial amount of it.  I encouraged you to go back and get more too.  A family tradition really.  It's how we did things.  We were notorious for making enough food for an army and then encouraging everyone to eat it all.  If someone were ever to say they'd been "Mucci'd" it would definitely involved the pain the felt in their stomach after they ate everything that had been served them at our house.  To be Mucci'd would be defined as leaving Nick's house and feeling as if rolling to your car was actually a possibility.

And then this past week...being "Mucci'd" took on a new meaning.  Throughout this journey towards a healthy life I've had the opportunity to share my story with friends; to answer questions about how I'm working out, what I'm eating.  I've been able to share about Advocare and how it has been instrumental in helping me change the way I view food and health.  The whole gamut.  It's crazy and exciting.  I worked out with a great friend this week, we did a workout that is similar to thing I had done before; it had come straight out of a magazine.  Our first work-out was Monday and the next night as he slowly entered his leadership team meeting at church, he was greeted with smiles and referencing his wearied legs was asked, "You've been Mucci'd, huh?"  He shared the story with me and I laughed it off.  And then after the end our our workout that phrase showed up on his Facebook page again from his own typing.

Mandy and I talked today after I had gotten home from the gym and the way she looked at me and told me how happy she was that to be "Mucci'd" involved getting healthy...let's just say, there is nothing that can encourage, strengthen and lift me up than to hear that from my wife.

I'm reading, I'm trying to learn the best way to get healthy by eating right and exercising in ways that can give me the best results for being healthy.  I'm thankful for the chance to do it alongside my bride, and now in the gym with a great brother.  If you are wanting to get healthy, if you want to join two guys, who aren't experts, but are going to work their tails off to be in shape.  Then join us.  Monday's @ 1, and Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:45 at West Coast Fitness.  Don't know if you'll say you were "Mucci'd"...but you'll have fun and get healthier in the process.

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New Year Adventures

The New Year is upon us.  And if this is news to you, then you probably aren't on facebook, twitter or a part of first world society...which means, you probably aren't reading this...so....

...this is awkward...

anyway, i'm stoked for another year and for more improvements in my health and wellness. I'm ready to try out some different work-outs as well as make some other changes in my diet. But the thing I am most excited about are the three races I'm definitely doing this year.

May 31st - Rugged Maniac (5K) at the Portland International Raceway


Aug 2nd - Spartan Race (5K) in Washougal, WA



TBD - Spartan Race (10K) in Seattle, WA

Here is my challenge to you...join me.  What have you got to lose?

You'll probably lose a lil lbs, but you will gain your health and enormous amount of satisfaction, strength, and encouragement.  You'll find you can do more than you had ever expected.  Finishing last year's Spartan Race was definitely a milestone for me...I knew I wanted to do it, but the idea of doing anything for 3.5 miles received more of an eye-roll as I eased back into the couch rather than being fired up to do another!!  And this year, I'm doing one of the longer ones!  So, let's get going.  If you can't do one of these races with me, then find a race, something, anything...that you think might be just a bit out of your range, and sign up. 

 Clearly, don't try and do a marathon if you've never done a half or even a 5K.  Don't do one of the longer obstacle races if you haven't conquered a short one.  

So pick one, tell me what it is, and then let's get it.  You'll never succeed if you never take the shot.


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Now, if the first thing you want to do is to just get healthy, then start with what I did...hit up this 24-Day Challenge.  From now until Jan. 21, the challenge is on sale for $175.  The stuff works!  You know my story, but one of my closest buddies drop almost 30 lbs on the challenge!  Mandy dropped 2 pant sizes.  It was the motivation I needed in the beginning to make a lifestyle change.  So, spend the money on yourself, your health is worth it!!

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Home Workout Challenge

It's been a while since I posted on here.  I kept logging in on our blogger site and it would say something about Malware and I'd quickly get off!  Thankfully, that has been taken care of, so we are BAAAACKK!  Thanksgiving and Christmas have past, and let me say, as my first MAJOR test on eating, I passed.  These holidays are always binge eating times for me, goes back to my family culture of eating being an event rather then something we do to survive.  I enjoyed what was cooked, but I didn't gorge myself on desserts, sweets or second or third helpings!  Thankfully, staying on the Advocare products has allowed me to keep my focus on what I am putting in my body.

Exercise has taken a bit of a hit due to family events and time off to spend time with the kiddos, but I'm excited and ready to get back at it.  About two years ago, Mandy bought me one of those pull up bars you put on your door frame, and just last week I took it out of the box.  The pull up has ALWAYS been a nemesis of mine.  It was the rope climb that killed me at the Spartan Race and I am determined at my next race to kill it!  So, we busted it out and I hung it up and decided to give it a go.  Cranked out four right away, and I didn't tear the molding off the door frame!  For the next week as I'm home with the family a bit more than usual, I'm determined to work on that.

Here is my other plan.  As we face tightness of our budget and our time, I'm going to create home work outs that allow me to get exercise and spend time with my kids.  I'll post some various videos of the different exercises and workouts on here.  I challenge you to do some of it with me!  Here's my goal for what I'm going to do today; not in any kind of order:

200 Crunches
4 - 1 minute planks, one of them with Mia on my back
3 sets 12 of benching Dom, 3 sets of 20 benching Eli, 3 sets of 40 benching Mia
30 Body Squats
50 burpees
40 pushups with some combination of my kids/wife sitting on my back
15 hand-stand pushups
50 Children weighted bent rows
20 pull-ups.

I'll do the breakdown of how I accomplished this later, along with a video. Let's get it!  Who's in with me??'

*****UPDATE*****

Here's an image and a video...kids favorite is when I bench them, I tend to end by chucking them onto the couch....

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Not Soft Anymore

Not going to be a long one...just a fun one.  I've been focusing lately on doing workouts and eating foods that help to cut fat, the internal fat that I've stored up for 32 years.  This is going to take some time...but I've been doing my best to stay on that focus.  I recently asked for help in eliminating all the extra insulation I've built up over those elusive abs that I'm told are really there...here is what my friend SJ McShane said: abs are built in the gym, repaired in sleep and revealed in the kitchen.  She also suggested I change some of my workout regimen to include some HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts.  So I've been at it...and guess how I knew it was working...

I'm not ashamed to admit that my love language is physical touch...I love hugging, cuddling with my wife.  I don't even care what we are watching on tv (Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, who cares?!) I'm cuddling with the greatest woman alive!  And then one night as we sat on the couch, she kept fidgeting.  Her head was on my shoulder and she kept shifting...and that's when she said something I thought I'd NEVER hear from her mouth.

"I think I found a downside to your working so hard at getting healthy."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Your shoulder isn't comfortable, it's not soft anymore."

I told her I was sorry, because you know, I love cuddling, so a part of me was sad...but inside I was like this:

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The Right Goal

Alright, we are back from Boston.  I didn't quite hit my bench goal, maxed out at 275.  Not bad after a 10 year hiatus from lifting...but more to go.  I've been thankful for goals like that.  Every time I hit a goal, I get to set a new one...it's like checking off the list.  My wife loves making lists, whenever we have a lot to do, she always wants to make a list of those things rather than just attacking it...I personally think it's because she likes the physical act of crossing things off her list...but there is some wisdom there.

I tink one of the main struggles I faced when losing weight is that I always set the end goal.  I want to look like this:

Yeah, so what.  And when that doesn't happen in a month or so, i'm done...back to eating what i want, when i want and doing nothing for exercise.  That goal seemed way to impossible.  But then two things changed.  First, the end goal changed...it wasn't about being able to be in an underwear ad (I'd never do that)...it was about being healthy, it was about honoring God with the physical body I've been given to steward..  And second, my focus changed.  Instead of focusing on where I want to be at the end, I focused on small things.  First it was the 24 Day Challenge.  24 days, I can do that.  And when I saw the results, 10 lbs and 4 inches, I set a new goal...now it became dropping a pant size, or staying at the gym 4-5 days a week, or choosing a healthy snack, today.  Slowly, shortly...the goals became habit, the gym has become a habit, fruit and veggies for a snack has become a habit.  And now, I'm benching 275 again, I weigh 208, and I'm can tell you I'm meeting my goal, each and every day, I'm healthier, I'm stronger, I have more energy...and my kids are no longer eating everything they can to look like the basketball that was in Dad's belly...now they avoid french fries, because they don't want to get lazy and tired.  Set those goals, make them ones you can meet, make them intrinsic motivators, rather than extrinsic.  I'd love to look like that dude, and maybe one day I might...but that's an extrinsic goal.  I'm going for intrinsic, I want to feel healthy, I want to see my kids health influenced, I want to see others make the decision for themselves to not let their health fall by the way-side.

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If you are interested in knowing more about the 24 - Day Challenge, click the picture or ask me about it. We've seen so many results in ourselves, as well as in our friends.  Would love to share more on our story.

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Back to Beantown

So I'm headed back to Boston in a week or so.  Mandy and I are excited, it will be a chance for just the two of us to be together and focus on our marriage.  We are going to miss the living snot out of our kids, but, it is definitely a needed adventure.  So this morning, she and I went to do a little shopping in prep for the trip.  I have to have some dressy clothes and since I don't wear those kinds of clothes often...read, ever...the ones I have in my closet are for 250 lb Nick.  That doesn't fit so well on 210lb Nick.  That's the exciting thing about losing weight, you get to buy some new stuff.  Downside...that new stuff costs money.  Anyway, we did a little dressing room round-up as I sought to figure out what exactly I could wear.  I still can't believe I walked out of there with a size 36.  Absolutely unreal.

On the Boston note, it leads me to a new goal I've given myself along with this stuff: I've started taking a new Advocare product...and I love it!  This thing allows me to have longer and harder workouts and helps the recovery time.  It's called Muscle Strength.  If you are hitting the gym hard and are looking to help build muscle and speed up the recovery time; this product is great. Be sure to check out the testimonials when you follow the link.  It helps me really drive towards a goal of mine.  My goal is to get back to lifting what I was in college...mainly on the bench.  I'm already close or past in other exercises...but the bench max I had was something I was proud of...so my goal next week, before I go back to the college I graduated from is to be able to bench 300 (which is almost there), at least one time.  I think I'll be there, due to some of my rep numbers, but we'll see.  I'll be sure to update you all before I head out to Boston next Thursday Night.

Stay off the couch, get active and live well!

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