Down but Not Out

I am so close to my goal of 199lbs I can taste it.  I have hit that all to familiar wall again though.  I was injured in an auto accident in August and I have had very little time at the CrossFit box as a result of that.  It has been a life changing thing-  I had my routine- my schedule and things seemed to be going really great!  I am so close to hitting a personal goal I set back in December 2011- being able to Deadlift 400lbs (my previous body weight)  I acheived 395lb deadlift one week ago.  But my progress of losing weight and building strength is slow.  My entire right side is in varied amounts of pain from day to day.  I want to do so much but I worry that I'll injure myself more severely. 

With all of this I cannot lose sight of the things I have committed to accomplishing. 
Its getting close to the end of this year and I will not leave anything unfinished.  I MUST- I WILL DO THIS.

215lbs.

16lbs. to go!

Believe and Do

"Though we may fall- we rise again.
Though we may bleed- we heal.
Though we may tire- our movement will not cease.
We are Warriors of the mind and body."


-M.S. Gold




There is a frame of mind- a point of clarity that I came to-it has helped me to push on, to keep going when my body wants to stop- and it is "I WILL"
Instead of "I can" or "I should" or "I Could" I tell myself "I will do this"


When I was born, my parents saw right away that I had a birth deformity.  "Chronic Clubbed Foot"  My ankles were turned in so far that I really had no ankle.  After multiple surgeries to rebuild and repair my broken little feet and Casts and metal pins and special shoes and clinics and Dr. visits galore....my feet still didn't quite work.  I should have been unable to walk, but I did- because I wanted something more that what I'd been handed.  I just had to work for it.  I have worked hard, and I'm here... walking.  Sometimes in pain- but that pain is manageable- I can over power that pain, through work- and training- through the therapy of consistency and dedication to my sport, I AM GROWING.  This may seem like a Rant but I'm just trying to make this so clear.  I do- what I do- because I have made the choice to do it.  It didn't come to me easily.  

to those that may read this and seek the magic pill answer to their questions-sorry if you didn't find it here :)


Believe and Do.   


(I am participating in the Kansas Half Marathon on April 22nd.  I wish the Dr.'s (that told my parents they should give up spending money on my feet) were still alive.  Look at me now.

Shedding Time

(Side story)

Two Years ago I participated in my first 5K.  I walked, ran and jogged for just under an hour to reach to finish line.  Fast forward to this year (I hadn't really run for any distance since the 5K) I ran 4.04 miles in less time.  Since joining CrossFit Believe, I have made huge strides in my athletic capacity, it's evident.

Main story:

A couple weeks ago My brother and I went for a run- a 2 mile loop, He was hesitant, he didn't think he could make it.  However, we completed it in 30 minutes which included a little rest.    He was super proud of himself for finishing (as was I)

Today we ran 2 miles for time.  My brother and I finished at close to 25 minutes with NO rest.  in the second 1 mile lap, he took the lead and set the pace.  Made me so proud of him.  This just puts a huge smile on my face.  My brother was a 16 year cigarette smoker who quit smoking, joined CrossFit and changed his life.  Today he is an athlete.  Fitness is our sport and I LOVE that he and I are a part of it.

People exchange habits, sometimes bad ones for good ones.  But, They must WANT IT.  THEY must Do it.  

An Old Friend

Wow- it has been 4 months since I last updated this blog- and believe me- a lot has happened since then.  I moved back to the town that grew up in.  A shocking reentry into the old habits I use to have.  I started smoking again, quit working out and ate very little to compensate.  It was working- I got down to 229 lbs  but when starvation got old, I ate. And it all came back- I went back up to 245lbs.  Depressed, discouraged and (seemingly) defeated- I turned to Christ for strength.  I had sought strength in cigarettes, myself, the world and the gym  but NONE of those worked.  I needed real community- I needed accountability- I needed to finish what I started.  I started talking with an old friend from high school (Alan Joyner).  I followed him on facebook and saw how he was involved in a group called CrossFit.  (www.crossfitbelieve.com)  I saw his amazing progress and fitness capabilities and I wanted to know more about it- I wanted to be apart of something again.  So when the opportunity came up (December 5th) I took the plunge and joined CrossFit Believe.  

 (45lb Kettle Bell Swings)

I have learned that being "out of it" for only a few months REALLY set me back (as my mentor Matt B. warned me about) I am really feeling incredible these days.  Feeling strong, feeling confident and I have a goal in mind that is more realistic for my height and build.  BMI is a ghost- no one knows why they're chasing it- why they want to have that "normal" bmi.  I guess it's because the majority of the people out there want whats normal.  guess I want to do what's best.  199lbs is my new goal.  Lean, Strong,  and Athletic. 

My challenge for 2012 is to hit 199lbs and maintain it.  

I will do it- I CAN DO ALL THINGS, THROUGH CHRIST, WHO STRENGTHENS ME.  

Spring has Sprung

Hello faithful,
I am writing today with Joy in my heart.  I had a phenomenal weekend and Good news to report. 
But let's back up a little bit there!  The last time I'd written I was 267lbs.  Since then- I weighed 263lbs two weeks ago, a great week full of sweat and tears on the elliptical. It was crazy. 
I spent this past weekend with my Dad for his 75th birthday.  I saw my Sisters from Texas and their husbands.  So there was a ton of positive comments and encouragement from them.  My dad told me he was proud of me for the work I'd done in making myself healthier (Which is better than any gold star you got in grade school).

I weighed in this past week 258lbs! that is a 5.8lb loss, which (in the words of Matt B.) is a Fantastic week.  I really think my metabolism is working properly.  So, eating right and the hard work at the gym is paying off. 


I am excited to do some spring time activities.  Playing on the church softball team, going golfing with my brother, and just getting outdoors with my kids on a regular basis to walk, run and play. 


This spring in my step is due to the continued outpouring of God's beautiful, wonderful, generous, and unending mercy.  Praise God for His work in me.
-Luke

74lbs to go!

Stand and Deliver

I promised my leader 269lbs.  With the blessing of God's gift to me in strength and determination- I showed up at 267lbs!  I felt like I could scream it was so exciting!  With a new challenge around ever turn, and the temptation of old stumbling blocks- I have to remind myself of this phrase "I am the God's".
Food was my idol, I leaned on food for comfort, strength, reassurance, affirmation, and consistency.  Food is always around.

This life transformation isn't about starving.  Its not about obsessing.  Its about seeing- truly- for the first time, what living is all about.  I am alive for the right reasons.  I live for the right reasons.  I workout and eat right for the right reasons.  To show that I am God's.  and that He will do great works and miracles in those that lean on HIM instead of the idols of this life.

I was listening to a really good song called "Tip the Scales" by Rise Against.  The song just pumps me up beyond belief.  check it out- if you find the time.

I am going places I've never gone before with this idea in mind.  "live like no one else" 
We'll see what tomorrow holds for me.

83lbs to go!

What Has Been Lost Shall Never Return

OH MY GOSH!  It seems like it's been forever since I posted, and for that- I'm Sorry.

So much has happened in the past month....where to begin?
Lets go in chronological order.  March started out with a 2lb loss- taking me to 272lbs., Then on Wednesday, March 9th- After 14yrs of having thyroid issues, I had the right side of my Thyroid removed (along with a goiter that was 4.5 inches long x 1.5 inches wide (since i don't have real picture- I made a really crummy drawing of what it was shaped like)

that procedure resulted in this little souvenir

it also caused me to gain 10lbs (in water weight) putting me at 282lbs for the second week of the month.
I haven't noticed a huge change so far except for the lump being gone. 
I couldn't eat much of anything that was good for me (or at all), and I was so messed up from the pain medicine I was taking I couldn't work out.  I had to remind myself- recovery and healing was first and most important thing.  Nothing was going to derail my progress however.  So the next week I came to weigh in (unsure of what I would find).  Much to my surprise- I had lost all of that water weight and then some.  I was 271lbs! 
10lbs. of water weight gone and 1lb for good measure :)

This week I am committing myself to staying right on track- I started back to the gym on Monday for Cardio.  I can't do any upper body weight lifting for a while.  I continue to work on core and legs.  I have Committed to Matt B. that I will come in at 269lbs or lower this weekend. 

Pray for my determination- that it wouldn't slow down.  Something that this who process has taught me it that there is NO problem that you can't overcome.  You just have to do the work that is necessary.  THE WEIGHT WON'T JUST COME OFF (and stay off) BY ITSELF,  You gotta want it- Badly.

87lbs to go!

everybody hits a wall, not many break through it.

I sent this to my brothers in T8WC.  A charge of encouragement, can you find truth in this for yourself?  If you can- Use it.  I know that we are not alone in our struggle.

"Hello brothers,

we were all once defeated by Satan in our lives when it came to self control and eating. Today, I can say we have victory in Christ. Should you sin that grace may more abound? God forbid! Don't give up ground that you have won with blood, sweat, and tears.

Behind us is a trail of pounds lost, mountain tops crossed and blood spilled in the name of reclaiming who we are in Christ... we are made in the image of God.

Take your mind back to that first week weigh in. Some guys lost 9...12...even 16lbs!

Stay close to God in prayer, remain COMPLIANT through transformation, not contrition.

Be men of character and men stronger than ANY voice in your head saying 'but you've come so far'. We still have a lifetime to go, gentleman.

Press on."

90lbs to go!

-Luke