-
Weight Loss Update (11-27-22): In The 200s People!
Day 197 of our weigh loss journey! Weight loss update! #weightloss #motivation #glowup #losingweight #foryou #fatboygonelean
-
Pretty Much Says It All!
Yes! Yes they do! #Wisemen still seek #Him!
-
Pivot Then Live It: Part 4
Part 4 of 4!
Faith, Family, and Farmers Markets have been crucial parts of our #success. They are the foundational pillars of what has become a well #balanced #life. In our case, it all starts with #faith…then all else falls into place. If we’ve learned anything through the early stages of this lifelong process, it’s that on our own…we can’t do it. We can’t conjure the #strength to hold ourselves accountable. We can’t make the shift #mentally to #workout on a regular basis. We can’t bring ourselves to push past the #pain that our #bodies go through when we “hit the wall” when we workout. WE CAN’T…BUT #GOD CAN!!!
Which brings us to our more recent #pivot…the future of “butGodcan.com”.
Throughout this chapter of #transformation, Courtney and I have identified various passages of #scripture that relate to what we have experienced. We like seeing where #God has taken us (and is taking us) through the eyes of scripture. It’s a simple way of confirming we are doing His will and not focusing on #selfish gain. PLUS…who doesn’t love to read the #bible?
One word that has constantly popped up throughout our #journey is “pivot”. I’ve used it as I’ve discussed how we had to literally pivot from the #path of #unhealthy living to a path of #physical and #mental #wellbeing. Others have used the word “pivot” as they’ve described what we’ve done in their own words. AND…several of the #Sunday #sermons we’ve heard in #church (and via podcasts) over the past few months have used the word “pivot”.
I really do love the word “pivot”. It gives us this picture (and #hope) of being able to turn from a path that leads to bad #choices, bad #experiences, and bad #relationships…and choose a different path that leads to #goodness and #blessings (the Amaze-balls Path).
As we examined our newly found journey, we identified when (and where…and why) we made the choice to pivot then live a different #life. A life that better aligns with God’s #plan for us. A life that allows us to #minister to other people by sharing our experiences. A life that allows us to grow closer to God, #family, and #friends. And a life that allows us to partake in the #awesomeness that is…the #farmers market (you knew I’d squeeze that in here somewhere)!
What God started 6 months ago with the #75Hard Program is still coming through to fruition. He constantly brings folks into our lives with questions about pivoting to a healthier life…and we LOVE to talk about the strategies and hacks that have brought us success.
We’ve searched, with intensity, for scripture that best summed up our new life experiences. When we stumbled across #Proverbs 3…we knew we’d found our “life verse”. This entire passage lays out a way of life that we’ve embraced. It talks about being kind and giving abundantly from the bottom of our #heart. It covers pursuing #wisdom and being an upstanding citizen. God shows us the importance of loving our #neighbor and being #humble. If ever there was a roadmap to living a healthy and #balancedlife…this is it. The complete scripture can be found at the end of this post. What I want to focus on right now are versus 5 and 6 which read:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
~Proverb 3: 5-6
This one brief passage of #scripture (31 words) brings to light this idea of “Pivoting” and changing direction from a path of #destruction to a path of #righteousness. Pivoting from the race to #fame and #fortune to the race of #selfless #sacrifice. Pivoting from #toxic relationships to #friendships with people who love and respect us. Pivoting from addiction to #drugs, #alcohol, #food, or #porn, to a path filled with #hope and the power to overcome the #demons that have us trapped. In other words…pivoting from the things holding us back THEN #pivoting to a #God who wants us to succeed beyond our own understanding.
By pivoting from a #sedentary life dictated by #food and #laziness (sloth) to a life that centers around #spiritual, #physical, and #mental wellbeing, we were able to break #free of the #mindset that had us convinced we were meant to be #overweight and #unhealthy. We had grown comfortable in the #mediocre, and we were missing out on the #blessings God had intended for us to have.
I think back to that fateful day on that plane ride to (and from) #LasVegas (BABY) where I was “trapped” and forced to sit in a seat that I didn’t want to be in. A seat change that forced other people to abandon their #plans of sitting in a specific seat (one they had paid for) all so that the guy who couldn’t control his unhealthy lifestyle could sit somewhat #comfortably. What a dadgum shame!
While I’m on the subject, it wasn’t just #airplane seats. I had to stop going to #baseball #games because the seats were too small (OK…I was too big). I love baseball. The #path I was on was interfering with my #qualityoflife. Something had to #change!
In addition to my big #body in little spaces issue…I could not walk down the stairs in my #house (our bedroom is upstairs) without turning sideways, grabbing the wall or the handrail, and hobbling carefully at an angle…#hoping I didn’t fall (because 450 pounds falling down the stairs would not end well). Going upstairs took me #forever, and when I finally reached the top, I was totally out of #breath. Y’all…I was knocking on the door of a #heartattack! (p.s. now I can run down those stairs)
I had to Pivot! Not only did I need to #pivot, but I needed a plan that would allow me to live a better life. THANK YOU #75HARD PROGRAM!!! I have no doubt #God brought this program into my life. It literally saved my life! I didn’t just choose to pivot…I chose to #live it. I was ready to live a life of #healthy #eating, #mentalfocus, and #strength and #endurance growth.
I literally had to trust in God and not on my own #understanding of what “living” was. I had to #trust that the #path He had in store for me was far better than the path I was currently on…a path of destruction.
I had to #Pivot…Then Live It! It was a #Mindshift…not just a physical reset. It was a #choice made…that saved my life!
Why am I hammering this home??? Because we feel #God laying it on our hearts to live out Proverb 3. Not only are we going to be living out Proverb 3…we’re going to #share its #sweet #goodness with anyone. and everyone who will listen. We want the masses to #embrace this idea of “Pivot Then Live It!”
What does that mean for butGodcan.com? Basically, we’ll still be #documenting our #progress as we continue down the road to #healthyliving…but we’re going to be doing it under a new “banner”.
butGodcan.com is becoming “Pivot Then Live It! (pivotthenliveit.com). We feel this better describes the path we’re on and the road #God has in store for all of us. It’s the idea of “If you don’t like where you’re headed…then change!” With God’s #grace, #love, and #mercy…we can all do just that…pivot then live it.
We hope you will continue to track our #progress and we hope you’ll let us know how your own #health and #wellbeing #journey is going. We want to be able to #encourage and #inspire y’all…AND we want to be encouraged and inspired by y’all.
Oh…and if you find an awesome #farmers #market or #roadside #producestand…let us know!
Until next time…have a #blessed day!
~Mitch and Courtney
PROVERB 3
My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.
Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.
The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.
The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!
#encouragement #motivation #inspiration #love #faith #jesus #hope #god #christian #bible #believe #prayer #bibleverse #life #truth #peace #godisgood #scripture #positivity #quotes #blessed #jesuschrist #positivevibes #empowerment #selflove #trustgod #grace #inspire #pray #encourage #mentaltoughness #fitness #mindset #hard #mentalstrength #training #workout #fitnessmotivation #hardchallenge #confidence #discipline #goals #resilience #health #strength #duespaid #noexcuses #athlete #grit #coaching #success #hardwork #focus #sports
-
Today’s Fresh Produce Haul (11-26-22): Christmas Sax; Veggies; Pork; Beef; Chicken; and of course…Coffee
Yummy fresh #fruits and #vegetables at the #farmersmarket today! #tomatoes #potatoes #carrots #spinach #onions #squash #radishes #lettuce and of course #meats like #chicken #beef and #pork AND #coffee too! We hit 2 farmers markets and one roadside #produce stand. The #menu this week looks AMAZING Y’ALL!
-
Personal Growth Never Stops!
The concept of “When others get to where I am, they will be where I was” is a powerful reminder of the journey that we all must take to achieve success. It highlights two separate perspectives on success.
First, it shines a light on the fact that we must continuously work hard to sustain success. Success is not something we ever truly accomplish. For example, if we are attempting to start a business, once that business is launched and we have a few customers the journey is not complete. We must continue to build the business day in and day out. Thus, when people reach where we are today, we will be on to the next challenge. If I’m on point “B” of my journey, when other people reach point “B”…I will have already moved on to points “C”…point “D”…point “E”…etc.
This is why it’s so important for us to start thinking in terms of “milestones” as opposed to goals. Achieving a goal paints a picture of completion. When it comes to our health, business, finances, relationships, etc. we’re truly never “finished”. We hit a milestone and then start working on another milestone in an effort to make our endeavor continuously improve.
Second, it is a reminder that we did not get to where we are today by luck or chance, but rather through hard work, determination, and perseverance. It also reminds us that we have a responsibility to help those who come after us, to guide them, and to provide them with the tools and resources that they need to succeed.
When we look back on our own journey, we often see the obstacles and challenges that we faced, and we realize that these obstacles and challenges are what made us who we are today. We may have struggled with self-doubt, fear of failure, or lack of resources, but we persevered, and we overcame those obstacles. We learned from our mistakes, we grew from our failures, and we developed the skills and knowledge that we needed to succeed.
And now, as we look forward, we realize that we have a responsibility to help others who are just starting their journey. We can provide them with guidance, support, and encouragement, and we can share with them the lessons that we have learned along the way. We can help them avoid the mistakes and pitfalls we experienced, and we can give them the tools and resources that they need to maneuver past those roadblocks.
When we help others to succeed, we are not just helping them to achieve their own goals, but we are also helping to build a better world. We are doing our part to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. We are creating a world where talent and hard work are rewarded, and where everyone can reach their full potential.
Steven Covey refers to this concept as the “Win/Win” strategy in leadership. We help one another succeed. We win! They win! WE ALL WIN!
So let us embrace the concept of “When others get to where I am, they will be where I was.” Let us use our own experiences and knowledge to help others to achieve their goals and dreams. Let us create a world where everyone can succeed, and where our imagination and determination are the only limits to what we can achieve.
-
Thanksgiving Weigh-in Experiment: Cheese Crackers! Sweet Potatoes! Workouts! Oh My!
#Healthy #lifestyle update! An unscheduled #weightlosscheck
Happy #Thanksgiving first of all! I made an unscheduled midweek #weighin to see how Thanksgiving eating had impacted my #weightloss #progress.
We had some #amazing #food over the #holiday season! I hope and #pray that you and your #family had time to #relax #recharge and #enjoy each other’s company! #fatboygonelean #pivotthenliveit
-
Pivot Then Live It: Part 3
Part 3 of 4!
As our #journey with the principles, concepts, and #strategies we learned through #75Hard came to an end (mine in August and Courtney’s in September), we were #determined to keep building upon the characteristics and traits that had brought our lives #balance. #Faith. #Family. And #FarmersMarkets. These 3 areas, we like to call “the foundational #pillars” of our family’s “pivot”, have become the driving force behind the success we’ve had over the past 6 months.
What’s crazy is how that #mindset has extended beyond #health and #physical wellness. As we’ve come to terms with the fact that we can do anything we put our #mind to (y’all…I was 450.6 pounds and as of this writing I’m down 140+ pounds) we are now #focusing not only on setting (and breaking) #health and #wellness #goals, but also life goals like growing a #ministry…starting a #business…and helping other people live their #bestlife.
FAITH
The area of our #lives that has been most impacted throughout our #journey has been the #Strengthening Of Our #Relationship With #Christ. We’ve been intentional about maintaining communications with #God through steadfast #prayer, and we’ve been diligent about reading, studying, and reflecting on His #Word.
“Alexa” now fills our home with #praise and #worship #music (as well as Classical music), and we’ve spent countless hours doing deep dives in our #bibles and YouVersion “bible app”. I’m not bragging by any means…I’m letting you in on what we #believe to be an area of our life (all our lives) that needs to be #cultivated so that we can discern what is truly important in life from the distractions that Satan throws at us on the daily!
Our #pursuit of #God and our desire to know His will for our lives has opened our eyes (and hearts) to see the many #opportunities for service within the various communities we are part of. We are desperate to be #obedient, and we are constantly looking for ways in which we can help people.
We are growing more and more passionate about Helping Others #Succeed. I #teach graphic design and #technology applications at a local middle school. One of the things I #teach my #students is how they (and their #families) can take the digital #art we make in class and sell it #online via various print on demand platforms. For years I’ve been taking the lessons I teach in #class and recording them at home through ScreenCastify and turning them into “how-to videos” for students who might be absent the day we covered a certain lesson in class (and for those students who might need a video resource to go to in case they forget a process or strategy). Currently I have 100+ #instructional #videos that teach graphic design #skills AND teach folks how to #sell designs on websites like Redbubble.com and Amazon.com.
I’m currently in the process of taking those #digitalart and print on demand lessons and tweaking them specifically for #teachers. If ever there were an underpaid, underappreciated, and undervalued #workforce…it’s our teachers. I’m passionate about helping teachers gain confidence (during a time when they are being beat down), find a healthy lifestyle pathway (in a time of stress unlike any other in education), and helping teachers bring in some much needed #extraincome (teachers make squat y’all) and #discover a fun and rewarding #hobby that will help them chill and relax at the end of a #stressful day.
Courtney and I are walking through how to add a health component to this “teacher program” will be #strategies, #inspiration, and #encouragement that Courtney and I have experienced and utilized on our journey to live a #healthier life. We are passionate about the wellbeing of teachers and school staff across the globe. This is definitely something that #God has placed on our hearts.
There was a time when I would have convinced myself that launching such an #endeavor would be hard and complicated. Then I’d quickly get bored with the #idea and it would simply fall by the wayside. But now there’s a fire inside me that wants to see this #teacher #community idea come to fruition. I don’t care if I never gain one member…it’s gonna #launch! I have no doubt that this #grit and #determination is a result of my experience with 75 Hard and our continued desire to succeed in the areas of #health and #wellness as a #family. Families that workout together breakout together!!!
We love #Sharing Our Healthy Journey Experience! Since starting our #healthy #lifestyle #journey, Courtney and I have had tons (I mean TONS) of people reach out to us and ask us how we’ve accomplished what we have. We love taking the time to talk about what we’ve done to build a #sustainable #lifestyle of #health and #wellbeing. We can talk for hours on the subject. We even talk to people on the street (literally) who have noticed our #weightloss and stop us to ask questions. We love it! AND…we love offering as much #information about what we’ve done (our personal #experiences) as we can in hopes that the person listening will find something in what we share that will help them start down their own #healthy #living #path.
I recently had a conversation with my #pastor and expressed to him a stirring in my heart to share our #journey with members of the #church who want to #pivot and start living a more healthy life. He agreed that it’s something the church needs…something the world needs right now. Courtney and I are #praying through what a #ministry like that looks like and how best to #minister to people who want to change their life for the better.
FAMILY
It goes without saying (or maybe it should be said) that Courtney and I have grown closer together during this pivot to overall well being. We now have newly discovered “things in common”. We both want to #honor #God…even more than we did. We both want to be #mindful of what goes into our #bodies in an effort to stay #healthy. We both want to help others who are struggling with #unhealthy #habits. We both want to be more #financially #responsible so that we can enjoy #retirement AND so that we can partner with our church in an effort to minister to #folks in our #community who need help (spiritually, relationally, financially, etc.).
We’ve also had opportunities to #workout with our #daughters from time to time. That’s precious time that allows us to reconnect with our #kids and find out what’s happening in their lives. They’re in their 20’s and we rarely get a chance to see them due to their busy schedules. It’s nice to have chances to get caught up with all that’s going on in their lives, and it allows them the opportunity to ask us for #advice. It’s the little things in life that can bring the most #joy.
In addition to #strengthening #relationships within the immediate #family, we have opportunities to strengthen relationships with other family members and #friends (friends are family y’all) as well. Once they hear about the health #choices we’ve made and they see the #benefits of living a more health conscious lifestyle, they want to connect and ask tons of questions and ask for advice. We love to #share what we know (which is only what we’ve experienced). As stated earlier, we can speak for hours on the topic of God, working out, healthy eating, and buying #freshfoods from local #farmers and #ranchers.
FARMERS MARKETS
“Farmers Market” is our code word for “healthy living”…be it our daily #food intake, daily #workout #routines, #mindfulness and #stress #management. Fitness is another area of our lives that continues to evolve and grow is our desire to become even more #fit. We’ve joined a #Gym y’all! We’ve joined a gym…and as of the writing of this post, we’ve had our first #upperbody and #lowerbody workouts…AND I’M FREAKIN’ SORE!
To sum up this current chapter of my life, as it relates to #fitness, I like to tell folks, “I was fat at 50, fit at 51, and I’ll be “physiqued” at 52! In other words…we’re going to focus on “toning up” this coming year.
(*We’re also going to focus on #Financial Harmony…but more on that later.)
Courtney and I feel comfortable enough with our #healthy #eating and fitness habits that we can now begin to turn our focus toward building stronger and more efficient bodies. Adding #muscle and #toning will be major #goals this coming year (2023). It’s been over 25 years since I went to a gym with a plan to get #healthier. We’ve consulted with a trainer and he’s identified the specific exercises and #weightlifting equipment that we need to use to meet our current, and evolving, #goals. We did opt for the “premium” level at our local Planet Fitness so that we can take advantage of the “aqua-massage” and #massage chairs. #Spoiled This next part of our #health and #wellness adventure is gonna be a trip y’all…stay tuned for that!
Farmers Markets (and produce stands) encompass all of the above…and more!
We love actual #farmersmarkets is another area of our lives that we will continue to pour time and #effort into. What started off as a way for us to get access to #allnatural #foods has turned into an obsession. We want to take the farmers market #hauls we make…on the road! We will be visiting popular (bigger) #farmers markets throughout #Texas and beyond. The hobby has evolved into a passion that we want to document and share with the world.
The relationships we’ve built with our local #suppliers (#farm and #ranch owners) have been phenomenal, and they will forever be our source of amazing #meats, #vegetables, #fruits, and of course #coffee (as well as homemade products that everyday mom and pops pour their heart and soul into)! Our idea of “grocery shopping” and the impact it has on our #bodies has changed. Thanks to #roadside #producestands and pop-up farmers markets, we now know what to #shop for and how to shop as it relates to buying foods that benefit “the temple”(i.e. our bodies)!
Which reminds me. If you have a favorite Farmers Market or small roadside produce stand in your area…let us know. We want to find time to visit them ALL.
#Faith, #Family, and #FarmersMarkets have been crucial parts of our success. As stated in the opening of this post, they are the foundational pillars of what has become a well #balanced life. In our case, it all starts with faith…then all else falls into place. If we’ve learned anything through the early stages of this #lifelong #process, it’s that on our own, we can’t succeed…but by God’s #grace…we can!
Which brings us to our more recent #pivot…the future of “butGodcan.com”.
(To Be Continued)
~Mitch
#faith #love #god #jesus #hope #believe #bible #christian #peace #prayer #pray #life #jesuschrist #motivation #blessed #church #inspiration #christ #godisgood #truth #grace #christianity #holyspirit #bibleverse #gospel #trust #amen #worship #wisdom #quotes #family #love #friends #happy #instagood #life #photography #baby #familytime #fun #photooftheday #like #instagram #kids #follow #cute #beautiful #smile #nature #travel #picoftheday #fashion #summer #happiness #art #food #momlife #home #lifestyle #familia #fitness #gym #workout #fitnessmotivation #fit #motivation #bodybuilding #training #health #love #lifestyle #instagood #fitfam #healthylifestyle #sport #gymlife #healthy #gymmotivation #personaltrainer #crossfit #muscle #fitnessmodel #instagram #exercise #fashion #follow #like #weightloss #model
-
Pivot Then Live It: Part 2
Part 2 of 4!
Throughout those first days of the “#75Hard Program” I began to notice a change. NOT JUST #PHYSICAL…but #mental as well. The #pivot I was making from unhealthy to healthy was starting to impact on my mental toughness as much as it was my physical toughness.
Before starting 75H I was…let’s just say…I had a hard time following through. I would start something and either get bored or go as far as I wanted, then quit. I had good intentions, but somewhere along the way, I just didn’t feel like completing the task. Which is sad because I’m the type of person who will jump off a cliff if I feel like what’s at the bottom of the cliff is #rewarding. I’ll jump in head first and give 100%…but there are times when I just wouldn’t ever reach the bottom of the cliff. I grabbed hold of a shiny rock sticking out on the way down and stopped my fall before I got to the base of the cliff and I’d see what fun and exciting things that cliff had to offer. Oh…did I mention I’m #ADD? <Squirrel!>
But for this endeavor, 75 Hard, I wanted to follow it through to the end. I wanted it BAD. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve completed things in the past. I don’t want you to think I was “a quitter” with every #journey I ever started, but this time was different. This wasn’t for financial gain. This wasn’t for status gain. This wasn’t even for personal pride gain. This was for life change. For better health and better mental focus. And once I got a taste of what life could be like through better #lifestyle changes, I was hooked…addicted if you will. Being healthy became my drug of choice.
I didn’t even miss the alcohol. Don’t get me wrong…I wasn’t a “lush”. But I did enjoy my bourbon and Irish whisky from time to time. But I began to notice I didn’t miss it…at all. I am (was) a big social drinker. But my #mind and #body began to enjoy not having the excess calories that are associated with “adult beverages”. Sounds crazy right? Not really…it’s simply a desire to be healthy.
Furthermore, in reading 10 pages of self help or inspirational books a day, a mental shift began to take place. I wanted to know more about God’s plan for the lives of men AND for me specifically. I was #learning more in those 10 pages a day than I did when I was pursuing my Masters degree in education. The knowledge intake was amazing. And the life application was phenomenal. I was reading Phil Roberton’s “The Theft of the American Soul”, Mike Yarbrough’s “Tending the Fire”, Jerry Boykin and Stu Weber’s “The Warrior Soul”, Stephen Mansfield’s “Book of Manly Men”, and Brad Minor’s “The Complete Gentleman: The Modern Man’s Guide To Chivalry”. These books were having a major impact on how I viewed other people, how I viewed various circumstances, and how I viewed myself. The mindshift was awesome!
After about a month into the challenge, Courtney began to notice a change in attitude as it pertained to my eating habits, mental focus, and spiritual aim. She wanted to be a part of the journey and partake in the good things that were coming from this new found lifestyle. So exactly one month to the day of when I started 75 Hard…Courtney began her journey to a #healthy lifestyle.
She did not want to do all of the reading, progress pictures, or water drinking…and she only wanted to do 1 workout a day…but her mind and body were ready to start getting healthy. So on June 15th, Courtney began her #health conscious pilgrimage. And she never looked back. She didn’t want to count #calories at first…she wanted me to do it on my “My Fitness Pal App”…which I tried to do, but between inputting my meals and snacks and her #food, it got really confusing. So after about 2 days, I convinced her to download the app to her phone. It wasn’t long until she was entering her #foodintake like a champ. It really is easy y’all. She utilized the free version of the app. I CANNOT stand ads…so I paid for the upgrade to have the ads removed. I’m that guy.
It was around this time that we agreed that #eatinghealthy would come much easier if we could purchase our #fruits, #vegetables, and #meats from local #farmers and #ranchers. We had already been frequenting a #roadside #producestand on the outskirts of town for about a year and a half at this time. We loved getting #fresh #produce. So we decided to up our visits to this particular stand AND we agreed it was time to start visiting FARMERS MARKETS. One of the best decisions we’ve ever made as a couple.
The whole #farmersmarkets lifestyle is definitely one of the pillars of our new #life. It’s not near as important a pillar as #Jesus…but it is still a very (very) important part of our new way of living. We began to shop at farmers markets and produce stands more and more, and we started #shopping at the “big box” stores less and less. It wasn’t long before 80-90% of our #groceries were purchased at farmers markets and produce stands. Sure, we still got our paper goods, #cleaning supplies, #dog food, and #toiletries from the name brand stores. We even purchased “#snacks” like Good Pop fudge ice cream bars, #protein bars, #lentil chips, and #veggie straws, as well as out of season fruits and veggies…and of course…ALMOND MILK. BUT the majority of our groceries were now coming from local suppliers. #Allnatural #beef. Free range #chickens. Humanely raised #pork. And all the freshly grown vegetables and fruits you could shake a stick at.
So many people were like, “It’s gonna cost you an arm and a leg to buy your #food from #farmers markets. You’ll never #sustain it!” Blah! Blah! Blah!
The fact is it does cost more. We’re buying our food from mom and pop who have to do all the harvesting themselves. They have to do all the #marketing themselves. They have to set up at farmers markets or on the side of the road and #sell their #product to their customers. There is a lot that goes into growing and raising your own #crops and #livestock to sell to the general public. So yes…it does cost more. There’s more effort, #sweat, and #love that goes into natural products than goes into #processedfoods with all its #preservatives. So we are willing to pay extra for our all natural foods.
WITH THAT BEING SAID…we began to notice that all the “other crap” that typically ended up in our #shopping cart when we shopped at the #bigbox stores was no longer showing up in and on our shelves at home. No more #twinkies. No more #sodas. No more #cupcakes. No more #potato #chips. No more candy bars. NO MORE #UNHEALTHY STUFF! And when you add up the cost of those items and add it to your total #grocery bill…we are actually paying around the same for going all natural at the farmers markets and produce stands. It balances out.
As I quickly approached my 75th day of the #75Hardprogram, I started to realize how easy it could be for me to “slip” back into old habits. You see, research shows that it takes a person roughly 60 days to form a #habit. Which is why Andy Frisella made the challenge 75 days. To form good #habits. BUT…I needed to be sure that those good habits were set in place FOR GOOD! So I extended the #challenge to 90 days. I continued doing all the things associated with the challenge for an additional 15 days so that I would without a doubt have the newly formed #physical, #mental, and #spiritual focus embedded in me for life.
After 90 days of, excuse my language, hard @$$ #work…I was down a total of 97 #pounds. I had gone from 450.6 pounds to 353.6 pounds. Two #workouts a day (at least one was done outside). One gallon of #water a day. 10 pages of a #selfhelp book a day. One progress picture of myself every day. I maintained my “#diet” every single day. I did not drink any #alcohol any of the 90 days I was challenging myself. And…I never “#cheated”! Not once.
It was one of the most #rewarding things I’d ever done for myself. It was #beautiful. It was #amazing. It was a #God thing! I had challenged myself…and I had #proven to myself that I could do amazing things if I put my #mind to it and see it through to the end. It was a total #physical and #mental #shift. And it was AWESOME!!!
But…the journey was far from over. Courtney was still in the midst of her challenge, and we had still had #goals to meet!
(To Be Continued)
~Mitch
#healthyeating #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #healthy #weightloss #healthyliving #weightlossjourney #fitness #food #nutrition #health #foodie #diet #vegan #cleaneating #foodporn #healthyrecipes #slimmingworld #motivation #instafood #foodblogger #fitnessmotivation #foodphotography #foodstagram #healthychoices #plantbased #eatclean #workout #healthylife #breakfast
-
Pivot Then Live It: Part 1
Part 1 of 4!
Pivot, then live it! That’s become our motto for this year. At the first of the year, Courtney and I were very unhealthy (me much more than her)…physically, mentally, and spiritually. Then…a wake up call.
On March 14th, we were boarding a plane to head out to Las Vegas (baby) with our daughters (and their fellas) to celebrate our youngest’s 21st birthday. When I booked the flight, I paid extra so that I could get the “big boy” seat on the emergency exit aisle. Afterall, I was a “big boy”.
Our daughter’s 21st B-day in Vegas (BABY). I’m the 450 pounder on the right! 
450.6 pounds to be correct! Anywho…I started to buckle myself in and realized…I needed the dreaded EXTENDER for my seatbelt. I was so big that the normal seat belt would not rein in all my “girth”. So I got the flight attendant’s attention and asked her nicely for the extender. She then proceeded to inform me that since I was sitting in the emergency exit aisle, I could not use the seat belt extender. That I should have booked the more expensive “bigger seats” in the front of the plane. Then…she brought over another flight attendant and they both discussed my situation in length. That was then the decision was made that if the flight was to take off, I had to switch seats to a section that allowed “seatbelt extenders”. The move was on.
The second flight attendant proceeded to go and start asking passengers in the forward section of the plane if they would mind switching seats to accommodate my “big boned” situation. The first few said no…but eventually they found a nice couple that would allow me (and Courtney) to switch seats with them. It was an unfortunate event that I’m sure plays out multiple times a week for these “less expensive” airline companies. I really wasn’t embarrassed per se, BUT…it gave me cause to ponder all of the inconvenience that I had caused by being a guy of girth.
As we touched down in Vegas (baby), one of the attendants explained to us that if we had booked the same seats on the return flight, we would have to go through the ordeal again. The good news was, I had actually booked two front row seats on the flight home, just so I could have some leg room…PLUS…the last time I flew to Paradise City I flew in a front row seat and I was able to have an extender. I felt like I was good to go for the trip back.
We spent 3 glorious days in “Sin City” (VEGAS BABY!), then sadly, it was time to head back to civilization. So we all packed up and headed for McCarran Airport. After making a big pull on a “one armed bandit” in the terminal and winning $200, it was time to board our flight back to Texas.
Upon boarding the plane, Courtney and I sat in our front row seat, and I immediately asked for a seat belt extender. “Seat belt extenders are no longer allowed on the front row,” said the flight attendant. So then began the whole musical chair process again. Luckily, I was able to switch with a lady…BUT…Courtney had to stay in her seat as there was only one person willing to change seats in the “big belly” section. The whole trip home was spent rubbing elbows with a gentleman who’s idea of personal hygiene was…I honestly don’t know what his idea of personal hygiene was because he did not practice this most basic life skill. Like before, I wasn’t really embarrassed so much…but I was disappointed with how I had allowed my body to become this stumbling block for basic activities in my everyday life. AND, I was upset that my size was not just an inconvenience for me (and my family)…but for other people I didn’t even know. Because of my “situation” I was forced to make other people change their plans and switch out of seats they had already planned for and purchased. It was a “rude awakening”.
The truth was, I was weighing in at 450 pounds. I had the beginning stages of Type 2 Diabetes. I was a cheeseburger away from a major heart attack. And, I had a daughter turning 21…and I wasn’t sure if I’d be around to see her turn 31.
Now…before you start yelling at me…I know that we all gotta go at some point and a car wreck or snake bite could easily cause me to take the eternal slumber and not see my daughter’s 31st birthday…BUT…I started to realize that outside of those type of circumstances that I cannot control, I was making poor choices that were impacting me physically and mentally in a negative way.
It was time to PIVOT!
As soon as the plane touched down in Tejas, I was on my phone researching how I could change my life (physically and mentally) for the better. I knew I wanted to be healthier. Courtney and I had recently talked about cutting all the processed and preservative filled “crap” from our diet just a few months earlier, so we were at least thinking about ways to be “better” stewards of the body God gave us.
About that time, I somehow (God did it) stumbled across Andy Frisella’s 75 Hard. 75 Hard is a program that teaches folks how to own their destiny!!! It’s #AwesomeSauce! It transforms physical and mental habits and encourages growth the area of overall health…both physically and mentally. Through his program, Andy dares the participants to: 1) start a diet (any diet); 2) workout twice a day (one workout has to be outside); 3) read 10 pages of a self help book everyday; 4) abstain from alcohol; 5) drink a gallon of water per day; 6) take a progress picture each day; 7) NO CHEATING! If you cheat, you start over. You do all of these things for 75 days straight. At the end of the program, you will prove to yourself that your mental endurance is more powerful than you think. AND, you’ll create habits that will help you with lifelong change…for the better!
After reading many (many) articles and posts about 75 Hard, I knew I wanted to attempt it…and finish it. So I then started trying to figure out what my “diet” would be. Like I said, Courtney and I had already had conversations about cutting out all the unnatural processed foods and preservatives, so I knew I wanted that to factor in. I also knew that I didn’t want to go on a fad diet like Keto. I had done Keto in the past and had good results…the only problem with me and Keto was…once I got off (for whatever reason) I gained all the weight back I had lost, PLUS SOME.
I also knew that I didn’t want to go the surgery route. As long as I was still able physically, I wanted to avoid any type of surgery. I know some people have no choice. Their current physical state won’t allow them to lose weight naturally and surgery is the only avenue. BUT…my body was still able to workout and eat healthy…so I wanted to proceed that way. So after much (much, much) research, I decided to attempt a low calorie diet. Which…at the end of the day is not really a diet…but a naturally healthy lifestyle.
I waited to kick off 75 Hard until Sunday, May 15th (2022). I wanted to get through the stresses of State Testing that Texas schools go through annually toward the end of each school year. In other words, I wanted to make sure there was not going to be any chance for stress and anxiety to make me stumble as I began this endeavor.
I also wanted to make sure I had ordered and received all of my reading materials for the challenge. I knew (and still know) that God was needing me to draw closer to Him (He and I…OK…I had not put as much importance on our relationship for a season) so I wanted to read books that help me dive deeper into His love for me AND I wanted to research (read) books that highlighted God’s plan for men. Men have become a masculine cliché… a punching bag if you will… over the past few decades. I believe it’s time for men to stand up (in Christ) and begin to honor their commitment to themselves, their families, their community, and their God! So I ordered books that dove into that very subject.
And…I know I wanted to walk…a lot… on this new journey of 75 Hard. So I ordered new shoes and new walking shorts. Once my “walking outfit” and books had arrived, AND State Testing was complete…IT WAS TIME TO START 75 HARD!!!
That’s when life started to get FUN!
(To Be Continued)
~Mitch
#healthylifestyle #healthyfood #fitness #health #healthy #healthyliving #fitnessmotivation #motivation #weightloss #workout #fit #wellness #lifestyle #healthyeating #gym #nutrition #food #love #weightlossjourney #vegan #instagood #fitfam #exercise #foodie #bodybuilding #training #diet #gymlife #foodporn #personaltrainer
-
Life Ain’t Fair! Learn That NOW!
#TruthBomb Y’all!!! #Life ain’t fair! It’s best to #learn that NOW! We gotta stop finding (and seeking) #pity in our circumstances and #RISE ABOVE. We have to be intense…LIKE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
It’s #Fall #Yall!!! No better time than now to pivot and live the life #God intends for us to live!
#PivotThenLiveIt
Pivot Then Live It: The Blog
Mitch Fairchild 
Leave a comment