I did it! This morning I weighed 189 pounds! That means I've lost weight to the tune of 51 pounds since January 1! My goal was to get under 200 pounds; however, my coach, Lori Andersen, encouraged me to go the extra 10 pounds. Honestly, as positive and goal oriented as I am, I just couldn't believe that I would ever be under 190 pounds again without the "help" of an illness.
The journey has actually been a lot easier than I imagined thanks to the combination Medifast meal replacements and the personal involvement of having a coach from Medifast's coaching division: Take Shape For Life. Co-founder, Dr. Wayne Andersen, is an amazing source of inspiration, education, and vision. His vision for the Health Coaches to get America healthy is one thing. How that vision translates to each client is another. I'm living proof and a huge fan!
[please note, the photo on my blog will be updated with a new one soon. This shot is me at 240 pounds. You'll see the new me soon. Yesterday we had a photo shoot so a new Kevin will be appearing soon.]
I've gained a deeper appreciation for the value of a coach plus a
system and community to plug into for personal development and
leadership. Insights into my own behavior and attitudes have had to be
confronted. I must admit that I still have work to do to adopt more
fully the Habits of Health, which happens to be the name of Dr. Andersen's forthcoming book. I've previewed portions of the book that is rich on content and easy on the eyes. Here is a visually beautiful book of over 400 pages that is densely packed with information, yet presented in layman's terms. More on the book in future postings.
To be on-purpose is one thing. To lead others to be on-purpose is another. Let me share with you the amazing benefit of being a client of Take Shape For Life. My return to a healthier weight captured the attention of many friends. Since I began my journey, I can count at least twenty other people I know who have drawn hope and inspiration from my example. In short, my success has become our success.
- Thanks to TSFL coaching, my friend Gordie has lost 45 pounds and is off his diabetes medicine for the first time in eleven years.
- Pete has lost over twenty pounds, but more importantly, his blood pressure is normal, his blood sugar has returned from pre-diabetic to average levels, his cholesterol and triglycerides are in line again.
- David has lost over 25 pounds and is preparing to lose even more.
- Trish has dropped enough weight to where she is back to her college weight and hitting the golf ball better than ever.
- 6' 4" Steve has gone from 275 to 240 and is on his way to 220 pounds – his college weight.
These are just a few of the On-Purpose® stories of my friends thanks to Take Shape For Life. Others have picked up the cause in do-it-yourself ways or other programs. Even my wife, Judith, has gotten into the act. Always a healthy eater and health aware person, she had gained a few extra pounds over the years. Not only is she taking off the pounds, but she, too, has become a TSFL Health Coach. Together, we're helping get America Healthy On-Purpose®. This is fun!
Thank you Dr. Andersen and Brad McDonald, co-founders of TSFL. Thank you Lori Andersen, my health coach. Thank you to my friends and family for catching the vision. Thank you God for giving me life and a body that can recover to health after years / decades of overconsuming behaviors. I am on-purpose in my physical life.