Actions speak LOUDER then words

Tonight I sit in my sisters basement, thinking of the wonderful experiences that I've encountered in the last few months. I think of the work that had to be put forth to accomplish all that I have and all the pain and trials that I've had to endure to get to this point in my life. I sit here contemplating the options that I have in front of me and all that have been placed in my life. I sit here in awe.

The life that I lead is not one of 'luck' but one of hard work, dedication, determination and a drive to be a better person, a great mother and a good friend. I have a willingness to take risks. I allow my mind to stay open to new opportunities and I also ACT on them when they arise. When I see something that I want, I don't hesitate to work towards it. If I 'want' it in my life then there's no reason not to put forth the work to achieve it and attain it. Yet, I have to say that through my life I've not always thought this way.

Through out my life I've been handed so many different situations and experiences that have brought to me the opportunities to either change or sit in misery. I was taught almost two decades ago, that misery loves company and that pain is inevitable and misery is optional. I take that saying and I put it to good use today, for there's so much that a human being is able to do with their lives, yet so many of us decide to sit there and 'wish' for things when it's as simple as working towards them and actually achieving them.

I was also taught that Actions speak Louder then Words. At first, I had to see this in action and learn to trust the saying. Then as time went on and I was able to apply this to my life, I was able to see the benefits of the small steps taken one at a time and evolving to something much larger in life. Today I'm able to say that this is how I live. I don't preach things, I live them. I don't speak them I put them into action.

There's so much in this world for us, yet we sit in a 'comfortable' zone and don't allow ourselves to experience them. Why ? Well, we sit in fear and fear paralyzes us. Did I realize that I was sitting in fear ?? Hell NO !! I was forced to either take a look at my life and change or live a life of misery and pain. For me, that's not an option, as I have a job to do as a mother of two beautiful angels, to show them that life is AMAZING and it's what we make of it. Not what others think we need to do or what others push upon us, it's up to US to change our lives and to make them what we want them to be. It's our jobs to be the person we always dreamed of being. It's our jobs to seek out what's inside and become all that we were set out to be. It's up to us, to put the actions into play and stop speaking of them.

I honestly believe that I was placed on this earth to help inspire others, yet it wasn't until I learned that I had to reach deep inside and pull out all that was buried, deal with old feelings and learn to love myself that this action is now able to be put to good use. I didn't know or have any idea that I had to become an athlete to achieve what was my ultimate dream. I didn't realize or know that I had to endure some major trials and tribulations and over come them as well as the fears buried to achieve this dream.

What I did realize is that each and everyone of us have purpose on this journey. Whether we know what it is or not, there's something that each of us has to do while we are here for this short time and for me it's to inspire the world with all my experiences, show the world love and to become the best I'm able to be while showing everyone that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

" Believe you can and you will "

www.LoriJYokiel.com

Dedicated to a man who helped change my world

Today I’m going to write to you about forgiveness. I’m going to share with you some pain that I’ve been through and through it and with time, I’m able to see what God had in store or made the good from the bad. Today I’m going to share with you how I had to  hurt, grow and stay humble through situations that almost tore me apart yet instead of allowing that I was  able to step outside of myself for my children and do what was right for them and through that they are benefiting far beyond what I would have ever imagine.

Almost a few decades ago I met this man, he was an amazing man!! He was looked up to by all those that surrounded him, he was kind, caring, loving and more importantly he showed the love to the world where it was needed most. He worked on himself, he gave of himself as well as his family and the bonds that held them together. He was funny and could make anyone around him laugh, but not without putting a turn to it that was useful in life. He was what we call in the fellowship a ‘pillar’. He walked the walk, talked the talk and showed us all how to live differently.

He and I became good friends, we did a lot of service work together, attended multiple events together, we laughed and learned oodles from each other. He was a good soul and I enjoyed having him in my life.

He became the best man in my wedding and he also became close to the father of my children.

After some trials and tribulations in my life with his daughter and the father of my children, who are on their way to being married in 2015, I had to make a choice for myself. I had to decide to break apart everything that we had known through our friendship and walk away, to preserve in my life and to be able to grow and become more. Letting go of that friendship was one of the hardest times in my life, for he meant the world to me and if I were to choose any for a grandfather figure or a big brother, he’d had been the one that I would’ve chose.

Today I realize that my children need him more in their lives then I do. Today I realize that he will be a WONDERFUL grandfather to my children and he will give to them what they do not know from other venues in their lives. He will be able to share with them what he and I possess and they will benefit solely from this man. They will learn not only love but how to spread it, in such healthy ways.

Today I forgive his daughter for I know that God had a plan and I needed to stay out of the way so that he could be a HUGE part in my children’s lives. For me, knowing that my children will ALWAYS be taken care of, is much more important than my happiness or joy in this world. They are the next generation and they need to know how to live healthy and show love to the entire world and without the right teachers in their lives, there’s no way for this to occur.

Today- today I’m beyond blessed to know forgiveness. I’m beyond ecstatic to know that my children will be surrounded by loving people who live healthy lifestyles, when I’m not in the picture. Today, I’m confident that my children will live a happy and healthy life, because of the people we choose to surround them with. 

The growth through forgiveness and through moving past what happened into what is now is much more peaceful, calming and serene then the other options out there. By allowing the world to rotate, by surrendering and by letting go, the entire world is much brighter.

“ Be The Change “
“ Find the keys to the soul and Change “
“ Continue to Grow and remember, the first step is all you need to believe in, the rest is inevitable “


www.LoriJYokiel.com

My First Figure Competition - A humbling experience

August of 2013, I made a decision to compete in my first figure competition. When I made this decision, I knew that the road would be a life lesson as well as difficult at times. What I didn't know was that I would encounter and face fears that I had buried since middle school. I had not imagined that I would go through such ups and downs within myself and that there was a battle that was yet to be fought within myself in order to complete this goal. 

When I sign up for a goal or make a conscious decision to do something different, yet challenging, I know well enough that there will be up and downs. Honestly, I believe that’s exactly why I sign up for them. This keeps me alive and also very vibrant to the world around my children and I. It allows for growth and also opens new doors that were never visible previously. It brings me joy and satisfaction, knowing full well that I will have to challenge myself to the limits I know as well as learn to push through to new limits. It allows me a chance to grow as a human being and learn more about another type of personality within the human race. There’s so many lessons I learn with each new goal/task/challenge that I seek out and to this day, I've not been disappointed in the least from any of them.

Competition prep is not a joke. You either have to be willing to put yourself into the prep 100% or move on. There’s nothing shy of a challenge when it comes to diet and training. Then add on to that any fears or growth needed within. It takes a solid team to get one individual through such training and for me I had an amazing team!!!

After making my decision, I was training with a good friend of mine at the time and I sincerely believe that she knew deep down that I would eventually sign up for this challenge. She helped me to let it sink into my mind as a possibility as well as get me started on a diet that a competitor would follow. She helped me learn about muscle groups and heavy weight lifting. She started me on a path that I will forever be grateful for and will always hold close to my heart.

My training has never been shy of 6 days per week with one day of rest, so that part of the regimen was already instilled when I went to my current trainer and asked him if he’d add me onto his team. I sought out a body builder trainer ( Dave Myers ) as for me it’s important to make sure that I surround myself with those that are winners in the business or sport that I’m stepping into. 

Dave Myers
(Human Performance Specialist)
Aka: Amazing Trainer

With Dave, what impressed me the most was that he didn't look at the negatives on my physique, yet he only looked at the positives and how he could improve what was needed to get me on stage. I didn't feel judged at any time with my initial visit with Dave, nor have I since in my training. When I shared with Dave, on our first call, that the only way that I would follow through with this competition or training, was that if it began to interfere with my parenting or my children, I was done. His immediate response was: “I’d have it no other way “. He shared with me what his expectations would be of me as well as sharing with me when he was disappointed during my training. While training or learning my diet, I was always taught new techniques, shared the appropriate information on nutrition and also taught constantly from Dave. He is very into teaching while he trains and that is much needed in the sport of body building, plus, I have such a long ways to go I need as much help as one will give me. 

When I was handed the diets, I would hand write them down or print them off and tape them to my kitchen counter doors and make sure that my grocery list always matched what was on the plan. My children joined in and would call me out when I wanted to ‘cheat’ or they would call me out when I did. Everyone that was around me, was in the ‘know’ about my diet and that it was very important (and still is) that I keyed in on what to eat when. The dieting was actually not difficult for me and I can honestly say that if I choose to compete more in the future, which I’m already prepping for another show in the future, this way of eating does not bother me. For with the nutrition portion of the body building, you literally learn what your body needs to operate and when. As well as how it reacts to certain nutrients. If it weren't for body building, I’m pretty confident I would not know this type of information. Your diet is very important in your life and it’s not only for body builders, but humans in whole. Until the world gets that, there will be issues. I’m just grateful that the children and I were introduced to this way of life and are able to apply it to our daily regimens.

Training was not that difficult, but towards the competition time, the extra cardio and the time needed to get it done, was trying to say the least. With being exhausted and handling a full plate, it was a challenge, yet the challenge didn’t last long as I was able to get used to it fairly quickly and integrate what was needed when.

I believe the most difficult thing for me was the sizing and ordering of the suit itself. I not only had the ‘fears’ to deal with, I also had extra skin and my body fat levels were still a little high for competition. Not that I won’t be able to work on that on my next competition or that I ‘should’ve’ done better, yet it was the hardest part for me to swallow- getting up on that stage, with the extra skin, fighting through demons hid so deep and the physique I knew I had the chance to do better with. 

When I was a younger girl, in middle school, I compared myself to the popular girls. I always thought of them as ‘prettier’ or ‘skinnier’ or etc. and I never looked at the good within myself. Not that I was horrible on my temple, yet, I definitely degraded my physique and who I was while growing up. I was never as good as. I always wanted to be better yet I didn’t know how to. I always felt as though I would never amount to much and that no one would ever look at me like they did those pretty girls.

That was my largest hurdle. The fears. 

This competition was not about placing.
This competition was about Lori learning about Lori.
This competition was a success.

I came out a winner. You see, I faced those fears. I even gained oodles of confidence while on stage and realized that I wasn’t alone up there. I realized that the ladies standing next to me, worked hard to get up there as well and most of them were as frightened as I was. My children were there to see me finish my goal that I set out to achieve. My friends and family came to support me, they were there the entire prep and a lot of them held my hand while I was in dire need of support. 

People believing in me is what got me through the really rough times, my network and support group are amazing and I’m pretty sure that I was blessed beyond most with some of the most phenomenal individuals to get me on that stage.

When I needed a boost, God put the right angel there to help me through. It was the footwork that I needed to do to get to the next step. I know that without faith that first step would be impossible. The second wouldn’t even be in sight. That’s not how I choose to live. Today I choose to hold onto faith and hope. For they have served me well in my 37 years here on earth and with them I’m able to conquer the impossible.

The night of the competition was foreign to me, so I now know what to expect back stage. Per se in the pump room or for tanning or gluing, heck I even know when to take a breather and also when to start eating what is needed. I’ve gotten my feet wet and I’ve enjoyed how the experience went over all. I was shown more love and respect then I’d ever imagined and I didn’t look to bad achieving that.

Until the next competition, this is my ‘write up’ on my first competition.

·       BTW: If you ever try a competition, make sure that you have a great support group, oodles of containers and blender bottles, connections with experienced body builders, a posing coach and know that power naps are a great thing!!!!

o   FYI: Out of three categories these are the results -
* Beginner Short : 9 / 10
* Beginner Novice : 9 / 10
* Open Short: 11 / 11

“Faith without works is Dead “
“Impossible is Possible “

#ONWARDTOEPIC

Much appreciation and gratitude goes out to:

~ Dave Myers (Human Performance Specialist)

~ Tara Thatcher (Perfectly Prepared – posing coach)
~ Annette Carlson (Hair / Make up and Mom on call)
~ Valerie Willis (for always believing and teaching me new ways)

~ Anita Ferguson (the best friend a girl could ever ask for)
~ Kathy Nelson (for the sweat suit and support)
~ Angela Thoen (a great friend who’s never left my side)

~ Heather Brandt (the best neighbor and friend a crazy single body builder mom could ask for)

~ Sam Van Nevel ( a friend a girl couldn't do without )  
~ Sharyce Baartman ( the long lost best friend that arrived through the bumps and stayed for the journey) 

~ Mark Adafin
~ Rochester YMCA
~ Vault Fitness ( Edan Prarie )

~~ And MOST importantly: My children, Leah and Dylan ( they are by far the best angels God has ever sent to me !! ) 

Follow through #Neverquit

Their breath
Their beauty
Their intelligence
Their personalities
Their hugs
Their kisses
Their laughter
Their tears
Their conversations
Their growing pains
Their lessons
Their present, past and future

Its the night before I step on stage for my first figure body building competition and I laid here for a while before choosing to write. I laid here, listening. Listening to two souls that have never hurt me. Listening to two little angels that have relied on me since birth. Listening to the reason I need to step on that stage tomorrow night.

When I was a little girl, I wished, hoped and prayed for someone to love me. I wanted someone to listen to me play, to my ideas, to read to me before bedtime, to tuck me in, to tell me what was right or wrong. I wanted someone to hold me when I was hurt. I wanted someone to come to my activities, so when I looked up, I seen them there. I wanted someone to show me what it was like to finish something other then a drink, drug or to not break someones heart. I wanted someone to call when I was lost. I wanted someone to know that I was scared. I wanted someone to say they were proud of me. I wanted ...... alot when I was a little girl and it had absolutely nothing to do with money.

My children were not placed in my journey to relive my childhood -- my children were placed in my journey for me to love them. So, I do. To my best ability and today I've realized that one of the ways that I show them love is to involve them into everything I do and that's alot of being an athlete.

Today they come with me to the store for my food prep items, they watch me complete a food prep, they know that I need to get to the gym to train, they also know that no matter what happens, I'll drop all that I'm doing when they need me. They know that no matter what happens, I'll finish my goal with putting them first.

My children are my reason I will step on that stage tomorrow. Are they going to see me grab first place, highly unlikely. What they will see is someone who they love complete a goal she signed up for last year, who put everything she could with what she had into her goal and finish it. They will see that no matter how scared you are, you follow through. That no matter how much you want to run away, you never give up. YOU do exactly what you SAID you would DO.

My life is full.
My life is busy.
My life is what works for me and for me, my children come first. No one ever did that for me. I'm able to do that for someone else ( TWO OF THEM ) and I'm able to show them how to live life to the fullest all the while following your goals and dreams, no matter what.
My life is not lived FOR my children, My life is lived for me and while I live for me I'll raise my children to the best of my ability through love. Love for myself and for them.

I'm absolutely blessed with the most amazing gift of  children. I'm even more blessed to be able to raise them on my own and to know that everything I've given to them is completely priceless through love. I'm blessed to be able to give to them what I missed when I was a child and that no matter what happens, I did the best I was able to... all the while taking care of myself.

Here's to an EPIC life through love.

#ONWARDTOEPIC

Never Quit

" I'll show you how strong I am "

There's times in my life when I'm so tired, so doubtful, so fearful..... that's when I need to do what that old saying says: " NEVER QUIT ". I have that saying on my wall, on my fridge, on my blogs, on my sites, everywhere -- for it's when you want to quit that it's the most important time to push through.

I entered body building in 2012 when I hurt my hip with a stress reaction. I walked into the YMCA on crutches and I've not left yet. I turned to the iron, as good friend of mine suggested and I fell in love. Mainly because the only person that I was up against was myself. There's no finish line. There's no metals. There's no starting lines. There's nothing but you and that iron. If you don't pick it up, no one else is there to tell you do so ...

When I enter the gym today, I know that there's a set of exercises that need to be done. I know that by pushing myself to the ultimate limit ( with in reason and in the program I've been given and approved by a trainer ), to the greatest I'm able to that day at that time, I'll grow. I know that there will be pain. I know that there will be sweat. I accept that there might be tears. Yet, I also know:

It will all pass

As I move through this journey and learn more about my body and soul. As I put myself to the ultimate limits, pushing myself farther then I've ever went. As I refuse to quit, my physique is beginning to match my outsides. As I continue through, the pain, sweat and tears, the rewards come. As I'm told to give up more of this and add more of these, I'm confident that the end result will be priceless. As I'm pushed.....I know, with faith behind me, that I'll be more then I was when I started. I know that through this I will become the person that I always searched for and more. Through this I will become whole, not because I stepped in the gym or because I showed up but because I walked in with all my might, pushed myself to the ultimate limits and I NEVER QUIT!!!

Life is life on life's terms.
It's constantly trying to break me and it constantly fails.
I've been beating, pushed down, spit on, thrown around, yelled at, called names, looked at 'wrong', touched 'wrong', disrespected, misjudged, threatened, abused, and all the rest of it....
What hasn't happened, nor will it, is:

I NEVER QUIT!!!!

Walking through to the next meal, the next workout, the next competition, the next goal -- is all preparing me for the next big battle in life. It's all prep for the ultimate time when success comes flowing in.. I'll be able to do nothing but GRAB it and hold on, enjoy it, love it, embrace and then make it GROW!!!

Nothing or no one will ever stop me.
Nothing or no one will ever be able to judge me and affect me.
Nothing or no one will ever be able to force me to give up.
Nothing or no one will ever have the power to get me to QUIT.

I'm human and I  make mistakes - what is cool about these situations we call mistakes is that we can LEARN from them. I will continue to learn, but I will NEVER QUIT.

Don't do it because you think someone wants you to do it
Don't do it because society thinks you need to do it
Don't do it because someone you want in your life will like it

DO IT BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT!!!

Live your life to the fullest and NEVER QUIT.

Don't QUIT 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Defy the odds

DEFY THE ODDS

" Don't listen to the BULLSHIT " 

There's so many doubts in life and it's amazing what we do when we get into our own heads, then for some odd reasons we seem to think that we should add  to the doubt by requesting others opinions.

I was reminded last night that everyone has opinions and it's not that they are 'bad' it's their own opinion and that's what makes each of us different and how the wonderful things happen in this world. Though, if our opinions don't jive, it doesn't mean that we are not loved or that we are not cared about.

My world has been consumed with 'risk'. There's risk through the training for competition in May. There's risk in working on my own business and creating a new world for me through 'work'. There's risk in parenting and friendships. There's RISK.

It's interesting as we grow up learning that we are suppose to live a certain way for society to accept us. Which in turn is all BULLSHIT!! Why do I say that - because I've learned that those who create their own worlds, push through and make it, seem to be so much more happy as well as are the most confident individuals walking on this earth. WHY - because they pushed through and they SUCCEEDED!!!

I'm entirely convinced that whatever it is that I choose to chase or do, I'll succeed. How do I know this ? Easy, whether whatever it is that I'm working towards comes to surface or not, I'll learn from it and grow.
THAT'S Success for me.

When you are faced with life on lifes terms, it's not about making it easy, it's about making it through. After falling down, you have to get back up and continue on and show yourself that there IS more out there. Life doesn't stop because shit happens. Life stops because you don't allow it to go on!!!

YOU choose :

Misery
OR
Living a life that you never imagined possible, where you can get up every day - smile/laugh/joke/feel serenity/joy/love/patience

YOUR LIFE  IS YOUR LIFE !!! Live it!!!

( My latest Radio Interview with Chad Austin : When-you-believe-in-yourself-you-are-never-the-underdog )

Once was lost but now is found

( My first publication in the May 2013 issue of The Platform Magazine: The Platform Magazine ( May 2013 issue )  )

When I was younger, I wanted to help the world. Yet, what I didn’t know was what the world held for me to conquer in order to do so.

Growing up was not the easiest thing for myself, my childhood held many trials and tribulations, such as abuse, alcohol and drugs, abandonment, parent’s divorce, and everything in between these situations. The things I took from that lifestyle and experiences were how to be a better person in my adulthood, all the while not realizing I was learning how ‘not’ to be when I grew up.

When I was 18 years old, I had been using chemicals and alcohol to numb everything in my life, for I had dropped out of high school at 16 yrs old never feeling a part of and always trying my hardest to fit into everything I attempted. Drugs seemed to fill the voids, they numbed the feelings and the lifestyle was exciting and adventurous, until I was in the depths of a hell I never imagined. By the time I was 18, I’d sold my soul, body and mind for my best friend: chemicals and I had lost everything and everyone in my life that important. This is when I didn’t know what to do or how to go on. I hit what is called the bottom.

I looked up to the heavens and asked for help, in whatever way it was meant to be sent to me. I then checked into treatment for alcohol and drugs, where I stayed a total of 9 months. During that time I was taught what I needed to begin my life over, as well as relocating to an area that had a new environment, forcing me to change my life, playmates and playgrounds.

I’ve been blessed to contain the past 18 years without any chemicals or alcohol, through that change and all the tools that I was taught. I constantly still apply them as well as do what is suggested, to maintain my recovery. For without that, I’d not be able to share with you the next part of my story. This way of life has taught me how to live, through everything, with my higher power and support groups as well as the tools needed to do so.

The life that I was leading was the most amazing gift that I had been granted and I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life, all the while gaining confidence and trust in the community. I was employed by a very respectful company. I was also gaining grounds learning how to facilitate and organize larger functions through volunteering. I had also met the man of my dreams and we married. Then shortly there after, we had two beautiful children and also our own home, becoming part of a community for our family. This is where I began to break.

I was taught that you were supposed to take care of your family and hold them together, while I was growing up. What I forgot to apply to this part of my life, was to put myself at the top of that list and continue to work on myself and grow as a human, maintaining my recovery and enjoying life. I began to get lost in doing for others what I wanted done for me, losing myself. I became complacent in my recovery, I began to gamble, I quit going out with my girlfriends, I started skipping the basics, lost contact with my higher power. I had lost myself inside and the outsides began to show that. I was at the heaviest I had ever been in my life, my marriage was miserable, my world was crashing around me and I crept farther and farther into a lonely place, surrounded by those that loved me, but couldn’t stand to be near me.

I was diagnosed with post partum depression after the birth of my son and then misdiagnosed with Bi – Polar, put on medicines to ‘fix’ these problems. In turn, creating more of a mess within, for I knew that wasn’t the problem, yet I went with this to ‘help’ me find me. By the time 2008 rolled around, I was at my heaviest weight, 205 lbs, fighting with my husband consistently, miserable in my own skin, the loneliest I’d felt in over a decade and rotting from the insides out. I was holding a job and I was being a mother and wife, all the while not knowing how to get ‘out’ of what was occurring around me.

January of 2008, my husband was granted a ‘bonus’ cruise from his company, so we took a vacation, hoping that this would ‘lighten’ our lives. This is when we conceived our third child. When we found out in Feb. we were pregnant we were ecstatic, hoping against all hope that this was the beginning of the end of what was occurring around us.

We made an executive decision to claim bankruptcy to help us with the financial burdens we’d brought upon ourselves.

 A few weeks into the bankruptcy, we had our first appt to check on the baby, but something was completely off, as I’d gained enough weight to change into maternity clothes. We went in thinking we had twins. We seen a heart beat with an in office ultra sound, turning around to make an appt on the following Monday to double check as my blood count was high. Monday came and the heart beat was gone. We’d lost the baby. At this time we decided to complete a DNC.

We went back to work with the bankruptcy, hoping to keep our home. The banks did not agree with this, we ended up foreclosing.

We then received a call from the doctors, we didn’t have a baby. The reason we lost the baby was due to the fact that it was a partial Molar Pregnancy, which then lead to 6 months of testing on my blood, for if that tissue were to grow back, I’d have to go through Chemo to tend to it.

In May, we went on a family vacation with family friends. Here’s where my world took another turn. I saw my husband with another woman, a family friend who was my personal attendant. I seen the connection that they had and I was miserable and made sure that he was too. He was happy with her, I was scared. I offered up a separation and after I said the words and felt them, I withdrew that. When we returned home, a week later, he decided that was what he wanted. He ended up leaving in June to the other woman. We tried to work through our problems, for over 2 yrs, until I emotionally could not handle it any longer and decided to completely let go and began the divorce.

Also in May of ’08, I hired a personal trainer. She was a god sent, as I went to the chiropractor for migraines and seen her advertisement. I knew that I had no clue where the family would be in near future, so I called her. She took me under her wing and we began to work on my outsides. We began with a 5 to 6 day per week circuit program, which I did out of my home. After continuing to work with her until 2012, I’d dropped over 60 lbs, 50 inches and 21% body fat, from a size 16 pants to a size 4, all the while maintaining to keep it off. In ’98 I was also diagnosed with a severe case of syncope, in which they placed me on medicine that was taken 3 to 4 days per week so that I did not encounter any episodes. My cholesterol was also high, yet after all the work I’ve done with the exercise and nutrition changes, I’ve not been on any medications, as I’ve been diagnosed the healthiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.

By Oct of 2009, I was trained and had worked on my outsides enough were I was ready to sign up for a half marathon. I chose to run in Long Beach California at the 25^th International Half Marathon. That was my first half, with over 30,000 participants. I was hooked. I’ve now ran 15 halves, 1 full marathon and multiple smaller races all equaling to 34 races. I never let go of working out 5 to 6 days per week, I’m currently a member the local YMCA and I’m beginning to work on my physique as I’m interested in figure modeling for my next adventure, all the while continuing racing. I’ve been sponsored multiple times by teams such as MARATHON Bars, Kidz Zone Perfect, Team Protein and I’ve also been honored to work as an ambassador for LG Tone. I also have directed 5K races and volunteered multiple times over for other organizations that I believe in, such as Team R.E.D. and the YMCA.

I consistently work on myself inside and outside, I went back to working the basics, following suggestions, working with my higher power and doing everything that is needed to love me and continue to grow and find me, as I believe it’s a process, but without working on me and continuing to love myself, all the rest of it will be lost again. I also firmly believe in a strong support group and community, I had chose to change my friends after the separation, as so many of them were tied to the situation and it was hard to deal with all the betrayal. I gained multiple new friends and acquaintances through fitness and they all mean the world to myself, the kids and my future.

Those two beautiful children are growing up in a healthy, fit and safe environment by both of us parents, while we civilly and mutual raise them to be the best little people they are able to be. I’m working to become what I’ve always wanted to be: a Motivational Speaker. I workout 6 days per week and have my priorities in line with my dreams and goals as well as my children’s. Nutrition is priority in my way of life, all of it begins in the kitchen.

Life on life’s terms is not easy, but with the footwork, faith and love, it’s all more then worth it. Life is a journey that I’m enjoying through the small hills and bumps that are thrown my way. Faith without works is dead. The only step I need to focus on is: The first one, I don’t need to see the entire staircase.