Oh The Places I've Gone!

Wow has it been a crazy 4 months! 

 

Back in March after much harassment, I mean emotional headlocking from friends in F3, I finally submitted and posted for my first workout at Ascent, one of the many F3 boot camp workouts in the Charlotte area.

 

I had been doing a boot camp Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but I had just been stuck for a very long time in the weight loss arena and even was gaining weight back after getting some off in the past few years.

 

After searching and trying some different F3 sites, I finally settled on Outland in Indian Trail. 

I honestly can say that 4 months ago I would never say that I looked forward to working out this hard, but I honestly look forward to it each week!  As I told my former trainer, F3 is one of the best things to ever happen to me in my life.  You're probably wondering why someone would even bother getting up early on a Saturday morning for a workout.  Well then you don't know F3!

F3 is so much more than a Christian/faith-based/non-faith men's workout group.  It's about fitness, fellowship AND faith.   F3 is open to anyone, whether they are a believer or not.

I didn't even realize the gap in my life I was missing: fellowship and true inspiration from other men who were down in the trenches of life just like me and were working their butts off each and every week to make themselves, their community and their world better.

I've made relationships with my brothers at Outland that I know will last for years to come if not for a lifetime.

Our society has turned its back on true masculinity, and as a result our whole world has suffered.  I'm not talking of bravado or being macho.  I'm talking about a servant with strength of will, body, mind and heart.  Look no further than the divorce rate and the many fatherless children in our own back yard and you'll see we have a crisis of true masculinity.  I'm happy to say that I'm a part of the solution now and not a part of the problem.

In addition to the crazy workouts, and other #CSAUP stuff we do, F3 works in many various ways to promote leadership and reach out to people of every walk of life and make their lives better.

As you can see, F3 is a great thing.  After 4 months in F3, I'm down almost 40 lbs. and hope to hit 60 by Christmas!  I've already run my first 10k last month, and will be doing my first GoRuck Challenge August 9.  I'm still in shock I just ran a 10k train run.  This guy couldn't even run a 1/4 mile at the start of 2013.

I'm as excited about my life as I can remember being since my 20's.  I'm also feeling and looking better than I ever did in my 30's.  It was in my 30's I hit my highest weight, around 300 lbs.  Thankfully I'm a long way down from there, and will never go back again.

At 42, I'm stronger, faster and overall happier and fuller of the joy of life (the Joy of the Lord is our strength after all) than I've been in a very, very long time.

My only regret is that I took so long to join F3.  But the past is past, and I'm gonna keep digging in and seeing how far I can push this old body, mind and heart.  It's been a great first half of the #yearofwes.  Can't wait to see where the rest of the year takes me.

Shout out to all my F3 brothers.  Aye!








 

 

 

 

 

Thank You Doesn't Do It Justice

Somehow I knew this day would come, but it still doesn't make me any happier about it.

You see this crazy guy pictured here is and will always be my trainer, even if not officially any more after next week.

Due to very exciting developments in Jason's life, he will no longer be able to host his boot camp at Mt. Harmony Baptist where I have been one of the dirty dozen (well not quite a dozen most nights) most of its 4 year run.  I took a year to join the fun for some reason.  I thought I could get a better workout in the gym.  Lies.

I have to, even though I know it will bring tears to both of us sit down and say a formal thanks to my brother in Christ.

Jason came into my life when I was going through a lot of junk.  I had lost my job at Bank of America after 17 years and I was working a job I hated, yes I said I hated it! Anyone that can work a job in a call center and enjoy it, my hats are off to you.  It wasn't for me.

Doing sit-down jobs for 20 years had taken its tole and the last few years of my time at Bank of America I had really let myself go.  By 2005 I was topping out well over 300 lbs.  I don't know if I've ever actually made that public, but I might as well.  It's the truth.

After much encouragement from Mitch Duncan, I finally came one night to boot camp at Mt. Harmony.  Now you have to understand I thought I was still pretty strong from the years I used to work out at home.  I wasn't.  The first night I sucked wind like I'd never sucked wind in all my life.  I barely made it home and crawled into the recliner and almost immediately passed out.  I am in no way exaggerating, I was that worn out from just one workout!   I used to joke that boot camp was like P90X on crack, cause some nights it seemed that way.  But I kept coming, and I started to notice small changes in stamina, strength and just feeling better in my every day life.

Flash forward a bit and 2014 rolls around and after much ribbing I finally give in to Jason and a few other friends who had invited me to join F3.

F3 would certainly be the next step in my transformation in more ways than one.  Without a lot of details of F3, it is a participant led, free workout for men that will kick your rear end!  You do your best, that's all they ask.  It's not a competition, but being competitive even a little as I am, I certainly push myself even more now especially during F3.

And finally I sit here and tell you that I'm signing up for my first ruck!  This is getting a bit scary now.

I'm taking on challenges I never in a million years would've even considered 3 years ago when I met Jason and started down this road and now to be doing a new event WITH Jason is just even crazier.  This will also be Jason's first ruck, and I'm honored I get to be there for his first one.

As you can tell from the photo, Jason is in great shape as you would hope a trainer would be, but I've even seen him have to dig in for some workouts at F3.  It's fun realizing your mentors are human sometimes and have to kick their own butts from time to time.

So as I try to bring this around to a close, thank you is so lame to tell a person that has made such a deep impact on your life in just 3 short years, and I know will influence me for years to come.

Jason you never judged me, always encouraged me to dig deeper, watch the nutrition and keep on challenging myself.  Much like the classical hero story line, the hero always has to let go of their mentor at some point and learn to stand on their own.  I guess my time has come.

I know you'll always be around, and just a text away brother but I'm so excited to see what God does in your life and mine in the coming years.  Massive props and love to you, and love and respect to your family and church family.  Keep living with strength brother!  Aye!

The Year Of Wes

In my never ending blathering on about my weight loss and strength- gaining journey I come at you with another post about a few milestones I hit over the weekend.

First up I played a round of disc golf Sunday afternoon and that alone isn't anything to talk about, but the fact that I RAN (cue Flock of Seagulls?)several of of the holes was!

A while back some friends and I had joked about Speed Disc Golf being an option.  Well at that time I could barely even walk the courses without being out of breath and having major back pain.

So yesterday I'm just jogging along and it hit me that I've made some major progress!

I currently do 3 boot camps a week (45 minutes - 1 hour of intense workouts) and then run or bike one day a week.  Still planning to do my first 10k next month.

Then today on a whim I sat down at the store and checked my blood pressure.  It was 123 over 80!  That's as close to normal as its been in YEARS!  My blood pressure has run around 138 over 85 for quite a few years and the doctors always said it should be lower.

Well I guess all this output has finally caught up with the old ticker and my blood pressure is finally down where it should be.

I have a long way to go, in both weight loss and endurance in running, but I've also made huge strides the past few years and I can't imagine ever going back to where I was.  Honestly that guy is dead, and I'm not digging him up again!

Jason Rhymer, my fitness mentor and friend pointed at me during one of his boot camps and said "This is going to be your year!" and I took him at his word.  I keep reminding myself of his words and slowly but surely I keep seeing new sign posts that the old Wes is dead and gone, and the new Wes is here to stay.

Well that's all for now, until next time...

St. Peter Is That You?

I'm back from my second 5k trail run!  Just wanted to share a short report of how it went.

First a little background: last August, on a strangely cool morning I set out running not only first 5k, but my first trail run too.

As one who has never run since high school, and even then not any great distances this was certainly a challenge.

I started off o.k. but then my back started to hurt and we had to stop for a minute and try and stretch it out.  Still I kept going and I finished at around 54:30.  Not terrible I guess for my first time out and considering the back problems.

2014 came along and I had my sights set on doing the 10k option and in the meantime some friends told me about East Side Church's new Queen City Trail Run 5k.

Being my second 5k of course I wanted to finish faster than the last time, I didn't know however that Reedy Creek Park's trails would be even harder than the Charlotte White Water Center's.

I knew the park was hilly as I play disc golf there pretty regularly.

I didn't know that one of those hills would be waiting for me and brother was it a tough one.  Jokingly I posted later that I expected to see St. Peter waiting at the top of that hill.

But I kept going and the hill eventually was in my rear view and down another hill and up some more I made it to the finish line.  As I turned the last corner I saw the clock was just over 48:00 and I all of a sudden found more energy to run than I had all morning.  I picked up the pace and finished strong beating my last time by nearly 6:00!

Now I'm not here to tell you I'm a fast runner, far from it.  But I honestly never thought I'd be able to run 1 mile, much less over 3.

I'm living proof that anyone can do this stuff.  It's not rocket science.  It just takes some hard work, time and effort and you will see results.

Until next time...please sit on your sandals!

Heather

When our eyes first met,

my heart skipped a beat.

 

When I saw the first smile,

my heart took a leap.

 

When I saw the first tear,

I wanted to weep.

 

This gift is too glorious,

this joy from on High.

 

This grand gift of God,

in a package so small.

 

Though we only just met,

I see through God's eyes,

why He would die

for a sinner such as I.

 

I can't explain, or contain

my love for you dear,

and neither could God

when with nails

He was pierced.

 

His love my example.

I'll try my best to follow,

as I show you His love,

and as we reach for tomorrow.

What Is A Friend?

Not someone who likes you all the time,
but loves you all the time.

 

Not someone who gives you their wealth,
but gives you their time.

 

Not someone who ignores your faults,
but loves you despite them.

 

Someone who laughs at all your jokes,
even when they're not that funny.

 

Someone who takes the time to see your potential, not your reflection in the mirror.

 

Someone who talks about you behind your back, but only tells others how much you mean to them.

 

Not someone who places obligations on you, but places you first.

 

Not someone who is perfect, and always shows you how much you mean to them, but feels it deeply in their heart.

 

You are a friend of mine.

Imperfect

I'm not perfect.

 

Are you surprised?

 

My skin is flesh toned, but inside it's gang green, like moss growing on a tree: except the tree stuck to the ground is me.

 

I'm not perfect. Do you think you're better?

 

We all dig and scratch. Searching for a spiritual crumb.

 

When the Bread of Life, Jesus is offered we say, "Oh I'm full."

 

I'm not perfect, neither are you.
       

But a cross was carried by a man who was, perfect that is.

 

Oh that's just religion!

 

Well if it is, why do you fight it? Why not give in? Do you want to carry that sin all the way to your grave?

 

Hell is no party! It's not the bar down the street. Didn't you think the devil would trick you with lies and deceit?

 

He wants to trick you into forfeiting       

 

Heaven, a Life without ending.

 

Listen to God, His love He is sending.