James F.

Male

35

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Computer Security

Jan, 2009

I lifted when I played football in high school and from time to time in college. After I graduated college, I stayed relatively active. My wife and I had our first child, but I still regularly went to the local YMCA, where I lifted 2-3 times per week and played basketball 3 days a week. Then in 2005, my wife and I were shocked to find out that my wife was pregnant with quadruplets! On top of that, three days earlier, we had signed a contract selling our house because we had purchased some land a few months earlier with plans of building a new home. Since our family size was getting ready to explode, I decided to build the house myself to save some on the building costs while also working a full time job and trying to take care of my wife and daughter during a very difficult pregnancy. Over the next eight months, I rarely got more than 4 hours of sleep per day, never got any exercise aside from loading/unloading building supplies, and solely ate from fast food or convenience stores. I completed the house in early 2006 and moved my family of 7 into our new place looking forward to being able to breathe a sigh of relief and slow down a bit...afterall, all I now had to do was work my full time job and help my wife take care of 4 newborns. It did not take long to realize, though, that a larger family requires a lot more money to survive...bigger house payment, 600 diapers a month, more electricity, bigger vehicles which require more gas....the list goes on. So, before too long, it was apparent that I was going to have to take a side job to make ends meet, which meant getting back in shape was going to be delayed a little longer. Fast forward a couple of years, and I am at my all-time heaviest of 200 pounds and in horrible shape. I could not walk up the hill in our backyard without getting out of breath. In October, 2008, I made the decision that I was on the wrong path. If I wanted to see my kids grow into adults and continue to provide as the only source of income for our family, then I had to start taking care of myself. While working at my second job one weekend, I told the guys that I was going to lose 20 pounds before Christmas. A buddy bet me that I could not do it. With 2 weeks to go, I was down 15 pounds. At that time, we both called the bet off...he was scared I was going to win, and I was scared I'd never get the last 5 pounds off. During that time, I lost the weight using a low carb diet. Even though I had lost weight, I still did not feel that much better and my energy had not improved. A few weeks after Christmas (and after gaining 4-5 pounds back over the holidays), I decided to try Body for Life and started the program on Jan. 12. Over the 12 weeks, I lost another 13 pounds, significantly improved my body composition, and increased my energy levels. At the end of the 12 weeks, I finally fit within the "ideal" weight range for the first time in a long time. However, the biggest accomplishment was and is feeling healthier than I ever have in my life! I look forward to continuing my fitness journey and showing my kids how to live a healthy, active, and well-balanced life!

Builds self confidence, increases energy, enhances appearance, and overall makes me a healthier person.

Thinking of my kids and knowing that they need me in their life, both to provide for them and to serve as a role model. Also, looking at my old pictures and looking at the transformation pictures of other BS members.

Losing 25 pounds while becoming stronger than I ever have been (for now).

Pain is just weakness leaving the body!