Life does change. It’s changing all around us every single day. What’s unnatural is for us to resist that change. If you fight what life gives you, you will pay. Like two tectonic plates suddenly breaking free, there will be an earthquake in your life. Your world will be rocked. And you will feel the pain.
I know. I had the big one in 2010.
On Halloween, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. It was one of the finest days of my life. I raised $13,000 for cancer research and felt like I was on top of the world.
Four days later, I had my earthquake.
Because of the economy, I was made part time. I had to quickly reinvent myself to provide for my family. And I did. But I did it poorly at first. I tried to eat my way to success. I depended on soft drinks and junk food for the cheap energy that allowed me to work 15-hour days. I was angry and bitter. I was broken. But in hindsight, I had to be. I had to destroy what I was before I could be something better.
On Halloween 2010, I weighed 195 lbs and had a 36 waist. By December 2011, I weighed 248 lbs and had a 41 waist. I was fat, miserable and exhausted. Something had to give. And at the rate I was going, it was going to be my heart.
Then I signed up for Paul Lacoste’s Fit4Change.
I won’t lie — it hurt. I was really miserable. My mind didn’t think I could do it. But I did. Within 12 weeks, I had lost nearly 50 lbs. And I’ve never looked back to the old me.
I still do Paul Lacoste’s program. I need it. Why? Because I’m busier than ever. I need the energy exercise gives me so I can achieve my dreams. But how it has really helped is between my ears. My attitude has changed from one of anger to one of forgiveness and love. It’s not about me any more. It’s about something much bigger. My family. My friends. My God. And because of it, my personal brand is stronger than ever. I’ve recovered all I have lost and then some. My family life is improving. I’m proud to work at The Clarion-Ledger and at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. I love my coworkers and love seeing them succeed. I’m proud to stand before audiences and tell them that bad things lead to great things. I’m proud to be able to use my talents every single day. And I’m especially proud to watch my boys grow up and see my wife grow more beautiful. Life is good.
Exercise allowed me to change my life for the better. It allowed me to see change for the blessing it is.
If you want to run a great free 5K race in downtown Jackson (starting at the beautiful Mississippi Capitol), run the Paul Lacoste Fit4Change 5k. It’s Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. Click here to register. And as I mentioned, it is FREE.