Up to the Challenge

Clark College! Whew. What an experience. It was so cool to be the lecturer in the very same room, OSC 204 I sat in as a student just over a year ago. Thanks Steve and Garet from the Thompson Fitness Center for inviting me.

Last week, I had the great pleasure and honor of holding four lectures over three days for Clark College's Biggest Loser Challenge. I believe I did what I sought to do -- encourage, inspire, and motivate. ""I've been asked by your trainers and professors to speak to you today because I have a story to tell that the textbooks can't. I have a story to tell that will resonate with you as you begin your journey to health and fitness. I am your real example. I am your real life Biggest Loser. I've been there, done that -- am doing that. That's why most of you can relate to me. I'm not a Biggest Loser contestant on TV being worked by a staff of personal trainers and fed by personal chefs. I'm not an airbrushed Weight Watchers celebrity spokesperson. I'm right here in the midst of life trying to figure it all out too. I'm your real example. I'm your Biggest Loser."

In turn, as often the case I was inspired as well. I really love the vibe on campus, the energy -- learning, thinking, growing. Professor Mosley? Hmm...maybe. I'll also be on campus seven times next month!


 Here's some of the photos from my time on campus.

Tuesday, January 22 -- Lecture 1 & 2

Thursday, January 24 -- Lecture 3

Friday, January 25 -- Lecture 4 -- The grand finale

Your Biggest Loser

Honored. Humbled. A little apprehensive. I've been selected as the guest lecturer for Clark College's Biggest Loser Challenge.

Honored for a number of reasons. Humbled because the little fat girls' story does matter. Apprehensive because I'm not on my A-game right now. My eating habits are questionable so I feel icky and I haven't been working out so I feel sluggish!

So, what is it that I will say to motivate them? Resonate with them? What tricks will I pull from my bag?

As always, I'll just be honest. There's nothing to hide. Nothing to be ashamed of. For goodness sakes, I'm battling obesity. This isn't about me losing a few pounds that I gained after I got married or had kids. For as long as I can remember I've been overweight. So I can't expect that the weight and all of the bad habits disappear overnight. I know how to be obese. It's all I've ever been. The healthy, fit thing is new. It takes work. Constant work.

Again, I say, I can't wave a magic wand and make it disappear. Is that a cop out? No. It's the raw truth. The truth that no one wants to hear. Instead, they want to hear that they can make the weight go away in ten weeks: By following this plan, by eating this pre-packaged food, by eliminating fruits and grains out of their diet, by slipping this under their tongue. No one wants to hear the real gritty truth: It will take a conscious change to their diet combined with mindful eating, regular exercise, HARD WORK, and staying with it even if they slip up some.

Here's some of what I'll say:

"I've been asked by your trainers and professors to speak to you today because I have a story to tell that the textbooks can't. I have a story to tell that will resonate with you as you begin your journey to health and fitness. I am your real life Biggest Loser. I've been there, done that -- am doing that. That's why most of you can relate to me.  I'm not a Biggest Loser contestant on TV being worked by a staff of personal trainers and fed by personal chefs. I'm not an airbrushed Weight Watchers celebrity spokesperson. I'm not a health professional who has all the book smarts, but none of the real gritty insight of battling obesity and life at the same time. I'm your real example. I'm your Biggest Loser."

So, yup I'm not at the top of my game right now. But, such as life. No need in hanging my head and shying away from my calling. My calling to tell my story of weight loss and self-discovery. I say this often, there's plenty of other folks who have recorded large amounts of weight, but not everyone has the voice to tell the story, the passion to tell the story. I was given that voice and am filled with that passion. I'm your real life example. And, I'll keep sharing my story in hopes to motivate others. In hopes to drive home the point -- diet, exercise, hard work, dedication, commitment, and a never give up attitude is the route to successfully become healthy and fit. I got this!

I'll end the lecture like this, "170 pounds gone forever. I'm proof you can do anything you set your mind to."