Jeff Martin

For years, I stubbornly watched my waistline expand as the number on the scale rose to new heights. I knew what I was doing wasn't healthy and wasn't good for me. Consuming 3,000-4,000 calories a day was the norm. Add that to the fact that I was lazy, out of shape, and uninterested in any kind of exercise. I was the king of excuses, too! "I get home from work too late to exercise." "I'm not a morning person, I'm not getting up any earlier to exercise." "I can't eat healthy because I can't bring my lunch." "I have to eat convenience store and fast food." "I can't live without my Mt. Dew." Etc., etc., etc. I was so very unhappy with my size but yet unwilling to do anything about it. I would sit and complain about it as I would devour a carton of ice cream. I'd heard and watched so many people join and succeed with the Biggest Loser. I was urged and encouraged by so many to join. To just do it. But, being the king of excuses..."Nah, I wouldn't have time." "I wouldn't ever make it to a team workout." Deep down, I wanted to try it but in the end, the excuses won out everytime, leaving me always thinking, maybe next season. Then came Christmas Eve, 2015. When an overly proud and equally obnoxious coworker, who hadn't seen me in 2 months,came up to me, and I'll never forget what he said, "man, I've heard of people packing on winter weight, but I've never actually seen it." Yeah, Merry Christmas. But, you know what. He was right. And, that's probably what bothered me the most. I, me, and not anyone else, had let me get that way. I ended up taking those words to heart, and decided enough was enough. I started walking on Christmas Day. Two days later, I bought a scale. It had been a couple years since I had weighed. I knew it was bad. I knew most of my clothes were too tight. I knew I was bigger than I ever had been, and I was afraid to know. Afraid of the number I'd see. 260. Yikes! I knew if I was gonna change, I had my work cut out for me. But I was determined. I set out to walk everyday. Count calories. And what about that Biggest Loser thing down at the gym? There's another season getting ready to start. I (the excuse king) mulled it over. Should I or should I not join. Well, unbeknownst to me, that part was settled by a very generous someone other than me. An anonymous person came into the gym and paid for my Biggest Loser membership. Uh oh. Now, I have to do it! No more excuses. Somebody out there believed in me enough to do that and now I have to win! And I was in it to win it. No more mt. dews. No more quarter pounders with cheese, large fries, large coke, and 10 nuggets. No more Papa John's on Monday. No more snickers. No more ice cream. It was all or nothing! I started bringing my lunch everyday. I started eating bananas, apples, protein shakes, lunch meat (no bread), pineapple, cauliflower, steamed veggies, and grilled chicken. It's amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it! I began walking 2 miles a day. Then 3. Then came 4. It had to be everyday, too. I walked in zero degrees. I walked on ice, in snow, wind and rain. All no fun, believe me. But I wanted to win. Not for the man at work, either. And not for the generous person at the gym. But for me. I went to as many team workouts and things at the gym as work allowed me to. I quickly found out that the fears I had of exercising in front of other people was shared by everybody in there, and that they didn't care or look at what I was doing because they have the same trepidation and aspirations as me. They are there to better themselves in the same way I was there for me. As, the season progressed, I was getting into better shape, and again was encouraged to run the March Madness 5k. Yeah, right. I can't run 3 miles! Well, I did, and I run now most days versus walking! It is amazing what you can do if you set your mind to it! I put everything I had into Season 12 of the Biggest Loser, determined to win. And although, I did not win, I came close! I came in 2nd, by less than a percent. But I did it! I stuck with it, and as I like to say, I didn't win it, but I finished a winner! The only thing that bothers me is that I waited. I let someone call me, well, fat, before deciding to better myself. I have since joined the 13th season of the Biggest Loser, and although I won't win, I know I can still help my team win! As of today, I have lost a total of 63 pounds. But, that's just a number. I feel so much better about myself. I am not tired. Not cranky. Not depressed. Not ashamed. I have energy. Stamina. Confidence. And oh, yeah, a whole closet full of clothes that are too big! I guess what I'm saying is, look, I've been there. I had every excuse in the book. But, please, don't ever doubt yourself. And I know, it's what's always said, but you gotta believe me, if I can do it, you can do it. Trust me. Don't wait. Start yourself on the path to a healthier you, you will not regret it. Just believe in you.
Jeff Martin