Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Believe In Yourself
Often people do not put much effort into themselves because they have a low self-esteem (they do not value or believe in themselves). This may have been caused by things people have said to you or the stereotypes that are placed on a specific age, size, or gender. In order to successfully renew yourself, you must believe you are worth it. Don't do it for anyone, do it for yourself. Get to the point where you believe you have value and you are worth the investment. Shake off any feelings of worthlessness and decide today that you are going to break free from the feelings of inferiority that have held you back.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Courage
It takes courage to break out from the normal routines, habits, and actions that have brought a person to a state they are unhappy with. In the beginning, it often seems contrary (because it is) and it may be hard to take the first steps. Be encouraged because you are taking the right steps toward freedom. Choose today to break unhealthy habits. Today you should cut back on sweets (especially soft drinks) and drink more water. You can do it!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Constancy
If I had to choose a word that determines whether or not an individual will succeed at their goal, it is constancy. A savings goal is generally not realized in one day and a 401(k) retirement strategy works better over time. This is the reality for many things in our lives and yet many people look for instant results when it comes to health.
I joined a fitness center a few years back and the fitness coach said, "I have had many people come in to the gym and tell me things like, I need to lose 20 pounds in the next 7 days. I simply tell them, you did not gain the weight in a few days and you cannot expect to lose it in a few short days."
I encourage you not to look at one day and decide if you are losing weight or becoming healthy. Instead, remain constant in daily exercise and in watching what you put in your body. Then, you can look back over a period of time and see the results of your efforts. If you are constant in your pursuit of health, you will achieve your goal.
You can do it!
Scott
I joined a fitness center a few years back and the fitness coach said, "I have had many people come in to the gym and tell me things like, I need to lose 20 pounds in the next 7 days. I simply tell them, you did not gain the weight in a few days and you cannot expect to lose it in a few short days."
I encourage you not to look at one day and decide if you are losing weight or becoming healthy. Instead, remain constant in daily exercise and in watching what you put in your body. Then, you can look back over a period of time and see the results of your efforts. If you are constant in your pursuit of health, you will achieve your goal.
You can do it!
Scott
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Purpose/Motivation
The purpose of this blog is to write about my weight loss and fitness successes in hope that they would be a motivation and inspiration to others. Whether you are just starting on your fitness lifestyle journey or you are still in the decision phase, your success lies completely within in you. As you read this blog and blogs like them, find something that you can grab onto for motivation and refuse to let go or give up. You can do it!
Getting Started
My name is Scott Sparks and I live in Northeastern Oklahoma with my wife (Ellen) and two kids (Sarah & Jonathan).
After reaching 221 pounds, being put on my fifth medication, and being diagnosed as a pre-diabetic, I realized that something in my life needed to change if I was going to be around to see my children grow up. In addition to my diagnoses, I had little to no energy, was having a hard time getting around, and would struggled to catch my breath (when exerting any energy) frequently throughout my day. Further complicating the situation was the fact that I had begun having migraine headaches and lower back pain. All of these added up to make a very uncomfortable and unhappy person.
At this point, I decided that enough was enough and that I wanted to move from simply surviving (in this unhealthy state) to living life to the fullest. What would it take to become healthy again? What radical steps were needed in order to reverse this trend?
I am not a dieter so I was not interested in starving myself in order to get healthy. Instead, I began to eat only according to the serving size on the container (which is usually a lot less than you think) and to not eat anything unhealthy after 7 pm.
Additionally, I began to walk around a track that is close to my house and gradually increased my activity over time. First, longer walks and then eventually I did began to run one lap, then two, then three and I continued to increase.
After I grew tired of running around the same track for several laps, I ventured out to the trails along the turnpikes and highways in my area. I determined that if I could consistently increase my distance and reach 10 miles, I would run in the Tulsa Run that year, which I did. My goal was simply to complete the run and survive. I was pleasantly surprised when I finished the run in the top half of all runners that day. My diligence had paid off.
Although the time-frame of my transformation and renewed life was approximately 1-1/2 years, the benefits are evident today. It is truly a lifestyle change and yet one worth making and keeping. At my last physical I was told, "you are very healthy, we do not even need to do any blood work on you."
The three biggest factors in the success of my plan was 1) my faith in God, 2) motivation to live for my wife and children, and 3) diligence.
Although the goal of losing weight or fitting into clothing is ok, for a longer term result, it is good to have a motivation that will keep you moving forward.
If you are struggling with health issues, weight concerns, or simply lack motivation in your life, I encourage you to start your journey of complete renewal of body and purpose with me.
It's ok if you cannot run! You can start right where you are at by taking one step, then two, then three. Consult with your physician before making any drastic changes and certainly keep him/her in the loop as you are making progress.
You can do it!
Scott Sparks
After reaching 221 pounds, being put on my fifth medication, and being diagnosed as a pre-diabetic, I realized that something in my life needed to change if I was going to be around to see my children grow up. In addition to my diagnoses, I had little to no energy, was having a hard time getting around, and would struggled to catch my breath (when exerting any energy) frequently throughout my day. Further complicating the situation was the fact that I had begun having migraine headaches and lower back pain. All of these added up to make a very uncomfortable and unhappy person.
At this point, I decided that enough was enough and that I wanted to move from simply surviving (in this unhealthy state) to living life to the fullest. What would it take to become healthy again? What radical steps were needed in order to reverse this trend?
I am not a dieter so I was not interested in starving myself in order to get healthy. Instead, I began to eat only according to the serving size on the container (which is usually a lot less than you think) and to not eat anything unhealthy after 7 pm.
Additionally, I began to walk around a track that is close to my house and gradually increased my activity over time. First, longer walks and then eventually I did began to run one lap, then two, then three and I continued to increase.
After I grew tired of running around the same track for several laps, I ventured out to the trails along the turnpikes and highways in my area. I determined that if I could consistently increase my distance and reach 10 miles, I would run in the Tulsa Run that year, which I did. My goal was simply to complete the run and survive. I was pleasantly surprised when I finished the run in the top half of all runners that day. My diligence had paid off.
Although the time-frame of my transformation and renewed life was approximately 1-1/2 years, the benefits are evident today. It is truly a lifestyle change and yet one worth making and keeping. At my last physical I was told, "you are very healthy, we do not even need to do any blood work on you."
The three biggest factors in the success of my plan was 1) my faith in God, 2) motivation to live for my wife and children, and 3) diligence.
Although the goal of losing weight or fitting into clothing is ok, for a longer term result, it is good to have a motivation that will keep you moving forward.
If you are struggling with health issues, weight concerns, or simply lack motivation in your life, I encourage you to start your journey of complete renewal of body and purpose with me.
It's ok if you cannot run! You can start right where you are at by taking one step, then two, then three. Consult with your physician before making any drastic changes and certainly keep him/her in the loop as you are making progress.
You can do it!
Scott Sparks
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