My physical & mental health journey led me to my spiritual one that slowly took me to a path to become an ordained pastor . Now how did that happen ?! Where did it all begin ?
As with many of us , I have been struggling with being overweight for many years . I have always been known as that “ husky ” kid in grade school . I did lose some baby fat in high school but deep in my mind , very envious of those around me that where fit and had a chiseled bodies . During most my adult years I would get frustrated at my weight always increasing and trying those fad quick weight-loss diets like “ tomato soup diet ”, “ calorie counting ”, “ weight loss pills ” and even the “ Atkins diet ”. After starting and stopping about a dozen times at my highest weight of 367lbs - on June 13th , 2015 - I made a birthday promise to myself ; to finally finish what I started and not take the easy way out like I have for many years of my adult life . I set a goal that on March 18th , 2017 would be the date where I would step foot in my first OPA fitness competition , where I won second place .
On June 1st , 2018 I competed in the IPPB Pro Qualifier in Toronto and came in 3rd place . I am a dedicated true believer that actions are more powerful than just words . At this time I was working extremely hard off season to go back June 1st 2019 to obtain my Pro Card .
I was a once a step parent in the audience , watching and dreaming of standing proud like other men my age on stage . I ’ ve envisioned my future , right then and there , that I will win my own one day ; little did I realize where it would really take me .
level and from life . It was a struggle of pain . Pain of being alone , pain of emotional setbacks , personal struggles and for many of us it was an end of a chapter of our lives before COVID . There was also the pain of constant worrying about loved ones and their health conditions , not to mention , the physical pain of working out every day , 3 hours in the harsh cold , rain and snow to keep my mental health , physical and psychological health in check . It was through pain I felt I was being redeemed for my shortcomings in life as a human being . It was a time of solitude and reflection . I knew that I couldn ’ t control life around me , but I knew I can control what I can do for myself . It was a mental and physical dedication to stay healthy and active as much I can for my mind , body and soul .
I switched and pivoted my thoughts of how to become the best version of myself and being the best shape of my life . There was a burning drive and quest to get ready for war ; getting in the best shape of my
On March 18th , 2017 was the day I competed in my 1st competition . There was an article published in the May 2017 Around the OPA where I shared my path to a better life .
A few years later , COVID hit ! Turning the world around and changed all of our lives drastically in one way or another . It was the uncertainty of what ’ s going to happen in our lives , while going through a recent breakup and solitude that lit up that fire in me once again . At first , it was trying to keep healthy and away from being sick and caught by COVID , then it gradually turned to a mental and physical dedication and discipline to do better for myself . I wanted more for myself on a personal life was now my purpose . It was very simple , after 3 months of not going to the gym and suffered what I thought was a setback on the military routine and structure I created in the first chapter of my mind body transformation . It was when I put on my head phones and learned to disconnect and using my water bottle as a tool to get fit . I use the technique of walking fast and squeezing the water bottle for resistance and gained not just lean muscle , but working out a way that was much easier than before . It turned to throwing from one hand to another using the weight of the water to get the same effect