Fastrack To Stay On Track

I just finished listening to a 1980’s hit Once In A Life Time by The Talking Heads. And a phrase from the song caught my attention “And I ask myself,  how did I get here?”

It’s been just over three months for me on the My Fitness Solutions “Fastrack” program. I am one who tried joining a gym (even had a year free full membership with a trainer) . I lasted 3 weeks. I am a skinnier then most guy and something inside me just paralyzed me from going to the gym. Afraid of the big guys and the fears set from childhood about Bodybuilders  scared me to stop going. One time while on Facebook I had made a new friend, a gentleman named Fadi Malouf . I liked the first name what can I say. That was in July of 2010. I so heavy in to drinking beers, smoking cigarettes I was nothing short of a train wreck waiting to happen. Fadi and I started started to really talk a few months later and I seemed to really enjoy his posts about health and fitness nutrition and his often words of wisdom.

We started talking mostly about nutrition at first. I was totally grasping it but I started it and then fell off track with it even stopped talking to Fadi for about a good six months.  Beers, staying up late drunk as ever every night and really not caring too much about my health. But hated the way I was feeling in the morning and in general about myself. Fadi one late night back in August of 2012  happen to be on Facebook or at least logged in. I said Hello and we started a really great conversation. He was always upbeat and never had one negative thing to say. After all that time of not talking it was like we were best friends who had just returned home from college break. I apologized to him for the nutrition thing not working for me. And he said something that changed me from that moment on. “You can go back to the way you were or move forward and never look back”.

And that’s what I did. He told me about a program he designed called “Fast Track” on My Fitness Solutions.  He told me about the free 30 day trial period and I should give it a try. The only thing it can do it better myself. If I didn’t like it no problem. And he told me about the amazing smartphone app to use when on the go or computer is down. That there was no excuse not to workout. And trust me I used every one of them and a few new ones. “The Cat ate my speakers” was not a legit excuse in Fadi’s book.

It took me a few weeks after that to really get into the swing of things.   But Sept 26, 2012, will live to be the day I leaped forward into what now I call the ” fast track to stay on track”

During our set up phone call (monthly phone consults come with the program).  Now Coach  Fadi asked me about my habits. Smoking and Drinking were talked about. That was my last day of a beer.Smoking I had to quit. (am currently working on that) He asked about my food consumption. Let’s just say you know how McDonald’s changed their dining rooms to look more like a cafe. I think that was due to my feasting their everyday. Ramon noodles and frozen foods were what I lived on with about 3 or 4 20.oz diet sodas a day. That was my last burger and diet soda. Ramon noddles out and frozen foods out also.  I told him about my fear of the gym and how I tried before just didn’t work. He understood and explained why this program would benefit me. It was based in my home with no gym contact required.   He had given me an assignment to do which was to write down and explain three things in an email that may derail me from the program. That made see what could stop me the most was me.

He set me up with a 10-minute exercise routine seeing I had no weights or equipment. Who would have thought using your own body as a weight, not me? I was impressed with the routine he gave me to do.  Four weeks later was another. I had seen on the site a workout called Boot Camp. I was in awe and so wanted to do that. He gave me the exercise routine and so eager was I to do it. As we getting close to our second monthly phone consult I had begun to want more. I wanted to do something that would be a challenge to me and would help me along. I wanted something with weights. I wrote an email asking him what was out there not to heavy in how it weighed seeing I lived upstairs apartment in an older home.  He had suggested trying Suspension Straps like TRX. I looked into it and found a similar version of TRX at a cheaper cost. That would be my next routine. Now working with Suspension training then  Kettle Bells as my next routine!!! Building my own home gym!!

I started to see results in my second month upper Arms were starting to form muscle on them. My skinny arms were getting guns!! (I called them bb guns, it was small but wow!!) The support I have received from my friend and family my Facebook friends was really growing.  My upper legs were starting to take shape as well. I had energy like never before and started noticing the self-confidence was getting stronger. I believed in myself I was walking with my head up for the first time. My job was more enjoyable and people around me say I smile more. My third month just past and I can see the difference from the days of Beer drink sitting around feeling depressed to now asking: What’s next?What can I do to get better? And the day I don’t exercise I feel like something is missing. I do not like rest days, but I have a lot of fitness friends who say the same thing. I was explained to that’s how you know your liking what you are doing and committed to doing it.

My life has changed due to the one simple saying “You can go back to the way you were or move forward and never look back” Coach Fadi and his team have made me feel as a welcomed member on the path to good health and fitness. I have learned so much about myself through his guidance  Coach Fadi will NOT make you feel like you are just another client. He will help you with any problem you may have. Trust me I have been getting better at shooting video clips of problem exercises and having him write me back telling me what I need to do to make that exercise right.  Never will you hear him say “Do what you want I don’t care”. He does care. I still have a way to go but loving every minute of it.  Oh, yea even if you are not a beginner  The Fast Track Program has an exercise routine for all levels of fitness training.

I look forward to sharing with you my achievements with the program in the coming months.

So now I ask myself “How did I get here”  The Fastrack way.

Body By Groom

At 450 pounds, Jeff Groom could barely tie his shoes. His high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, edema and heart issues were all contributing to a dangerous outlook for his health. Without making some major changes, Jeff was facing a life of limitations and significantly less time with those he loved. And his health was not the only thing affected. The weight threw a shadow of hopelessness on every aspect of Jeff’s life, including his interactions with friends, colleagues and family.   

The decision to change one’s life is often the outcome of millions of setbacks, and then one ultimate shove. For Jeff, that shove came at the beginning of January. He began his journey when he finally faced the negative impacts on his life from an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Jeff knew he had to make a change, and could no longer endure the turmoil he was cultivating in his own life. He felt like he was slowly killing himself. One January morning, Jeff called a meeting among those he loved most, apologized for his mistakes and vowed to change his life, not only for himself but for them. 

“I had everything I could want but happiness,” Jeff says. And with that goal in mind he decided to get serious about losing weight. He had been working with Fadi Malouf, whom he had met through a friend, for about two years. When he decided to make a real change Jeff knew he would not only need Fadi’s expertise, but also his support. Jeff went through numerous trainers in the past and he knew he was not an easy client. This is why he needed someone who was more than just a trainer, someone who would push him, coach him and care for him like family.   

“I’ll pay you but I’ll fight you. I’m better at not doing what you tell me,” Jeff frankly told Fadi at the beginning. And Fadi accepted the challenge wholeheartedly. 

The first steps Jeff took in his journey were cutting out alcohol, cutting back his red meat consumption, increasing plants and lean protein in his diet, and working out. He began to enjoy lifting weights and becoming more active. Fadi pushed him in the gym and provided him with nutrition counseling to help Jeff fuel his body correctly. He also helped Jeff sort through the mental part of weight loss as his life coach.

With such a significant amount of weight to lose, Jeff decided to undergo bariatric surgery a couple months into his journey. This helped him immensely, but he still had a lot of work to do. 

“What people don’t often realize is that obesity is not the problem, it’s the solution to a deeper issue,” Fadi says, “Once I help clients identify the underlying issues and work through them, they can find the happiness they lost and care for themselves enough to lose the weight and be healthy long-term.”

Jeff recalls a difficult time at the beginning of his journey when he fell off the wagon and felt lost. He called Fadi in the middle of the night and told him he was struggling. Fadi dropped everything and went to be with Jeff and help him through his difficult time. Even though Fadi pushed him and they were usually sarcastic, this time Jeff needed the support of a friend. 

In 9 months Jeff has lost over 200 pounds. His outlook on life has completely changed. He found the happiness that was lost from his life before and for the first time in a long time, he is excited about the future. His friends and family have also noticed a change in his attitude. Jeff discovered when you care for yourself and foster self love, you in turn care for those around you more. 

For the future, Jeff is focusing on work and growing his business. In many ways he is promoting a healthier business, just like he did for himself- restructuring and not working with dishonest people. He is putting his family and company first. 

Jeff’s nutrition and fitness regimen now consist of portion control and working out when he can squeeze it in. Jeff attributes much of his success to working with Fadi. The program he followed was unique from what he experienced with dozens of trainers in the past. Jeff says he still eats things he enjoys, but it’s not about eating large amounts of food, but more about taste. Changing his overall relationship with food has led him to his success with weight loss.

Fadi could not be more proud of Jeff. Playing a role in someone completely changing their life has given him a huge sense of purpose.

“Personally, Jeff has been one of my most rewarding clients to work with. I’ve seen him transform entirely and he is so much happier now,” Fadi says. “I know we will be life-long friends.”

Jeff believes anyone who wants to lose weight and get healthier should give Fadi a shot. 

“The main thing about Fadi is he truly cares about the individual, not about the dollar amount. It’s a relationship and he really cares about people and their health.” 

Day 1 A lot of frustration

Day 1 A lot of frustration

Chicken Salad

This morning I was awaken early by my phone ringing. On the other end was a very WIDE awake Fadi. His voice sounding very enthusiastic for me to get up and start my day. I on the other hand wasn’t ready to get out of my sleeper. I had stayed up till the wee hours of the morning researching different websites for Trucker Exercises and what kind of FREE downloads were available for my iPhone to help monitor my activity level throughout the day. The APP I downloaded to my phone was “Pacer”. I based my decision on reading the reviews and the ease of use.

I knew that I needed to do cardio first thing before I ate breakfast. So I got my dog Trip out of the truck and began walking at a brisk pace around the perimeter of the TA truck stop in Barstow, CA. We walked for a total of 45min and covered just over 2 miles of real estate.

Fadi had told me to make sure I drank plenty of water throughout the day I only consumed 3 – 16oz bottles.

I only ate 1 meal today and that was a Spinach salad with 1 grilled Chicken breast. I put my Lite Ranch salad dressing into a soup bowl and lightly dipped eat bite. Salad dressing can be the culprit to making a salad not so healthy. With this in mind I dip instead of smother. I also ordered a piece of grilled white fish with lemon pepper to eat later today.

Daily Steps

I was asked to measure my waist and thighs. This was quite the eye opener when I saw what my measurement were:

Waist 34.5″
Thighs 25″

Those measurement sound like a mans. Now I have a number to go with the reason I hate mirrors. At least living in a truck elevates me having to look at myself.

My intention today were to unhook my tractor from my trailer and find the nearest Walmart or Stater Brothers to buy grocery’s and some fitness bands. Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to do that but I will tomorrow. I learned that my truck has a head gasket going bad and I was trying to weigh out my options. Bottom line is my truck may not make it back to Georgia. I had to cancel an oversize load and now had to start looking for something lighter to put on my trailer. This has put me under a lot of frustration and stress.

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