Jeff Lawrence Legacy Contributor
It was January 7, 2019, and I was so fed up with everything. I was fed up with feeling sorry for myself, fed up with feeling tired all the time, fed up with being sore all the time, and really fed up with saying I wanted to get back into shape.
To be honest, I had not been in good shape for over 25 years, and although I had attempted to get into shape maybe a dozen times I was never able to keep the weight off for any length of time. I would lose 20 pounds and within three months gain back 30 pounds.
At 52, on January 7, 2019 I was 296 pounds … but I was about to change all that.
So I made a commitment to myself and set a GOAL of 225 pounds before the end of 2019.
The first step was to ask for help from my men, and from a coach to start me on a KETO diet. I started slowly with a walking program and stayed very strict on the diet.
In 3 months I had lost 36 pounds, was down to 260 and feeling incredible. About mid-April I started to actually run. At first I could not even run one mile without stopping. I really did not like running but by June I decided I needed an additional challenge to keep me focused.
I told a buddy about this and he challenged me to run a marathon with him on December 7 (his birthday) in Cancun, Mexico. It would be his third and my first, so it was a very big mental and physical goal for me. However, I knew it would be an incredible achievement if I could actually pull this off.
So I set out to make it a reality.
For the next six months I trained like a mad man (5-6 days a week) and stayed on the KETO program until mid-November when I was running a ½ marathon every weekend in training, actually needing to have more carbs in my body.
I am proud to say that I not only finished the Marathon the first Saturday in December in Mexico, but I lost 21 more pounds than my goal weight. I went from 296 to 204. I went from a XXL shirt to an L and a 44” waist to a 34” waist. I am in the best shape of my life and have more energy then ever before … I’m now 53 years old and feel like I’m 25.
My goal for 2020 is to maintain my very healthy lifestyle and help others to do the same.
Sharing this story is how it starts.
Boom
Congrats Jeff!
Biggest help can often be is leading by example and having a life that works.
Amazing job my brother. I’m extremely proud of your accomplishment.
inspirational!
Wow. Major achievement. Particularly considering all else you have on your plate.
Inspirational Mr. Lawrence!
A couple of years down the pipe, yet still your battle is worthy of notice and note..Well done Jeff, well done…