This blog I originally wrote for myself and to share with other "TEAM DDPYoga" members. But I have been thinking about this a lot for the last several days. This does not need to be hidden away for "members only", I need to share this with whomever would want to read it.
This blog of "Owning it" is all about me "Owning My Life", and if others can take charge after they have let things slip away, then there is no reason I can't take charge again. And there is no reason anyone can't take charge and "Own Your Life" again.
My story and how I got
to DDPYoga
So this is my story, may be similar to others and it may not
be.
I can probably blame why I am in the shape I am in on many
different events that have happened in my life, but I won't do that because I
have to "Own My Life" and own what I have done to myself. I have no one to blame for letting myself get
to where I am but me. So here is how I
got here, and with DDPYoga I will get back to me.
I spent 10+ years in the Navy, and I made the decision to
get out in 1998, at which time I was in pretty good shape as the last 4 years
in the Navy I had the privilege to work with the Navy SEALs. And because of them I learned how to work out
and do things I would have never dreamed of.
After I got out of the Navy I moved to Tennessee and began life as a
civilian. For those who have never
experienced that transition, it can be a pretty big culture shock.
I worked my first year and a half in a job, and after that I
found my career that I am in now. But
that career took its toll on me as I focused on that exclusively. The days went by and I drove many miles as my
office was my car. I would eat in my
car, sometimes 3 meals a day out of a bag via a drive thru. I did work out from time to time but nowhere
near what I had done when in the Navy.
Now I jump 10 years forward to 2008, All my hard work paid off
and I had worked my way up and got the promotion I was wanting. I became a supervisor, and I no longer had to
live my life behind the wheel of my car.
But 3 years earlier I had also gone thru a break up of a relationship that I had been in
for 5 years. So I poured myself into my
work, and worked to be the best I could in turn working with my team to
make sure we were the best, most efficient district in the country. The whole time working from my office in my
home. The days would just fly by and I
would start at 7am and before I knew it, it was 8 or 9pm. I would be mentally exhausted and I would go
to bed. But I would go out and take my
dog for walks, as I had gotten Sipe (my Boxer) once I bought my home.
So I thought I had "My master plan" all figured
out, I got the promotion, I moved out the apartment life and bought my home, gotten
my dog, all I needed was to get the motorcycle and girl, whichever came first, I
was fine with.
But along the way I was having to buy new cloths because the
old ones were worn and tight, and I kept having to by another size up, then
before I knew it I was only able to find cloths in the "Big &
Tall" places. I hated going to the
store so I started ordering cloths on line, and that took the anxiety away, so
in my mind it was ok. I am a visual
person, probably from my trade as a photographer/ graphics person. So I am always behind the camera even during
family events, never in any pictures cause I would always take the pictures. And you never really see yourself in the
mirror as it is very deceiving because you look at yourself everyday and don't
really see what you have become.
Then back in August 2010 I started having major pains in my
abdomen, which landed me in the hospital, and they said it was diverticulitis,
they treated me for about 2 months, and then in February 2011, I ended up with
Bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time, which entailed another hospital
stay, things were falling apart. After
all that I thought I had been through the worst of it. I joined a couple of "Meet
Up" groups, I was feeling better and thought now is the time to get the
motorcycle and keep moving forward. In
April I got my bike and started riding.
Work was good and I really enjoyed riding. Then one Saturday afternoon in November 2011
I was out with Sipe (my dog) and we were playing ball, and I went to throw the
ball and I felt something give in my shoulder. and I knew something wasn't
right. I went to the Doc and ended up at
the Ortho Doc, the cortisone did nothing, he did an MRI and found out I had a
"SLAP tear in my shoulder and a partially torn bicep. December 2011 I had surgery on my shoulder to
repair the mess and then the recovery began.
More sitting doing nothing, pain pills and snacks.
So
by June 2012 my shoulder was feeling much better, and I saw a picture of myself
on my fancy new bike, saw that my cloths did not fit like they use to, so I
bought a couple more. We all know the
trick with shirts that are too tight, you just stretch them out a bit and you
are good to go. Then I saw a couple more
pictures that a friend had taken of me at a party I went to, I didn't know she
had taken them cause I am always careful not to be in pictures. Those along with the picture of me on my
bike, that was it! I had seen what I had
done to myself. I knew something had to
change, I had become a hermit in my home, I was embarrassed, and did not feel
comfortable around others. Which is
totally opposite of my personality, I am by nature a people person, but between
my work, and the illnesses, I had hidden myself away and convinced myself that
everything was ok because I was interacting with everyone via the computer.
I started to feel desperate, I looked into possibilities
with my insurance on different programs. I had even considered surgery, as I was bigger
than I had ever been...388. I knew I had
to do something.
I started my research, as I have to research everything,
looking into all the options. I have had
gym memberships in the past, and that worked for the first month or two, and
then I would find an excuse or something would get in the way. I have never really over eaten, as I always
have been about some sort of portion control, but doing nothing and eating junk and drinking what I want, as a single guy does, well we all know what happens then. I felt like a balloon.
One day in July I came across the "
Never, Ever give up"
video of Arthur. Then started
researching DDPYoga. I checked out the
web site, and looked at other videos, and thought can I really afford
this. Then I found the
DDPYoga Facebook page and
thought why not try and send a message to ask some questions and see if I would
even get a reply. So on July 19th I
messaged DDPYoga;
Dallas,
So I am on the fence between trying DDPyoga, P90x, a gym membership, or mma
cardio kickboxing. I've been a big fan of yours and I have looked at the
videos, and your web site, along with the others.
I know I am well beyond where I have ever been in my life (388), and it is time
for me to do something about it, as I have been stagnant for the last 6 years,
for one reason or another. But I know I can't keep going down the path I am on,
especially at 43. I am not where I want to be physically, which has effected my
personal life, well squashed it. Since I know you can't be happy with someone
else unless your happy with yourself. And right now I am pissed at myself for
letting it get this far out of balance.
Why am I messaging you? Not sure but I figured you have been thru enough you
may be able to make a suggestion.
Thanks for takin the time to read this.
-Don
And here was the reply:
one thing I will say for DDPYOGA is
we have the BEST support team in the world at teamddpyoga.com they are there to
support and encourage you along your journey to OWN YOUR LIFE. you do not just
purchase another product, you become part of our FAMILY
Something in that short reply resonated with me. I would be a part of something. Not just going it alone. "Own Your Life" is what I wanted
and needed to do. But I still didn't pull the trigger just yet,
it took a couple of more days for me to decide if this was something that I
could or wanted to try. July 29th I decided I couldn't afford NOT to do this, I placed my order. I received my DVD's
sometime in early August and me being me I had to read everything from cover to
cover twice. I poked around the Team
DDPYoga page and read some more. Started
trying the "
Diamond Dozen", and thought I can do this. If all of these others can do this then there
is no reason I cannot do this.
So I decided that I was going to go "all in" on
September 1, no more excuses. That was
going to be the day that I was committing to taking back my life and
"Owning It". I found the 30
day challenge group on FB and knew right then I had accountability. Not to anyone else but to myself. I pulled down the pictures on a wall in the
living room, and hung up a oversized calendar, and the DDPYoga poster under
that. And thus began my Journey back to
me.
Now
I could stop there, but as an added blessing, yes I said blessing, I saw that
DDP was coming to Nashville, my town, where I live. I thought there is no way I can miss this
opportunity. How many people start this
and within the first 30 days get to work out with the man who set this whole
program up. I immediately signed up for
that. Put in the work for the first 15
days so I could be ready when DDP got to town.
So I had another goal to work towards.
I jumped in, working out twice a day, began eating clean & dairy
free. And the morning of the workout I
decided to jump on the scale, just out of curiosity, and to my surprise I was
down 12.2 lbs, in 15 days. Now I know a
lot of that was from the sudden change in lifestyle. But I feel better and I am moving forward.
I know how I am, I am a goal oriented person, like many
others, that needs to be a part of something and to have something to work
towards. I have many goals , they are no
longer dreams. These are goals that are
obtainable as long as I put in the work, and stay focused. But this is not just about me, this is much
bigger than just me. My thoughts are if
DDP has changed lives, and Arthur has changed lives by putting themselves out
there, then it is my responsibility to "pay it forward" and share
with others how my life is changing and will continue to change with
DDPYoga.
This is just the beginning I know, but it is important to me
to journal where I came from to know where I am going. And I know that I am not on this journey
alone!
Next stop Mexico July 10, 2013...
