Lessons learned from my Hall of Fame Dad

This past weekend I had the privilege to support my father, Phil Roberts, and his 1964 UNI Panther Football Team as they were inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame.  It was an incredible day.  We joined the other members of the squad and their families for a luncheon ceremony on the floor of the McLeod Center.

UNI President Ben Allen spoke to the inductees about how they laid the ground work for the football program to build and flourish.  Athletic Director Troy Dannen talked about how the success of that great team helped build momentum for the program, and help lead the University toward building the UNI-Dome.  Coach Farley was also in attendance to shake hands and congratulate the Hall of Fame Class of 2010.  It was an amazing day, and my family was very honored to be a part of it!

Dad was a starting offensive lineman on the Panther's team.  They were the only UNI Football team to ever play and win a bowl game.  They were invited to play in the 1964 Pecan Bowl in Abilene, Texas.  The Pecan Bowl served as the NCAA Midwest College Division Championship, one of only four bowl games in the College Division for the 1964 season.

I learned a lot about Dad's team, and a lot about life this past weekend.  For the past few weeks I'd been asking Dad a bunch of questions about his old playing days.  And much to my surprise, he didn't share too much!  It was just something he used to do.  He played football so that he could go to college and get an education.  He played on a team that was pretty good, but he just did what he was supposed to do.  In fact, Dad never really let on that his induction into the Hall of Fame was a big deal.  Really?  It floors me to see how humble he is about this!  I am so blessed to have him to teach me and my children.  He is truly a great example of how to live life.  He is a leader.  He teaches by example.

There have never been any flashy speeches from my father in all the years that I have known him.  He taught my brothers and I through the example and discipline of getting up everyday and getting your work done.  My dad works harder than anyone I know.  He always has.  He would never tell you that.  He would never complain about getting up 7 days a week to feed cattle and keep the farm going.  Growing up on the farm I don't ever remember hearing him complain about all of the hard work or long hours required to build a successful farming operation.  During the 80's, times were tough.  Dad almost lost everything.  He actually could have protected land and assets by declaring bankruptcy, but that wasn't an option in my Dad's world.  If he had a debt, it would be paid.  Even if it meant letting farm land go.  The funny thing is, growing up, I never even knew we were going through tough times.  When he came to the house at night, he gave his all to his children.  He never let on.  I wish I could say that I've never brought a hard day home to my family.  The fact is, I have a hard time not getting down when things are tough.  I pray that God make me a little more like my father.

Something I noticed on Saturday while listening to all of the Hall of Fame Inductees stories is that many of them had a similar outlook as my father.  They were all very humble.  The recurring theme was discipline and fundamentals.  Hall of Fame wrestler Joel Greenlee spoke about how hard work, dedication, and fundamentals were the keys to his success.  Hall of Fame Volleyball player Molly O'Brien stressed teamwork, discipline and fundamentals as the building blocks to her great career.  Hall of Fame and NFL football great Dedric Ward credited long hours and rep after rep of fundamentals as being important in his development into becoming the best wide receiver ever to step on the field for the UNI Panthers.  And then came Dad's teammate, who spoke for the team in accepting their induction into the UNI Hall of Fame.  I didn't catch his name, but it was very interesting listening to him discuss the ups and downs of their great 1964 season.  I got a kick out of a quote from the Abilene Times newspaper from after the bowl game... "Well the Yankees did it again as the corn fed Iowa farm boys came down here and shoved our Lamar Tech linemen up and down the field"!  That is back when men were men!  I can picture my dad lining up next to his teammates and getting it done in the trenches.  Fundamentals.  Discipline.  What a great story.  I am so proud of my dad, and so is the rest of my family.

There were a couple things I overheard that really stuck with me... the first was multiple compliments to my father about his beautiful family and how cool it was that all of his grandkids were there to support him!  We took up 2 tables at the luncheon... my dad brought the biggest crowd of all of the inductees... that was awesome!  The other comment I overheard was when one of my dad's old teammates came up and shook my dad's hand and asked how the hardest worker on the team was doing.  Then he turned to me and said "You know your old man has always been the hardest working guy on the squad, right?"  That put a BIG smile on my face.  Of course I knew how hard my dad works, but to hear his old teammate say it was pretty cool.

I am very blessed to be my father's son.  I learned so much from him.  I learned to work hard.  I learned to get dirty.  I learned to love my family unconditionally.  I learned to praise God, and to always be appreciative of what we are given in this life.  I was taught daily about fundamentals and commitment.  And almost all of it was taught by example.  There were a few speeches and some of life's truths were put into words, but the good stuff, the stuff that made me who I am today, was learned just by watching my dad.  By following his example and leadership.

I pray that you all have someone in your life like my dad.  He has taught me so much about life, and how to live it.  Dedication, discipline, fundamentals, commitment... words to live by.

Michael

100 Pounds GONE, and Never Coming Back

212.4 Pounds!!!  I sit here this morning in disbelief.  I started this journey just over 10 months ago.  On October 21st 2009, I weighed 313 pounds...  Sept. 11th 2010, I am at 212.4!  The journey seemed so long.  There were times when I was ready to give up.  There were weeks that I busted my ass and the scale moved in the wrong direction.  How many times did I fall to my knees and pray that God would give me the strength and courage to stick with it?

The funny thing is, in hind site, it now feels like this journey flew by.  It seems like just yesterday that I made the decision to change my life.  To take my life back and live it the way it was meant to be lived. I sit here just 10 short months later a new man.  I am now the husband that I was meant to be.  I am the role model that I want to be to my four little children.  I used to be so embarrassed of my weight and my appearance.  I didn't want my kids to grow up to be "heavy" like their dad.  I am now in the best shape of my life.  I am happier and healthier than ever.  I have the energy to play with my kids for hours on end.  To run and play ball with my boys.  To run a 1/2 marathon with my wife!

There are a few lessons I learned along the way that I want to share with you today.  These are things that helped me accomplish my goal...

1)  Stop making EXCUSES.

I don't except "I'm too busy".  I work 60-70 hours per week.  I leave for work at 6 am and don't get home until at least 7 pm.  I have 4 small children that I make a point to spend time with every day. Doesn't leave much time for exercise or working out, but I make it work.

I used to be the guy that "was just meant to be big".  "It's in my genetics".  Yeah, I used that one for years.  Please see before and after pictures... you are who you want to be.  If you want to be in shape, than do it.

"I'm getting too old".  "The weight won't come off as easy as it used to".  I'm 34 years old, I didn't think I could exercise like I used to.  Guess what?  I couldn't have run a 1/2 marathon when I was 18... I can now.  My brother is over 40 and has lost 65 pounds since beginning Advocare products and taking up running with me.  65 pounds since April!  Try telling him that he is too old!  He is back to his high school weight and feeling great!

I could go on forever with excuses that we impose on ourselves.  You know what yours are.  Write them down.  Look at them.  Let me know if those self-imposed excuses are worth living an unhealthy lifestyle.  They weren't for me.  I am living proof that you can battle through the excuses and reach your goals.

2) Make the DECISION!

It took me years to decide to change.  I wish now that I would have woken up sooner!  I convinced myself that there was nothing I could do.  I was destined to be big.  Destined to be out of shape.  Finally after seeing a friend of mine get into shape, it dawned on me... if he can do it, why can't I?  Even after seeing this friend and his accompishments, it took a couple months before I made the decision.  BUT, once I made the decision to change, that was it.  There was no turning back.  I was going to give it everything I had no matter what.  When you reach this point, the rest will follow.  For me, making the decision to change was the hardest part! Once you turn that corner, you realize that you can do it.  You keep putting one foot in front of the other and slowly and steadily you will create small accomplishments, this will motivate you to keep going.  There will be ups and downs along the way, but with goals in place and a clear vision of where you are headed, you will get there!  You will soon be where I am today.  Looking back, thinking "man, that went really fast!"  "Why did I wait so long to get started?"

3) Eat better!

I was one of those guys that drove through fast food almost everyday.  Even if I would bring my lunch, I would eat it in the morning and end up driving through McDonald's later in the day.  Seriously, do you know how bad that stuff is for you?  You can still eat.  Just make better decisions.  Take the time to figure out what works.  I still eat steak.  I still eat pizza (just not twice a week).  You can figure this out.  I did, and I'd be happy to share recipes and ideas with you.  Let me know if you want more info, but it starts with eliminating fast food, grease, and processed and pre-packaged foods.  Start with whole foods, fruit, veggies, whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice... I could go on, but you get the picture.  No matter what you crave, there is a healthier alternative, find it and use it!

4)  MOVE

Figure out how you like to exercise and embrace it.  If you want to get started running like I did, then get out there and do it.  My first time out, I ran 4 blocks and nearly died just this past March.  I decided running would never be for me.  My friend talked me into giving it another shot.  After a couple more outings, I figured out that it does get easier.  I slowly increased distance.  Next thing I knew, I was running my first 5k.  Then I was addicted.  The rest is history.  Lindsey and I finished our second 1/2 Marathon on Saturday.  We are hooked.

5)  PRAY

I can't say enough about the power of prayer while working toward your goals.  I thank God daily for giving me the drive and desire to live a healthy lifestyle.  I thank God daily for giving me the strength and endurance to stick with it.  I really feel close to God while running.  There are many long runs that I would not have been able to finish without His help.  I praise God for helping me achieve steps along the journey to my goals.  I ask God to give me the words to help inspire others to follow in my footsteps, both physically and spiritually.  God loves you and wants what is best for you, don't be afraid to ask for His help.

6) Get Started!

I could go on with the tons of things that helped me achieve my weight loss and fitness goals, but I have tried to keep it short and sweet.  If you follow these steps you will achieve your goals.  I also can help with weight loss and energy via our amazing Advocare products.  I was able to accomplish great things with the help of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge!  It gave me the energy to keep moving.  It gave me the appetite control to avoid making poor food choices.  It filled in the gaps with nutrition, vitamins, amino acids, etc. to make sure my body was always prepared for my training and exercise.  I feel great while using these products, and I have dozens of friends and family that have seen amazing results from the products.  I will share more of these stories in coming days, but it really motivates me to see others having such great success!

I am at the end of my weight loss story, but stay tuned because I am just beginning my journey of toning up, getting ripped, and maintaining my weight and healthy lifestyle!  I'm not going anywhere.  I will be here to keep pushing you to get started.  I will be here to share my story and to help you write your own story.  My only question is this... What are you waiting for?  GET MOVING!!!

Michael

Anticipation... I can't sleep

Here I am again at 11:30 not even thinking about going to sleep.  I work construction and will be getting up at 4:45 am.  This is my norm.  I can't explain it.  I think Eric Thomas in the video above gets it.  He explains how I feel.  Why I only sleep a few hours every night.  I am busy working toward success.  While many of my friends sleep, I train.  I work out to prepare my body for the upcoming 1/2 marathon on Saturday morning.  I exercise to get to my goal of losing 100 pounds.  I am close.  How can I give up now?  I want it bad, and am prepared to sacrifice for it.

When I'm not preparing for physical goals, I study.  I am learning the ins and outs of the Advocare business in anticipation of success.  Lindsey and I have found our plan B.  We have found our retirement vehicle.  In just 2 months we have created a part time business that is paying us well.  We are eligible for a leadership pin, and are planning our future.  We are working toward financial freedom.  We are working feverishly to pay off our debt.

I apologize for slacking on my blog posts. I have many exciting things to share in coming days.  There are a ton of success stories being written as we speak.  Lindsey and I have friends that are seeing unbelievable results from the 24 Day Challenge.  Lindsey and I will be running in our 2nd ever 1/2 marathon.  I will have so much to share, but for tonight please watch the video above.  There are many things in my life right now that I am striving to succeed at, this video fires me up to succeed at all of them.  Let this amazing video motivate you just like it motivates me to keep pushing on.  Know what your goals are, and go get them.  Don't sleep.  Don't get sidetracked.  Just get after it.  Don't stop until you succeed.

Michael

Nobody said this was going to be easy

I sit here tonight with mixed emotions.  I am extremely excited to have lost a ton of weight.  I started this journey at 313 pounds and tonight I stepped on the scale to see 221 pounds.  That is a total loss of 92 pounds since Oct. 21st of last year!  So what's with the mixed emotions, you ask.  Let me tell you.  Just 2 days ago I stepped on the scale to see 217 pounds!  I was at 96 pounds lost and only 4 pounds away from my goal weight!  I was living it up!  I was there baby!  Only 4 more pounds to go and I would hit my goal and finish my weight loss story and begin my weight maintenance and getting toned and ripped story.  Now, just 2 days later I find myself moving backwards, and that brings me to the moral of my post today.  There will be speed bumps.  There will be road blocks.  Sometimes the tires will fall completely off the damn car!  The important question is how will you respond?  I once read that life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.  I am starting to believe it.  I thank God for how I will react.  The old me might have given up and said forget it.  The old me was convinced that I was too busy, that it just wasn't possible to get healthy and fit.  That was the old me.

What I have learned during my journey of weight loss and getting healthy is that you can never give up.  There will be struggles.  There will be times that you want to say the hell with it and go back to your old ways.  But if you stick to your plan, you will succeed.  There will be ups and downs, but if you stay the course you will find yourself reaching your goals.  That is exactly what I plan to do.  I will be concentrating on my diet, my exercise, and my rest over the next week leading up to running another 1/2 marathon next Saturday.  God willing, I will reach my goal weight this week.  I plan to give it everything I've got.  I don't want to look back and wonder what could have been.  That is my motivation this week.

I feel like I was meant to hear Pastor John's message this Sunday at PLC in Cedar Falls.  During his sermon on Being Authentic, he told us how as we draw closer to God and move toward crossing the faith line to accepting Jesus as our Savior, that the devil will ramp up his efforts to derail us.  It really hit me when John talked of the devil running along side of us and whispering in our ear that we will never win, that we aren't good enough, that we are bound to fail just like all the times in the past.  Wow.  How many times have I heard that voice over the past 9 or 10 months!  Every time I gain a pound or two and am disappointed with what the scale is telling me, I hear that voice whispering that I will not succeed.  Many times while on a long run, my legs become tired, my side begins to ache, and that voice tries to whisper that I can't do it.  It reminds me so much of one of my favorite songs, The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns.  Read the lyrics below and tell me that you haven't felt this before, man I know I have...

Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth


That song gets me every time.  Let's just say, it's on my list of favorite songs to run to.  How many times has that voice whispered in my ear "reminding me of all the times that I've tried before and failed" and "keeps on telling me time and time again 'Boy you'll never win, you'll never win.'"  The funny thing is, that whisper is drown out by the other voice in my head.  The voice of truth that tells me that I WILL SUCCEED!  There is no doubt that I have felt God's presence during my journey to getting fit and living a healthy lifestyle.  And I ask you this, if He is on my side, then what shall I fear?  How can I possibly give up when I feel that this is my purpose?  I tell you this, I will never give up.  "I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth."  Who's with me?


Michael

Getting so close...

After my run tonight I stepped on the scale.  After a week or so of struggling to lose any pounds, I finally hit a new number, 220 lbs.!!!  I have not seen this number on the scale for a long, long time.  I am so excited for the next step, to break into the teens!  My goal weight is 213 lbs., so I am getting so close.  I feel like it is right in front of me, but I've been stuck on the scale for the past week or so.

I am still noticing that my jeans are getting looser.  I have had several people tell me that my new size 36 Buckle jeans are getting too big on me already!  I hate to think that these expensive jeans may not fit in another week or two, but I tell you what... if I can fit into a size 34 jean, it would be the first time since about 6th grade!  I think I would be ok with buying one more pair of buckle jeans!  ha ha.

Lindsey and I have been so busy the past 3 or 4 weeks that we have really been off schedule with our running and working out.  Instead of 3 good runs per week, we are lucky to get 1 or 2.  I feel great, but can definitely tell that the weight loss has slowed down with the lack of exercise that my body was used to.  I look forward to some great runs in the next week leading to our 2nd 1/2 marathon next Saturday, Sept. 11th.  It is the Park to Park 5k, 10k, and 1/2 Marathon at George Wythe Park in Cedar Falls.  Although we have slacked a little on our training, Lindsey and I are really excited to run another 1/2 Marathon!

For those of you that are running too, I might suggest a couple of great products from Advocare.  Lindsey and I take O2 Gold to enhance oxygen consumption before our runs, we drink a Slam 15 min. before a long run for a boost of energy, and we have also tried the Arginine Extreme to support muscle endurance and provide cardiovascular nourishment.  Let me tell you, I can feel a huge difference while working out when I take these great products.  I feel like I could run forever and have a ton of energy.  It makes running more enjoyable and easier to handle.  Please contact me if you would like to learn more about these products.

Now, it is time to get after it.  I plan to work like crazy over the next week or so to hit my goal.  I will certainly keep all of you updated on my progress, but I want you to concentrate on your goals as well.  Let's work together to make a huge impact in our lives over the next week or two...   Push through it.  When you think you can't run any further, push through it.  When you get tired and sweaty and don't think you can workout for another minute, push through it.  Believe me, there are going to be some very trying times during my 1/2 Marathon next Saturday.  I will have Lindsey right beside me to help keep me motivated, but we will both have to push through the pain.  We will have to push through the struggle.  It will be very difficult at times, but when we cross that finish line it will all be worth it!  When I hit my goal weight it will all be worth it!  Are you with me?  Let's give it everything we've got so we never have to look back and wonder about what could have been.  Let's push toward our weight loss and fitness goals with a new intensity!  What are you waiting for?  Get moving!  Let's do this thing!!!

Michael