My Journey Through Body Weight, Strength, and Health
As I’ve been reading about the Blue Zones and the habits of people who live long, healthy lives, it has made me reflect on my own journey with my body.
Looking back, I realize I have lived through many different versions of myself.
As a young child, I was strong and active, though I carried a little extra weight around the middle. During my early teenage years, I felt solid and athletic. Later, as I moved deeper into competitive sports and eventually college football, my body grew larger and heavier. While I had developed a fair amount of muscle, there is no denying that I was also carrying a significant amount of body fat.
When my football career ended, I found myself at one of the heaviest points of my life.
I remember looking in the mirror one day and realizing that something needed to change. With the help of a nutrition professional, I committed to improving my eating habits and over the next few months lost approximately 45 pounds.
Life continued to teach me lessons.
Traveling abroad for nearly a year, I experienced periods where food was scarce or inconsistent, and I lost even more weight. Later, when I moved to Cancun and began living independently, I became very lean. As I continued training, learning, teaching, and growing, my body evolved again. Taekwondo helped me become leaner and more athletic. Strength training, bodyweight training, and kettlebells gradually helped me build muscle and resilience.
Little by little, year after year, I became stronger.
What this journey has taught me is that there is no magic solution.
Training matters.
Nutrition matters.
Lifestyle matters.
When I ate without awareness, I gained weight. When I lacked access to food, I lost weight. When I combined purposeful training with thoughtful eating habits, I found my healthiest and strongest version of myself.
That is one reason the Blue Zones fascinate me so much.
The people who live the longest are not chasing extreme diets or miracle solutions. They tend to eat simply, move naturally throughout the day, stay connected to their communities, and live with purpose.
Today, I no longer look at food simply as fuel or calories.
I look at food as part of a larger picture.
A tool for health.
A tool for recovery.
A tool for longevity.
A tool that allows us to continue doing the things we love for many years to come.
My journey with body weight, strength, and health has certainly had its ups and downs. I have been heavy. I have been skinny. I have been athletic. I have been injured. I have been strong.
And through all of it, one lesson remains clear:
Health is not a destination. It is a lifelong practice.
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is to continue learning, growing, moving, and becoming the best version of ourselves… one day, one meal, and one workout at a time.
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A Glimpse Into the Blue Zones
The regions of the world where people consistently live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. What fascinates me is that their secret isn’t hidden in some miracle supplement, complicated diet, or expensive technology.
I present my overly complicated, yet simple Summary in…
My Blue Zones Formula
Purpose + Movement + Community + Real Food + Stress Management = Longevity
The people who live the longest aren’t necessarily the strongest, the fastest, or the wealthiest.
They simply build daily habits that make health the natural outcome.
They move often, not because they have to exercise, but because movement is woven into their daily lives. They stay connected to family, friends, and community. They eat mostly simple, whole foods. They take time to rest, reflect, and manage stress. And perhaps most importantly, they wake up each day with a sense of purpose.
As I continue exploring the lessons of the Blue Zones, I’ll be sharing some of the ideas, practices, and insights that stand out to me most. Many of them align beautifully with what we’ve been discussing in the Inner Force Method for years: move often, eat well, stay connected, find purpose, and continue growing stronger in both body and mind.
More Blue Zone wisdom coming in future issues. Stay tuned.
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Check out this little WORKOUT to keep you active:
