Background to My Story

To give a little background to my journey, I have to tell my story. Starting in junior high school, I was told I was too small and that I needed to bulk up or I would not be a successful football player. I quickly gained weight to the point that I was bulked to the point that I wanted to be. I was exercising constantly and was very healthy. However, after high school, I was no longer exercising and I was still eating the same amount. I quickly gained weight and got to the point where I was uncomfortable with myself and my circumstances.

After I got married, my wife and I decided that it was prudent for me to join the Army. I met with a recruiter and told him what we wanted. He laughed at me and told me that I was in a hopeless journey. The amount I needed to lose was 25 pounds and with my timetable I needed to do it in a month. This was back in July of 2009. My drive allowed me to lose the 25 pounds in the months time, but it was a strenuous (and probably unhealthy) way to do it. I kept the weight off while I was exercising 3-4 hours a day. I weighed about 205 back then. Over the course of 2 years I was able to lose another 10 pounds. I was feeling good and was getting skinny weighing in at about 195.

After losing this weight I felt good and felt successful. I was feeling skinny and good about myself. In 2011 I graduated from Utah Valley University and commissioned as a 2LT in the United States Army and I was set out to Dental School in Arizona. I started dental school in August of 2011 and my exercise was almost nonexistent. My weight started to come back and when I got on the scale and saw 220 I realized that I needed to do something about it. I had always dreamed about passing height/weight in the Army but it seemed so far away (179 for my height).

Over Christmas break my wife showed me an email she had received from Shantelle Flake. It was talking about the health program she was coaching for. I gave her a phone call and she answered all my questions. This sounded perfect for me.

On January 13, 2013 I started my weight loss journey with Shantelle as my coach. It was a great start to getting healthy.