Hello, my name is Michael Raymond and in 2004, I had a serious sports injury and then 3 months later, was in an automobile accident.  The result of these two experiences was that I became the most out of shape I had ever been in my life: ballooning from 188 pounds with a 33” waist to 221 pounds and a 42” waist!  My body fat went from 11% to 32%!! 

When I tore the Medial Meniscus in my left knee, the emergency room doctor made the comment, “this is a common injury in older athletes”.  I jokingly looked around the room trying to figure out who the “older athlete” was!  She reminded me that I am now in my mid-40s; not my mid-20s. The pain of adjusting to aging was almost as intense as the pain in my knee at that point.  Aging is not for the faint of heart!

Three months later a drunk driver did a U-turn directly in front of the car in which I was a passenger.  Not only did that accident produce spinal and disc injuries, it brought my knee rehabilitation to an immediate halt.  I was completely sidelined.  Overeating and depression set in as my sedentary lifestyle took over. 

I began slowly rehabilitating both injuries during the following fourteen months.  When my back finally allowed me to start working out again in November 2005, I was seriously motivated to get rid of what my family and I lovingly called my “back fat”, the spare tire.

Setting the intention to get back in shape gave me the ability to take action.  Knowing that “discipline is remembering what I want” clarified my goals. Through a sustainable lifestyle change of nutrition and eating habits, exercise; including weights, cardiovascular and yoga classes, I started to see the “old athlete” begin to emerge again.

I am continuing in physical therapy for my back and it looks like I am on the path to recovery.  In the meantime, I am back down to 189 pounds and a 34” waist.  My body fat is 12%.  My final goal is to be under 10% and a 33” waist when my back is fully reconditioned.

Knowing that I was able to set the intention, create and work a plan and then succeed will hopefully inspire you to make the choices you need for a healthy, sustainable lifestyle of fun and fulfillment.

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