2012 'The Class of Change' (150+lbs with pictures)

Today, I sat back and watched the grad class of 2012 complete their journey from K-12. Watching these young-adults move onto the next phase of their life (under the banner 2012 'The Class of Change') got me thinking about my own life.

Some quick background on my connection with these students (so you can follow my line of reasoning). Over the past six months I have worked intensely with a group of 25+ 'at-risk' grade 12 students. My directive, and my only directive, was to insure that as many of these students as possible graduated (and those that weren't going to be able to had a plan). Many of these students have dealt with more in their 17/18 years than most of us will experience in our entire lives. To see them rise to the challenge that I placed before them, and respond to the support that I provided them, has been truly inspirational. These students truly grasped the concept of change in a way that many of us can only imagine (from directionless and switched-off to purposeful and switched-on). Of the 25+ 'at-risk' students all but three walked across the stage today to receive their Diplomas (given that all of these students were, at the start of the year, considered long-shots to graduate...the change is quite remarkable).

Watching these students undergo their process of change got me thinking about my own (although my transformation pales in comparison to what some of these kids have gone through). 10 years ago, this week, I graduated from High School (I felt the gravity of this number as I watched my students collect their well-earned Diplomas). At that point, I was in the best shape of my life (adolescent flab had vanished, I was active in sports and worked out on a regular basis). Over the next 9 years I slowly put on 150+ pounds until, on the day of my wedding, I hit 355 pounds (unfortunately, not all change is for the better).

Last year, I made a commitment that, by June 2012, I would hit my goal weight of 205lbs. The process started slowly (10 minutes walks was about all I could handle) but, to my shock, compounded into much more than I thought possible. I attribute this compounding to: 1) The setting of micro goals and 2) Taking up hobbies. Since last summer, I have become an avid: Hiker, Runner, Mountain Biker and Squash player. Exercise, and moderation of eating habits (i.e. putting down the fork), have become a way of life for me. From my initial exercise goal of 10 minutes continuous walking I can now: play squash competitively, hike an entire day up mountains, mountain bike for 10+ hours and jog over 12km at a time. I know that by continuing to set micro goals for myself (i.e. upping my run distance) I will insure that my life-style change is permanent.

Today, I felt as if things had come full-circle for my (at least physically). I am, once again, in the best shape of my life (far exceeding where I was at in High School). Mentally, I feel symbolically connected with the 2012 Class of Change that I worked so closely with. These students looked at adversity, accepted it's existence, side-stepped the block it had set up and have moved on. I can only hope that their example will continue to inspire me as I work to maintain my newly found lifestyle.

Wedding Day (At my heaviest…but also my happiest!)


At the start of the process (hiking was the first hobby I picked up)


November/Movember (sorry for the moustache)


December (up at the top)


March (the start of my Mountain Biking adventures)



April (even animals are starting to stand up and take notice)


May (with the family)


June (not the end, but an end)