About The Fitness Buddy
The Fitness Buddy = A New Lifestyle
Jim Ristow is the author and creator of The Fitness Buddy. He currently holds certifications as a Personal Trainer with the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) and the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). He would like to share his own personal journey of fitness and how it lead to the creation of The Fitness Buddy. The goal in reading this is to inspire your own journey in "Unlocking Your Potential".
Enough is Enough!
My "enough is enough" moment was a picture of me lying in a hammock. This picture had my wife and myself in it, but also another entity crowded itself into the picture: our third chins. Seeing the need to fill you in a little more, I am a runner. I had been running marathons for a few years and noticed they were progressively harder to do. I worked my butt off getting ready for these events, but I noticed the needle was moving slowly in the wrong direction. I was doing everything wrong and was frustrated. I made the conclusion that it had to be what we were eating. We made the commitment to measure what we ate, read the serving sizes on the packages and purchase a cookbook that had healthier recipes.
Building the foundation and "Unlocking My Potential"
Over the next 18 to 24 months, it seemed like everything we did was working. I was on my way to losing 70 lbs., Kim, my wife was on her way to losing 40 lbs., but then we hit wall. Soon, watching what we ate wasn't enough, and that is when we turned to our workouts. I started to understand that just pounding the pavement running only helped weight loss for so long. The body requires changes in a fitness routine. It adapts, slowing the changes down once it gets used to what it is doing. I added in spin classes, swimming, and a stair-climbing machine, which kicked the weight loss machine back into gear.
Ah, the obligatory Before & After photo. I'd like to note that The Fitness Buddy itself didn't help me reach my goals (since I hadn't created it yet!), but the structure and solid foundation of fitness and nutrition found on this website and in The Fitness Buddy binder played a major role.
The birth of "The Fitness Buddy"
The biggest kick into gear was in weight lifting. I had no desire to become the next "Arnold", but I learned to understand that lean muscle burns more calories compared to fat. So what was going to be my guide in lifting weights?
- People at the gym?
- They had no idea and they were watching others to help them.
- Personal trainers?
- They helped but I noticed that they had a set routine for most everyone.
- Books?
- Each book had its own opinion
- The pictures of skinny blond models or "Arnold" looking guys doing the exercises was frustrating to say the least.
- The internet?
- Don't even get me started!
Seeing my physical changes, people started to ask me questions. I knew I was not alone in this journey. I was eventually able to find my way through the whole process, but there had to be an easier way.
So, the idea of The Fitness Buddy was born. The Fitness Buddy was created to help anyone finally break through their fitness and health journey. If I could unlock my potential, that means anyone could. Everyone has potential to unlock theirs with the help of The Fitness Buddy.
Funny how life turns out
The Fitness Buddy is a part of a lifestyle change, the commitment to saying "this time I will change". It is not about the latest fad, diet or craze. My commitment was never about losing 70 lbs. or my wife's 40 lbs.; in fact it was never about the "number" of pounds we could lose. It was never about starting a new career. It started out as a selfish goal of simply helping out a struggling portly runner, thinking a lighter runner can run faster. Selfish yes, but the journey has turned out to be so much more.
So if you would like to continue with The Fitness Buddy, you now have a little insight as to where the idea came from. But The Fitness Buddy is only a part of a bigger picture.
- Eat better
- Exercising smarter
- Live life better
- Unlock your potential
A combination of these will help push your needle in the correct direction. This is a lifetime journey but it is still a struggle for me. Some days I lose the battle, but most days I win. Losing 70 lbs. is impressive and I am proud of this accomplishment. 70 lbs. is substantial -- next time you walk into your gym or a sporting goods store pick up a 70 lb. dumbbell. That 70 lb. dumbbell serves as a reminder of where I was and how far I have come. Yet that is not the proudest moment.the proudest moment turns out to be the entire journey. The journey never ends.
Recap
- I started at 250 lbs. and ended at 180 lbs, taking 18-24 months.
- I now eat healthier at home and on the road.
- My workouts are smarter and more efficient.
- Becoming lighter did help my marathons, finishing three in 2008. This led to me participating in Triathlons.
- I finished numerous Triathlons since 2008, including two half Ironman events (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run).
- I am training for my first full Ironman in 2010 (yes that is 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 marathon all in one day under 17 hrs.) CRAZY!
- People that I have not seen in a while marvel not only at my physical changes but my outlook towards life.
- I have kept the weight off for three years; leading me into an exciting new career and would like to share my success with others by creating The Fitness Buddy.
What's next? Stay tuned...