"I joined during a season when I honestly felt like I was losing a lot in my life. In March, I unexpectedly lost my job after 16 years, and despite having a solid resume, I kept getting turned down for opportunities. My children’s mother was also dealing with serious mental health challenges, and I was navigating life as a full-time single father of four.
I happened to come across a post about the challenge and decided I needed a win for myself. Something I could work toward where the competition was me against myself. I wanted to improve my health, rebuild my confidence, and show my children that even when life feels uncertain, you can keep moving forward. I ended up gaining much more than I expected.
I felt motivated and locked in. With everything else happening in my life, this became a place where I could focus on myself and what I was working toward. I had ups and downs, including getting sick, but I stayed committed to what I set out to do. Every time I followed through, it gave me a little more confidence in myself.
I was caring for my four children, ages 9, 6, 3, and 2, full time. Getting to the gym took planning, especially making sure the gym’s childcare had room for all four while I worked out.
Some days, it just didn’t work out. On those days, we would walk around our neighborhood park together. I learned to adjust the plan and find ways to stay active that included my children. It became something we could share instead of another thing I had to fit around them.
I learned that the work ethic I had spent years giving to someone else could also be invested in myself. I already knew how to work hard, stay committed, and follow through. This challenge helped me see what could happen when I directed that same effort toward my own goals.
It reminded me that I’m capable of much more than I was giving myself credit for. I also learned to be patient with progress and trust the work I was putting in.
My experience was great. The Facebook community really helped keep me going. Seeing people share their progress, encourage each other, and stay motivated made me want to keep showing up. I enjoyed being around competitors who could push one another while still supporting each other.
Finishing in second place was an incredible moment. Beyond the placement, I walked away with more confidence and a commitment to myself that I want to keep building on.
My advice is to remember that, even in a competition, it’s you versus you. At some point, you have to decide you’ve had enough of saying, “I’ll do it later.” There will always be another event, holiday, or reason to put it off. Plan around those things, follow through, and respect the commitment you make to yourself. When a day doesn’t go as planned, adjust and keep going. It feels amazing to know you’re showing up for yourself."
