I joined the One Up Challenge because after 7 years in the U.S. Army and 3 tours in Iraq, my body was starting to collect injuries like they were souvenirs. My right knee was injured during my service, and over the years I developed health issues that made me realize I couldn’t keep putting my health on the back burner. My doctor told me I needed to lose weight and make some serious changes. I knew what I needed to do—I just needed that extra push, accountability, and motivation to finally do it.
Then 1UP came along. The beginning was TOUGH. My knee wasn’t exactly sending me motivational texts every morning. And during the first two weeks, I was battling the flu. But I kept showing up. Some mornings I wanted to stay in bed, but I reminded myself that my excuses weren’t going to build the body or life I wanted. This challenge taught me one thing above everything else: DON’T QUIT. Life is going to knock you down, sometimes hard. But falling isn’t the problem—staying down is.
The best part wasn’t just the weight I lost. It was the people I met, the encouragement I received, and realizing I was capable of pushing myself farther than I thought. If you’re starting your fitness journey, my advice is simple: Find your WHY. Maybe it’s your health, your family, or simply wanting to feel confident again. Whatever it is, find something powerful enough to make you get up when you don’t feel like it. Because motivation won’t always show up—your WHY will. And when your body says, “We ain’t doing this today…” tell it, “We already started. Now get your ass up!” One Up didn’t just challenge my body—it reminded me what I’m capable of. Never quit. Never settle. Keep going.
