How I accomplished my goals
I set a goal of lifting 1.5 million pounds in 90 Days. Halfway through the challenge, I had crossed the 1 million-pound mark and decided to change the goal to 2 million pounds instead. I also added 400 kilometers of biking for the last 45 days. This whole journey has been about proving to myself that I could reclaim my youth, to be strong like I'd once been in my twenties. I have made many bad decisions in my life that cost me some amazing opportunities, but I was not going to let this happen again.
In my life, I have walked away from a full-ride college football scholarship and blew my knee out in 1996 in the wrestling ring. I have spent years thinking, "What If?" What if I didn't quit? What if I hadn't torn my ACL from the bone on August 16 1996? Where would my athletic ability have taken me? I spent most of my life regretting my decisions and complaining about them.
The decision to try Body By Vi was one of the best I ever made in my life, and I have continued to do so challenge after challenge. This time I was leaving nothing on the table, working like I have never worked before at achieving a goal. Even when I beat the goal of 2 million pounds lifted on day 82, but continued to lift hard until day 90, the real end of The Challenge and the finish line!
It's been almost three years since I started this journey, and I have finally accepted that you can't change the past nor can you predict the future. The only thing you can do is set goals, make a plan to achieve them, and live everyday to make the next day a better one for yourself and the people around you.
Do these five things every single day to be successful: Lead yourself every day, add value to the lives of others, study leadership, practice leadership and intentionally grow. I learned this lesson at an event from John C. Maxwell and I will never forget them. I have been applying these five things every day and it shows!
I am currently on my ninth challenge and am cycling 2500 km in 90 Days. I will also be at the gym five days a week, three of which will be with my 15-year-old son to help him bulk up for football season and two with my beautiful girlfriend, who has lost 60 lbs herself!
What aspect challenged me the most
The diet was definitely the biggest challenge. When you are used to eating whatever you want when you want, it is extremely difficult to change that. I did it in 90 day chunks. I first cut out fast food and iced tea. Next 90 days, I cut out chips and salty snacks.
After that, I switched to unsweetened almond milk from 1% milk. I have built an amazing support system online, and many of us changed this same way. If you change everything at once, chances are you will fail. Losing weight and getting healthy isn't a diet, it's a total lifestyle change.
My future fitness plans
I have become an avid cyclist and am currently cycling 2500 kilometers in 90 days. In 2015, I plan on entering some cycling races. I also wrestle professionally for Border City Wrestling and have a match coming up on October 22nd, 2014 in Windsor Ontario, Canada.
Suggestions for aspiring transformers
- Finish what you started.
- Visualization was one of the biggest things that helped me achieve my goals. Find a picture of yourself in your best shape or possibly a celebrity or athlete. Before you work out, concentrate on that picture and see yourself in it. I used to use a 14" Hulk Hogan action figure from the 80s for my visualization.
- Do not do this alone...find accountability partners.
- It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up! If you have a slip-up by eating something unhealthy or missing a workout—oh, well. It happens, but do not beat yourself up over it.
How Bodybuilding.com helped me reach my goals
Bodybuilding.com has become my go-to reference for health and fitness. I have helped many lose weight and get in shape. I always turn to Bodybuilding.com to help design exercise plans for them.
Pat's Top 5 Gym Tracks
- "Machine" by Mic Lordz and Sauce Funky
- "Master of Puppets" by Metallica
- "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath
- "Hail to the King" by Avenged Sevenfold
- "Happy" by Pharell Williams
Thank You
I would like to thank Rob Kean of O.G. Personal Trainingfor my nutrition and workout plans, and Gene Schilling for my amazing photos!