The title sums it all up, my weight gain and the pain associated with it is your gain. I share photos of my progress not to be vain or look at me and what I've done but to share just exactly how far I've come. Fitness has no finish line, and I've learned a lot over the years of up and down weight control along with the emotions that run with it.
For every person who thinks its about me there are 10 or more who are struggling in silence with the pain of being overweight, giving up hope of ever being the healthy, vibrant person they once were.

At a point in my life where I hit 356 pounds I FINALLY BECAME DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF!

, the outward personality wouldn't let the unhappiness show, however inside I struggled. Struggled with bitterness, confidence, and more, the bitterness led to stress, sarcasm and perpetual search for happiness. Some seek happiness in alcohol or drugs, others find it in food. Food, that was my escape,joy, happiness, whatever you want to call it!
It was when renewing my Faith I found happiness, happiness in my heart and when the heart, was happy it is only natural the rest of me would follow. Without a healthy body to go with a happy heart, I could not possibly do all I am capable of to Glorify God.
In closing, I would just like to reiterate, it's not about me when I share progress, it's simply to inspire and encourage others who are struggling. I urge you to simply start, start anything just start! Start moving, walking, yoga, strength training or a combination of anything just start. Starting or starting over is the hardest part, however it is one of the best decisions you can ever make! Download a workout plan by clicking here and a bit more of my story

February of 2012 it's obvious I wasn't yet disgusted with myself as I was still working on growing that spare tire. I would say "it's who I am" sure I thought that, yet on the inside I was struggling. I struggled with self-esteem yet I exuded it somehow, I struggled with confidence yet I beamed in it. Everyday was a struggle on the inside with who I really was.

 it's obvious I wasn't yet disgusted with myself.....

You see, I had been in great shape before, in fact I had lost over 125 pounds when the doctor uttered these words " if you don't change your ways, you are going to die" that resonated pretty hard and eventually did make me change my ways, set some goals and I achieved them. Then I was lost.

This graphic is from one of my first support group presentations for those diagnosed with type II diabetes, regarding taking your life back, if I can do it you can do it too, that's how the website was born www.candoit2.com with hopes of reaching those who had no support, had given up or were just feeling hopeless regarding changing their life. As you can see from the photo above, I had quite a change from a 46" in waist to a 34" I had also just returned from Hollywood where I appeared in a 30 minute commercial with several other successful weight loss participants.

This aired for a couple of years, it was really amusing to see this at various locations throughout my travels. However at some point the challenges of life got in the way, I lost site of any future goals. I have no one to blame but myself, sure I found excuses, but they were just that. I gave up. I lost site of any future goals. I have no one to blame but myself, sure I found excuses I lost site of any future goals. I have no one to blame but myself, sure I found excuses.

January 9, 2015 the reality hit me that in less than 2 years, I will be 50 it will be harder than ever to reach any further goals if I don't start now, its time to take back my life, not only for me but my family and those who love me. Killing myself with food, and poor choices simply wasn't acceptable. I had become disgusted with myself and that's what it took. I passed my certified personal trainer exam through the International Sports Sciences Association, I started working on myself, to lead by example to make those changes, take my life back.

I came across this, the artists rendering of me, Ironically its been 9 years to the day this was created at my first presentation for the American Diabetes Association at the Indiana state fair. I had spoken with the artist just before I was scheduled to present and had planned on going back to sit for my own session between presentations. When I started my presentation there were maybe 10 people around the stage, by the time my 30 minute presentation was over I had gathered well over 300 in the crowd with questions as to when my next presentation was so they could hear the full story. Much to my surprise, the next person to approach me was the artist with a gift, I offered to pay and said I was coming back, I know you hear that often I'm sure but I truly wanted to pay. His response was totally unexpected, after listening to my story he chose to throw away the unhealthy lunch he had before him, make some changes to his life starting that moment. Not that day mind you, that moment forward, he didn't want to wait he explained to me that he felt he owed it to his family, friends and loved ones to be there for them it all started with taking care of himself.first! It's true folks, we can make all the excuses we want, and we can think of it as we are too busy however, if we don't take a moment to put ourselves first, we cannot continue to help others in any capacity.

The greatest satisfaction as a personal trainer is changing and impacting the lives of others. I've spent much of my life capturing memories for others, and that has been great however, changing others quality of life is truly powerful.  Contact me today for solutions to fit your specific needs, I must say changing others quality of life is truly powerful. Contact me today for solutions to fit your specific needs.

For 2 weeks, I walked every break at work, I even started doing Windsor Pilates at home after my shift, I worked a second shift from 2-10pm the hours weren’t as bad as a midnight shift I must say. However, I would get two 10 walks, and one 20 minute walk in during my shift. I would also then do my DVD workout at home after work. All this time I was patiently awaiting my doctor appointment and my nerves were shot! The big day had arrived and I went, I knew there was a problem for some time, all the signs were there, as were all the excuses. Frequent urination, oh I just drank a lot of water, or damn that beer goes right through you. Ironically urination and unquenchable thirst are two big signals. Then there was the fatigue, I could fall asleep at the break table with others talking to me, my excuse would be well I’m not getting a lot of rest, working a lot you name it there was an excuse. My father drove me to the appointment, I showed the Dr. my evaluation from the health screen, after a short ponder he turned and looked me square in the eyes and said “young man, if you don’t change your ways YOU are going to die, it’s just that simple you will not see the age of 45” I really was stunned, floored, shocked and pissed off again. He prescribed some medications, arranged for some more tests and the appointment was over that fast. I walked out with a blank expression, jumped in the van with my Dad and just sat there. I didn’t put on my seat belt, I didn’t care! I had given up, I thought you know what, I’m fairly miserable anyway so death it can’t be much worse I already feel like I’m dead anyway so what the HELL! My Dad wouldn’t move the van, he says buckle up, my response was nah, I’m gonna die anyway so I’ll just take my chances you’re a good driver anyway it’ll be alright. Dad turned to me and says, “Now I love you, and you are going to buckle up, and like everything else you will figure this out, now let’s go home and think about this” those words right there really made me think. I can do this, I can fight this, I’m not going to let this thing kill me, and I’m gonna stand up, shake this off and fight for my life. I want my life back and I’ll live it on my terms.

Picking up my prescriptions, I thought gee I don’t want to, be on meds, I really don’t! The first day on them I wake up the next morning and I can barely move, my speech is slurred, I felt as though I was living in quicksand. The lights were on but nobody was home, I checked my glucose and it was low, really low, and dangerously low to be exact so I had to think quickly and find a sweet soda, and get it up. I then called the doctor to let them know something was wrong. Rarely did I ever get to speak directly to my doctor but this time was different, he gets on the phone and asks, what have you been doing over the last 2 weeks, because your bloodwork came back really good. Those meds are causing you to bottom out, stop taking them immediately, reschedule an appointment to go over your results and keep doing whatever you are doing.

What I had be doing was as follows, changed my diet, began moving, moving regularly, and I had chosen to take a stand, I had committed in my mind that I would not let this beat me. I had watched it claim a friends life, and deteriorate another friends as I faced this battle of my own.. We had chosen to lose weight and support each other (to be continued……)

changed my diet, began moving, I took a stand, I committed in my mind not let this beat me.

Candoit2.com is my journey from fit to fat to fit again, and again. I’ve had 8 years to look back on how I let myself fall from the fitness wagon, this has given me time to figure out where, and how I went wrong, and how I can do better this time. I know that I’m not the only person who’s ever struggled, this time I want to help others get back on track or simply start. January 9, 2015 I officially committed to get fit, since then I’ve dropped 31 pounds and I’ve passed my International Sports Sciences Association Certified Fitness Trainer exam, and will be offering personal training services and more soon.  Lots information and assistance will be coming to this site as well, progress photos, tips, recipes and family fit ideas as well. Be sure to subscribe and be the first to get the updates. Follow me on Twitter @LewCandoit2 for daily updates