Believe in your self

[Barbo]

Hi..when I started to work in the new company a year and a half ago I had a weight of 185 pounds , size XXL - XXXL and a waist of 46"-48". The distance between the parking lot and my working area was too far for me . I am handicapped and walk with crutches. So I used my wheelchair , but I was too fatigue and tired every day. I determine that I had to do some changes in my life. I started with my eating habits , healthier food and exercise by running around my neighborhood with my wheelchair . Now I am size XL, a waist of 36" , a weight of 147 pounds. And running 1.5 mile once a week. All you have to do is "Believe in your self"............Above and Beyond........Barbo

Before and after

[James W]

Congradulations!

Not only are you better off, you can take full credit for it as well!

[Dr. Cranky]

Great accomplishment, and one that you can be quite proud of. Congratulations.

[modeler]

Great accomplishment

[BKIN10SECS]

Man you like a sex symbol Right on Bro...you look fantastic!!!!

[Barbo]

Thanks...Guys, life is not easy , its all about believing in your self. And you will see great things happen.........Barbo

Edited September 25, 2009 by Barbo

[FloridaBoy]

In 2005-6 I was confined to a wheelchair, crutches and walker for a 9 month period stemming from a radically broken hip with complications and lots of physical therapy.

To accomplish what you did with your handicap, you are a truly inspirational person. Although I didn't gain any weight during that time, it was a complete struggle just to maintain. I knew how hard it was.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[BigGary]

Thanks for the inspiration Barbo!

I've also decided that there needs to be less of Big Gary and have adjusted eating habits and exercise. I've only lost about 5 lbs., but I'm headed in the right direction. Only 95 to go!

Keep up the good work. You'll not regret it.

Gary

[MrObsessive]

Miguel you're lookin' great!

I've done the same thing recently...........my knees, feet, and ankles were hurting so bad at times it was painful to walk. Especially at work where the floors are concrete.

Back around June I decided to change the way I eat.........I stop drinking milk eating yogurt instead, got rid of the junk food, and try to stick to "real" foods. In other words, avoiding most anything out of a box. I started working out again.............mostly bodyweight exercises, as I can't afford a gym.

When I started I was weighing somewhere around 320 lbs, wearing a size 50 in pants. Today at 6' 3" I weigh 279 and wear a size 42-44 in pants. Those that saw me at the Super September Showdown can vouch for this.

Here's a couple pics............

Before from a few years ago and looking this way around May-June

And how I look now although this pic was taken a couple months ago........I've gotten a bit thinner since then.

Yes, I feel much better as I don't get the acid reflux anymore, or the terrible heartburn! If I can get back to the shape I was in when I got out of the army back in '92, I'll be very happy! I know that was a while ago and I'm older-------I'm just glad to be feeling better and gaining some self esteem to boot.

Miguel, keep at the great work! You really look fantastic!

[Chuck Most]

Wow- quite a difference! Way to give Nutrisystem the finger! Just goes to show you anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Well... just about anything. I still can't make the dinner table levitate with the power of my mind, but I'm still plugging away at it.

Congrats to you... and to Mr. Obsessive!!!!

[Barbo]

Hi..guys, WOW..you realy made it MrObsessive ,I am proud of you. Keep up the good work.........Barbo

[John E. Bowers Jr.]

DISCLAIMER: I am not feeling sorry for myself!

I suffer with a Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM). I realize nobody here knows what this is, but if you want to, just Google it. I was active duty Navy when I was diagnosed, but not anymore because of it. Medical discharge. Late in my diagnosis process I was told by a neurosurgeon that I would be in a wheelchair within one year, and I quickly replied "no sir, I won't". That was in 1996. Today I walk with a limp, have pain, but that wheelchair is still waaaay in my future (and its gonna be a cool one... think flames!). So I believe that what you say does have merit. I call it mind over matter, but you can call it anything you wish.

[Barbo]

Great work ..John, You are a good example of that old saying "Sticks and stones will hert my bones, but words will never touch me" I have also recieved negative words from those that sometimes we think are the best...Doctors, teachers, and some called friends and I have learned to loose to gain more. I am thankfull for having a great family that always say to me "You can do it" and honest friends to complete my goals. Perhaps for many ,this is dificult to understand in life. I remember when Gegg came to Puerto Rico for the first time to our event a few years ago. He was still recovering from his accident , and he made it, it was a long trip. He inspire me in a great manner when I saw him at the airport. A battery must have negative and positive poles to work at its BEST. Its all about Believing...congrats...John....Above and Beyond.........Barbo

[Peter Lombardo]

You said it all with the phrase; “Mind over matterâ€. We all have the power; we just find it easy to not use it. Our mind is amazing when you consider that on average we use a scant ten percent of its power. Just imagine what we are capable of achieving if we just apply ourselves. The human being has the ability to overcome many obstacles and setbacks…..you just have to believe in yourself and get committed to the cause of dominating your ailments.

Most obesity can be cured with the realization that controlling ones eating habits and investing in a little physical locomotion will over time slim you down.

Back in 1972 I quit smoking. One day I just decided that I had enough. I was being told by just about every credible source that smoking would kill me some day, and besides I was tired of smelling like an ashtray, so I quit cold turkey. I have never touched a cigarette since that day and never missed it because I was ready to stop. My mind had made the decision to quit and that was that. People say they are not that strong, well I believe that is just a cop out. The tobacco companies want you to believe that you are addicted and can’t really quit. The weak minded fall prey to this simple manipulation and cave in and continue to smoke because they think they enjoy it. After you step away from smoking, you come to realize that you never really enjoyed it; you were bullied into believing that you wanted, needed and enjoyed smoking.

The same is true in modeling….I read many a post here that says that the author of that post can’t do this, or can’t do that or does not have the skill sets to do certain things……pardon my French, but that is bull. That is just the same kind of cop out. If you continue to tell yourself that you can not do something, you will never accomplish anything worthwhile. People have made millions of dollars writing books that basically say one thing…..â€Believe in the power of positive thinkingâ€. We tend to be weak minded individuals. It is easier to lie around and let others do the “heavy liftingâ€. I think you are only limiting your self….not living up to your potential unless you are challenging yourself to reach the next level. Ok, I realize that you may not get it right the first time, or the second or even the third, but if you keep at it, you will accomplish the goal. The difference between success and failure is that the successful person got up one more time after being knocked down. You stick to the plan and keep at something until you experience success….and once you begin to know success, there is no turning back.

Whether it is physical therapy or dealing with a difficult boss or working out problems with a spouse or even becoming proficient at opening model car doors or spraying lacquer with an airbrush, the key is deciding that, and I mean making a sacred promise to yourself, you will succeed at this. It may take a little time and there may be set backs, but the key is believing in yourself and having the fortitude to keep banging away at it until you reach the goal. Never allow yourself to be trapped into feeling that what you did is “good enough†and not the best you could do. It will not always be the best you can do, but you have to keep working at it until in your heart of hearts, you achieved the “best you could doâ€.

So to all of you guys who have overcome great physical and mental ailments, I take my hat off to you. I say congratulations, well done and keep up the fight. You serve as a true inspiration for the rest of us with your accomplishments. If you can overcome the specter of a life in a wheelchair by believing that you can avoid it with hard work and dedication to yourself, congratulations. If you can will yourself to be thinner with a lifestyle change, that is wonderful and Miguel, you certainly embody the spirit of what I am trying to explain. You have overcome a great obstacle when you saw that you needed to change your lifestyle. You saw it, you attacked the problem and you are now enjoying the true success of achieving you goal. No one can ever take that away from you. And in life, I believe there is nothing more personally satisfying than overcoming obstacles with your own hard work and than sharing your success with friends and family.

[Barbo]

Hi....Peter Lombardo and thanks for your comments. I am sorry to answer so late , I had a problem with my computer. I hope someone out there is reading this topic and is considering to use this as a tool for his life. Our experiences are just for others to consider and not to show off. Because I also was there trying to decide what is best for me. And we do not listen to advices , but real stories make a lot of dif. If any other modeler would like to tell his story , he is welcome. I would like to add to this topic my first participation in a endurance race, "Race for the Taste" at EPCOT last sunday, oct.11,09 . There were two categories, 10k and 3k. I did the 3k and won a medal for finishing on time . A non-stop 3k race in 30mnts. I was not expecting to win anything , just wanted to participate. I am happy for this, but I was the only one running in a wheelchair, and when I arrieved at 6:00am at EPCOT I told my self , I AM CRAZY what am I doing here?.....here are a few photos......Above and Beyond...Barbo

[Ben]

This is a really great, poitive thread! I myself am currently 6'6" tall and weigh about 310lbs. I have lost weight several times and it was great! It's so nice to able to fit into decent looking clothes and not be tired all the time!

I really need to set my mind into weight loss mode again and get back down to about 230lbs.

[John E. Bowers Jr.]

Hi....Peter Lombardo and thanks for your comments. I am sorry to answer so late , I had a problem with my computer. I hope someone out there is reading this topic and is considering to use this as a tool for his life. Our experiences are just for others to consider and not to show off. Because I also was there trying to decide what is best for me. And we do not listen to advices , but real stories make a lot of dif. If any other modeler would like to tell his story , he is welcome. I would like to add to this topic my first participation in a endurance race, "Race for the Taste" at EPCOT last sunday, oct.11,09 . There were two categories, 10k and 3k. I did the 3k and won a medal for finishing on time . A non-stop 3k race in 30mnts. I was not expecting to win anything , just wanted to participate. I am happy for this, but I was the only one running in a wheelchair, and when I arrieved at 6:00am at EPCOT I told my self , I AM CRAZY what am I doing here?.....here are a few photos......Above and Beyond...Barbo

Before you do something like this you ask yourself if you're crazy?! You've got ballz the size of church bells, man!!! My hat is off to you, again. Very well done. Not crazy at all, unless you consider your attitude "crazy for life", but once again you can call it anything you wish.

J.B.

[Gregg]

mi pana, you look magnifico!

I can't wait to see you guys in a couple of weeks.

It's going to be another crazy tour.

At least I get to relax for a few days with you guys.

You are a true inspiration.

Not only for what you have overcome, but your passion, love, and support of the hobby, and of everyone around you.

You are an ambassador of our hobby.

I am honored to be able to call you mi pana.

See you soon!

[Peter Lombardo]

Barbo, congratulations!!!!! You sure have the look of someone who is accomplishing great things. You, and all of the other guys who are beating their physical challenges, have every right to be proud as you guys are an inspiration to the rest of us. Keep up the good fight and remember you are capable of great things if you are willing to work for it. Do the small things every day and the big accomplishments will come. Keep up the fight every day, and if you get knocked down, get up again and continue on. As you know, you don't have to finish first all the time, you just have to finish.