I had been a regular around here for quite a few years, and I had made some great friendships and learned a lot, and truly got some great inspiration from a lot of you.
However, a couple years ago, I left. Life got in the way. Things happened.
But, I am back and hope to rekindle some of the old friendships and perhaps make some new ones.
Here is a small bit about me:
I have struggled with my weight most of my life... From the age of 14, I have been heavy, even before then, I was bullied all my life. My height, my nerdiness, my weight... I was beaten up and mentally screwed with almost on a daily basis, by all types of people. The jocks, girls, even other "smart" students. It always seemed like I never fit in anywhere. Even as an adult, I always felt alone, no matter where I was or who I was with. I felt like there were people laughing at me.
About 7 years ago was my breaking point. I was going to do the unthinkable. I stood on the subway platform, right at the tunnel where the train comes in, and stuck my head out, waiting for the train to slam into my head so I can end it all. But, something pulled me back and the train missed me by inches. It was that moment, that started the "rebirth", if you will... I joined a gym, starting at nearly 360 pounds. I went in the early morning, so there would be very few people there, and I worked at it. I would start walking home from work (over 2 hours). I wanted to do anything I could to start feeling better, but even these things did not keep the taunts, the mean spirited words away... from the two guys in the gym whispering thinking I couldn't hear, "look at the tub of lard..." or the carload of teenagers pulling up beside me while walking on the sidewalk shirtless, laughing and spewing out name after name, or the beach volleyball players joking about the "beached whale"... it hurt, I almost quit, but I kept at it. There are days that I struggle, but I continue on...
Today, I am under 280 pounds, I am much stronger and healthier than I have ever been. I have completed a Warrior Dash, a Spartan run, three 5Ks and one half marathon and most importantly of all, I have become a personal trainer myself, so that I can help anyone that feels the way I used to feel... knowing what they have gone through, I want to help people become healthier, stronger, and happier about themselves.
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Thread: Long time coming
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05-02-2014, 12:22 PM #1
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Long time coming
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-02-2014, 12:30 PM #2
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05-02-2014, 12:32 PM #3
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05-02-2014, 12:50 PM #4
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Thank you. I don't have a lot of clients yet, but the ones I do have, appreciate the fact that I have been where they are and can empathize with them a little more than past trainers. Some of the stories I have been told about trainers and how they treated them, was shocking.
Thank you. I still have my own issues with depression and when I left it was hitting me hard with some of the fellow board members. I think that I have grown a bit more since then and I am ready to come back and do what I can to make the forum a good place to visit.Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-02-2014, 01:20 PM #5
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05-02-2014, 02:09 PM #6
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-02-2014, 03:48 PM #7
Looks like you've had quite the personal journey. Glad you made it back. You've clearly learned a lot and I'm sure you'll soon be at the best you've ever been!
You can spend days, weeks or even months analyzing a situation - just trying to put the pieces together. Justifying what you should've and could've done, and what would've happened ... or you can leave the pieces on the floor and move on.
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05-02-2014, 03:56 PM #8
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05-02-2014, 04:04 PM #9
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05-02-2014, 05:14 PM #10
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05-03-2014, 08:00 AM #11
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-03-2014, 08:18 AM #12
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05-03-2014, 08:35 AM #13
- Join Date: Dec 2007
- Location: Florida, United States
- Age: 54
- Posts: 758
- Rep Power: 1355
Congrats and keep at it.
People can be real azzholes. It took more ballz to share with us what you did than the people who talk down about/towards you will ever have.
Good luck.I'm not indecisive. Am I indecisive? - Anonymous
1st PL Comp. in 18 years.
March 24, 2012
Squat=410
Bench=325
Dead=500
Total=1235
-!!!---!!!- No Excuses Homemade Equipment Crew #13 -!!!---!!!-
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05-03-2014, 09:22 AM #14
- Join Date: Sep 2013
- Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Age: 57
- Posts: 4,946
- Rep Power: 34074
Amazing story, Brian - so inspiring!
People can be so cruel, it's really sad you had no one on your side back then. Shows how strong you are for making the best of it all
You got some great PT certs there and with your history, I bet you make a great personal trainer!
WTG on helping others with this journey!** Marie **
"Don't wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom." - Jim Rohn
OV35 Journal: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=157469793
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05-03-2014, 06:06 PM #15
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05-03-2014, 07:28 PM #16
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05-06-2014, 07:06 AM #17
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
I appreciate this everyone. Thank you so much. Just as I post this I get a cold. Go figure. Will be posting more soon, but I appreciate all of your support.
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-06-2014, 08:02 AM #18
- Join Date: Jan 2004
- Location: Connecticut, United States
- Age: 73
- Posts: 12,657
- Rep Power: 50534
good thing you pulled your head back: a lot of people on that train might have been hurt! LOL.....
but in a serious vein, an obviously inspiring story, and as you can see, many of us here wish you the best in the future...stay active on here , it will help to motivate you....
get involved in discussions about training and diet: explaining to people keeps you sharp in that it makes you think......Lift as MUCH as you can, for as MANY reps as you can,
while in complete control of the exercise.
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05-10-2014, 11:58 AM #19
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-10-2014, 12:14 PM #20
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05-10-2014, 01:15 PM #21
I've had the pleasure of meeting you irl.
Stand up guy.
Dude travelled an hour each way by train to help me for my competition there, I'll never forget it.
We trained together after my show and if there's anything about you that struck me was that you never give up.
Congrats on your accomplishments Brian, keep going forward my friend!
p.s welcome back to the forum
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05-10-2014, 01:52 PM #22
Good story. One thing I've learned is that people can always make fun of something. If your goal is simply to be in shape so people will stop poking fun, then you won't be happy. You need to decide what you think is amazing for yourself and then go do it. I still get poked fun at occasionally, but that's usually for walking into something or tripping. The poking fun will get worse as my vision declines. Thing is, I used to give a sht, but now I feel sorry for them (if they just laugh that's OK I do too). My physical goals are my own. Here they are.
200 lbs at 8 percent bf, enter and win a long drive contest, and do a flip on a wakeboard. I want those things for me. I'm long past the kids who made fun of the blind deaf kid in middle school. It took a lot of struggles to get to this point, but ultimately, I had to stop giving people power over me. You can and are doing the same thing.B: 285
S: 375
D: 555
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05-10-2014, 06:43 PM #23
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05-11-2014, 08:15 PM #24
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Thanks everyone! My next goal is the triathlon so I will be doing a lot of cardio the next 8 weeks. After that, I will be doing a more strength and muscle building program.
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-12-2014, 07:23 AM #25
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
Picking up my bike today. Excited to get started on that part of the training.
Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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05-13-2014, 08:48 AM #26
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
I have OFFICIALLY signed up for the triathlon (750 metre swim, 20 km. bike, 5 km. run)! July 5th in Muskoka, Ontario. Proceeds are going towards the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto for Cancer research.
My mother passed away from cancer this past December, and my wife was diagnosed with cancer (and since beat it) three years ago.
If anyone is interested in donating, check out... http://pmhf3.akaraisin.com/JoesTeam2014/briansmithBrian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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09-03-2014, 06:26 AM #27
- Join Date: Mar 2007
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Age: 52
- Posts: 14,983
- Rep Power: 8130
I know it's been a while since I have been on... Here is the story...
June 8th - my 10 year old grandson was killed in a home fire. He was sleeping over at a friend's house and his friend's a**hole of a father, decided to cook at 3am whil pissed drunk, passed out with the stove still on and the place caught fire. He got out his two kids and his daughter's friend, but not my grandson.
June 29th - my grandmother and cousin were both killed in a separate home fire.
July 5th - despite not getting much practice, I completed the sprint triathlon. I was indeed, the last person to have finished the race. However, there were 38 who were not able to finish...
My splits were:
750 meter swim = 26:29 (222nd out of 271)
20 km. bike = 1:20:23 (232nd out of 271)
5 km. run = 48:28 (230th out of 271)
TOTAL = 2:42:51 (233rd out of 271)
My upcoming physical goal is to do the CN Tower stair climb with my granddaughter. I am also working on putting together an inspiration seminar called DAYS OF INSPIRATION. You can find out about that at www.********.com/doi2014Brian - journal at http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161909473
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Now a CanFitPro and NSCA certified personal trainer specializing in helping the obese. Lost over 70 pounds myself...
Goals completed: Three 5K's, one half marathon, Spartan Run, and Warrior Dash.
Goals working on: Triathlon, Putting together "Days Of Inspiration" (www.********.com/groups/daysofinspiration)
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09-03-2014, 06:47 AM #28
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09-03-2014, 07:48 AM #29
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