The sun is coming up a bit later, the chill each morning is beginning to lesson, and the heat from the sun is getting a little stronger each day. I think it’s safe to say that the weather is making a change for the best.
Spring in Charleston is here (hopefully to stay), and I have to say, I welcome the change with open arms.
Change… now that’s a concept we talk a lot about. We want the weather the change, we want to change up our houses, our wardrobe, our bodies… but wanting to change, and actually making the change are two completely different things.
About 3 weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity to sit with with Bryan Ganey. Bryan and I met at the beginning of the year when we were asked to partake in a “Healthy Charleston” news event. I was the personal trainer on board, and he was the success story.
And when I say success, I mean success.
This was Bryan a few years ago:
Weighing in at over 570 lbs.
This is Bryan today:
And no, he didn’t have surgery to help his weight loss. He did it the old fashioned way… with a commitment to making a change (or two, or three).
For years he had told himself, “This year… I am going to lose the weight.” He was the classic yo-yo dieter… would drop weight only to see it come back on with interest.
While he wanted to change, at that point he just wasn’t REALLY in it to win it.
What happened?
He had a breaking point… he was hospitalized and almost died because of blood clots. That was his, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH moment.
That was the moment, where he decided to change not just his body, but his frame of mind and his life.
Although doctors, pushed the idea of weight loss surgery, Bryan knew that wouldn’t help the underlining issues: obsessive eating and a lazy lifestyle. He wanted to learn how to lose the weight and this time keep it off for good.
And that’s what he did… on April 6th, he’s be running the Bridge Run with me and 33,000 others. He’s a success.
What This Have To Do With You & Me?
Yes, Bryan had to lose a lot of weight and his story is quite severe compared to many of us, however we can all learn from his experience.
If you want to change:
You have to have that breaking moment when you decide that excuses are no longer valid.
That realization that just because you tell yourself (or others) that you’re eating as clean and healthy as you can probably isn’t the case. And you decide it’s time to really commit to a path to make change happen.
Let’s face it… you aren’t going to fit into your bathing suit, just by hanging it up on the door.
I’m Just As Guilty
I am human, I set goals for myself weekly but then tend to push them aside saying I’ll get back on track Monday. I have good days, great days, bad days, and worst days… but each day I have the choice to say how bad I really want something. And if I don’t work towards my goal, then clearly I don’t want it bad enough.
I didn’t get to where I am today by sitting on a couch. If I took that route, I would still be almost 40 pounds heavier, and probably finishing up a PH.D somewhere, never have finding my true passion… this.
What was my breaking point, my ENOUGH IS ENOUGH moment?
I remember it like it was yesterday… I was trying clothes in with my mom during spring break. The spring before I had been a size 2/4, so I grabbed a size 4 of a pair of Express blue capri pants. My mom handed me a 6, “just in case”.
The 4s would not go up my legs… and the 6s would not button… the 8s were the magic fit. It was that moment in the dressing room that I realized what I had done to my body, that the excuse of “oh, this is my natural figure” was just that… an excuse I had been using.
I made that change that day to start exercising and to start trying to make better decisions with my food. Of course, in my younger years those changes were all over the place, often times far too severe.
But one change led to another, and another and now I am here.
And I am happy.
Happiness doesn’t just show up at the door step, if you’re not happy then do something about it and don’t rely on others to make it happen. That’s perhaps the biggest lesson along the way that i have learned.
And on that note, I am ending on this:
“Don’t be afraid of change. Oftentimes you will lose something good, and then gain something even better.” – Unknown
-Have you ever had an Enough Is Enough moment?
-What’s your favorite motivational quote?
I want to thank Bryan for allowing my the opportunity to sit with him and chat. We ended up filming an amazing interview that lasted for over an hour! We’re in the process of editing it to bring that to you. Find out more about Bryan Ganey at his Blog: Www.Ganey.Com
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
What an inspiration!! I couldnt agree more- that aha moment is key!!
I’m going to check out his blog now (btw speaking of blogs, I gave you a shoutout on mine today, just sayin’…).
I like what you said about “This is my natural figure”. I hate it when people use that excuse. Yes, people do have different builds- I can’t do anything about being 5’0″ or the size of my bones. But like you, I had my moments with sizes. I remember going shopping for clothes for college and wearing a size 7 when I was graduating HS, thinking at least I wasn’t as big as a lot of people. For the longest time, even when running, I thought I was just destined to be slow. I think sometimes people get stuck in that rut of thinking this is just how I am, etc. I’m glad that you didn’t get like that- you’re healthy AND you found your true passion so it’s a 2-for-1 deal hehehe.
Bryan is awesome!
You a size 7? I can’t imagine! It’s refreshing when you learn that you’re not what you think… that you can be faster, tighter, stronger… breaking one barrier often leads to breaking another!
Yup, there’s a few old college pics of me on Facebook, but that was after I lost weight. I was about 30lbs heavier when I graduated high school.
And you’re so right about barriers, that’s why you set a small goal and let that success fuel you for the next one
.
You are so awesome! I LOVE that quote. And it’s so true that you need to change something if you’re not happy. People rely too much on outside things for happiness rather than looking in themselves.
Thanks! You’re pretty awesome yourself! Exactly, its time to stop relying on the outside world and look at yourself.
Thank u for being an inspiration!!
You always put a smile on my face and push me to limits i never thought i could accomplish in just 1 hr, but i do!! 
i was never a “big” girl until having my two youngest back to back….basically pregnant 2 years in a row….and from there all my habits changed and it’s been hard getting back on track. I allow my self to give excuses…but you’re right…i don’t like being this way and it’s not going to change if i don’t do something about it!!! I never EVER regret a workout…and always feel so much better when i eat healthy!! I always say…EXERCISE IS THE BEST MEDICINE!! 
I’m so happy to be back at bootcamp!! Thank u for all u do!! 
))
You’re amazing! Cheers to no more excuses and taking action. I see you and the other ladies work your tushies off each workout and that brings so much motivation into my own life.
And thank u to Bryan for sharing his story. ANYTHING is POSSIBLE!!!!
Love a story like Bryan’s, especially when he did it his (healthy) way and not the doctor’s surgical way. Well played.
I so agree…change is within each of us. It’s all about that switch in mentality and the commitment to do it.
Exactly! I love Bryan he is an inspiration to everyone!
Kindal….I love the article! Thank you. And you’re absolutely right. For years…33 years, in fact, I suffered in a prison waiting for something…or somebody…to set me free. But what I’ve learned is that all I ever needed was me. You’re right. Life is about choices and we make them every day. I finally decided I wanted to live more than I wanted the junk food.
Every one reading this should know that I am not cured, I have not found the secret or solved my weight problem. I have to earn these results daily. I don’t get the privilege of weighing 218 pounds instead of 577 pounds without doing the work. That means walking, daily. Lifting weights 3 times a week. Writing down what I eat and measuring my portions.
When I speak to groups, I try to make them understand that this is less about me and more about you. If you have something in your life where you just can’t take it anymore, put your foot down. Rise up. Say there will be no more. The situation is unacceptable.
Thanks all for reading and feel free to check out my blog at http://www.ganey.com or e-mail me bganey@gail.com. Thanks for a great article and I hope to see you and Dan again soon!
Bryan
Oops…the email address should be bganey@gmail.com. Thanks!
So glad you liked it! I feel very fortunate to have met you guys!