My name is Ken White. In April of 2008 I stepped on the electronic scale at the health clinic and it read 580 lbs. There I was, 47 years old and racing to an early grave. For about 7 months I worked out on my own and managed to drop about 60 lbs. Then, I quit for about 3 months and started gaining again. Finally, in February 2009 I decided to give it one more try and went to the gym near my new apartment.

The first day there I stumbled around working out not knowing what I was doing. When I was wrapping it up, the head trainer there approached me and we had a chat. She basically saw that I was trying my best, but without guidance I was going to eventually injure myself. Then she presented me with an opportunity that put me at a crossroads in my life. She offered to train me free of charge 5 days a week!

Well, this was a real wake up call to me. The question was literally being put to me, "Do you want to live or die?" I knew there were no more excuses. What more could I ask for to drop the pounds. Well, I chose to live, putting absolutely 100% into those workouts. Not only that, I was given an education in nutrition and behavioral modification. I was held accountable for my eating habits by keeping a journal of every bite of food I ate.

I was doing well until my trainer left for another job. Fortunately, 3 of her employees (who are now 3 of my best friends) took up the slack and tag-teamed me. Each one trained me one day a week, so I could continue at least a 3-day per week regimen. I found other ways to exercise on the other days, so I developed a very active life-style.

It was never easy, but it has been absolutely worth every drop of sweat, every sacrifice of junk food. This incredible life experience has helped me to lose over 300 lbs. in 2 1/2 years!! I got to a record low weight of 227 lbs. when we stopped training for weight loss and started training for strength and flexibility. Since then I've put on about 15 lbs.of muscle.

I know it was like winning the lottery to be given the chance that I got. What I'd like to do here is to reach those who are in the situation I was in that fateful day in April 2008. I was middle-aged, miserable, depressed, could hardly move, and just plain wanted to give up on life. Food and lots of it was just the way things were going to be. Well, I want to inspire and motivate people who think this to be their lot in life and tell them change can absolutely happen without shortcuts or surgery. In future posts, I'd like to share insights and details about this transformation and maybe put some advice out there for those who'd like it.

This is really just a launching pad, but let me know what you think and let's see where this goes. God bless!