| I used to look in the mirror and do a front double | | | | fat. |
| bicepspose. It's the classic "make a muscle" | | | | Imagine how I felt walking into that karate gym a |
| bodybuilding posejust like Arnold Schwarzenegger. | | | | fewmonths ago. My self-esteem was rock |
| But over the space ofjust a few years in my late | | | | bottom, my energylevels were horrible, and I |
| twenties and early thirties mybody changed so | | | | knew everyone in the class waslaughing at me. |
| much that I stopped doing my favorite pose. | | | | But it turns out I was wrong. I had moreenergy |
| I gained an ugly 30 pounds of blubber as I climbed | | | | than I thought. My classmates were not laughing |
| thecorporate ladder. Some guys can hold an extra | | | | atme but were incredibly supportive. I didn't realize |
| 30 poundsand not look too bad. My bodyfat is all | | | | that |
| concentratedaround my waist. My love handles | | | | I was demonstrating the true spirit of martial arts |
| were enormous. And itwas like my biceps, | | | | bytrying my best every class and showing up |
| shoulders and chest all shrunk. Iwas fat and skinny | | | | with a positiveattitude. |
| at the same time! | | | | I've been doing aerobic kickboxing exercise for |
| And it wasn't like I was eating packets of table | | | | about 2months now, twice a week. I have lost |
| sugar forsnacks. There were no industrial-sized | | | | over twenty poundsin that time. None of my |
| containers of | | | | clothes fit anymore, which makesme so happy! |
| Twizzlers or bite sized 3 Muskateers bars hidden | | | | The effects on my body have been profound. |
| in mydesk. Most mornings I wouldn't eat | | | | I sleep so much better at night. As embarrassing |
| breakfast, just 2 cupsof coffee. I'd have a muffin | | | | as thismay sound, my bowel movements are |
| around 10, then grab aburger and fries around 2, | | | | drastically improved. Myskin has cleared up. I just |
| 2 more cups of coffee in thelate afternoon with a | | | | feel amazing. I can even domy front double |
| donut, and then chicken, potato andsome corn for | | | | biceps pose in the mirror in the morningand it |
| dinner around 8pm. I now know that I wasblasting | | | | brings a smile to my face! |
| my poor metabolism and literally forcing it tostore | | | | |