Breaking bad habits is never easy. But when you find a way to do so it can pay major dividends!
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight and get into a workout routine, you’ll know that it’s not always smooth sailing.
There are ups and downs with almost every attempt, and it’s a continuous course correction where you have to take the losses with the wins, but ultimately never give up.
Fit Father Martin lost 40 lbs in 5 months, broke his bad habits, changed his physique, and won $10,000 in our 2021 Transformation Contest for his efforts!
But getting there wasn't easy, as Martin had to overcome many challenges in his life.
It all began when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, then lost her battle with the deadly disease in 2016.
“She and I had both been smokers for as long as we'd known each other. Anytime she tried to quit smoking; we could never get on the same page. So we kept smoking, and I felt really guilty about that because my kids watched that, and just watched their mother pass away from cancer. And I knew at that point, I had to quit, so I just did.”
Quitting smoking was great, but, unfortunately, Martin traded one bad habit for another, and his eating got out of hand.
“My job as a police officer keeps me pretty active. So I thought, ‘I'll just work it off once I get back into the flow of things.' And that never really happened, but I just kinda kept trudging along.”
Martin got married again after a few years and it helped a lot with his mental stability.
However, on the physical front, he wasn't breaking bad habits.
He had more responsibilities and stress, and his eating habits got even worse. As did his drinking habits.
“So now I'm up probably 50 pounds from where I was and my cholesterol was horrible. I also started drinking way too much, and that led to depression.”
Listen to Martin's Story on the Fit Father Project Podcast:
The Realization That Changed Martin's Life
Deep in depression, one rough night finally opened Martin's eyes.
“I woke up in the morning. I had a big old bruise on my side, and I'm like, what is this from? And my son came up to the room and asked me about it. I had to lie to him about what had happened. I said, I tripped over one of his toys. And I looked over and realized I'd gone through a 30-pack of beer and the cans were just sitting there in the trash. I was hungover and felt terrible.”
At that point, Martin knew he had to change his habits for himself and his family.
This realization pushed him to change his life for the better.
“The realization that if something did happen, I was worthless. I wasn't going to be a protector for them. I couldn't. If someone got hurt, I couldn't have done anything. So I knew right then I had to change.”
Breaking Bad Habits Is Never Easy
To get back on track with his health and fitness, Martin started looking at different workout programs.
However, his body was not supporting his efforts.
“I like to run, but my body hurt so much from the neglect and the stuff that I was putting into it. My legs hurt. My hips would hurt my back. Everything hurt if I ran. So I couldn't run.”
Even though he was working out, he was not paying enough attention to his nutrition.
“I never changed my diet enough. I thought, well, maybe I've got to get rid of soda. So I quit drinking soda and I would just drink coffee or diet soda. I didn't make any wholesale changes. I would incorporate some vegetables, but there weren't a whole lot of vegetables that I ate a lot of, so maybe broccoli every once in a while.”
He even tried a couple of diet plans, such as keto. However, he could not stand eating the same food over and over.
Finding the Fit Father Project
For Martin, days of searching for a suitable fitness program on the internet ended with the Fit Father Project.
“I watched some videos on the FFP YouTube channel, and it sounded like something I could deal with. Then, I started looking at some of the success stories, and as I was looking at the pictures, I said, ‘hey, that guy looks like me — maybe this is geared more towards what I want.'”
Martin’s initial journey with the Fit Father Project was not a bed of roses.
It was a journey filled with hiccups and a lot of ups and downs.
There was a loss of motivation, self-doubt, tiredness, you name it.
Thankfully, that’s when Martin came across the Transformation Contest.
“I saw the email for the Transformation Contest and thought it might help me to stay motivated. So I jumped in.”
He began focusing on the exercises and meal plans.
He also joined the Fit Father Project Brotherhood Facebook Group to collaborate with his fellow members.
“I wrote down everything. I was obsessed with it. I had to be; I felt that if I didn't jump completely into it, I was going to fall back. So everything was journaled. Everything was exactly on a timeline. I said, ok, this is when I'm exercising, nothing's changing. This is when I'm eating. Nothing will change.”
Finally Reaching His Goals and Turning It All Around
Even though Martin’s weight loss goal was 25 lbs, he ended up losing 40.
“My body fat was just above 14 percent, and my doctor reduced everything that I was on — my blood pressure and my cholesterol medicines are at the minimums that I can have”
He credits his success to the Fit Father Project, but he knows it's more than just a weight loss or diet program.
“It's a lifestyle change and that's preached all the way through. And that was the mindset I went in with rather than, I need to diet for a month, and I'm going to lose this much weight.”
So what would Martin say to someone looking to join the Fit Father Project?
“You got to believe it. If you don't believe it, you're not going to buy into it. So that was the first thing — it does work. Look at the pictures. There are guys that have lost way more weight than I have. But until you believe it yourself, you can't buy into it.”
3 Key Takeaways From Martin's Journey
To summarize, here are three key lessons you can learn from Martin’s successful health and fitness journey:
Lesson 1: Ups and Downs Are a Part of Life
It might sound obvious but the ups and downs of life are just part of life.
No matter how calm and stable a person’s life appears, a closer look will reveal struggles and difficulties.
They're part of the human experience.
Nevertheless, determination and perseverance are the keys to success.
Lesson 2: The Perfect Plate Matters
Only working out will not help unless you’re following a balanced diet too.
Once Martin learned about the Perfect Plate, his nutrition fell into place.
Lesson 3: Look at the Bigger Picture
Sometimes, you feel restricted when you’re working on your health and fitness, but it’s important to always look at the bigger picture.
Your health and fitness are not just about you but also your family.
You need to be there for your family. You have to take care of them.
Therefore, you first need to take care of yourself!
What is FF30X?
FF30X is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program that is designed especially for busy men over 40.
With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team that is there for you at every step, FF30X can help you lose 30, 40, or even 50+ lbs — even if you’ve never picked up a weight in your life.
Click here to see what you get when you join the FF30X program today!
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*Please know that weight loss results and health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on breaking bad habits.
