The What’s Next Movement is Starting
March 24, 2013
The What’s Next Movement is starting. People who have seen my episode know what I would says to Chris Powell after we would finish an exercise. I would always say “What we got next”. From there, the What’s Next Movement was born. It is very simple to push yourself and be part of the the Movement. Simply purchase a wristband for $5. Reach some goal or push yourself to do something you have not done before, take a picture with the wristband and post it on Facebook or Twiiter with the hashtag #What’sNext and let the movement celebrate with you and move on to your next goal. You can make this fun and buy wristbands for all of your friends and try to one up each other or use it as a way to motivate someone who is just starting out on their journey.
If your health and wellness was not enough reason to buy a wristband, 20% of all proceeds will be going to Tender Loving Care – Think N Try. Its a 501c3 here in Portland, OR that works with at-risk youth and there families. It will help to support the health and wellness initiatives directed at teaching children to live healthy lifestyles.
Order your What’s Next Wristband
My first challenge of 2013
December 22, 2012I have told myself that in 2013, I will be bold. I will try things I have never tried before. I will push myself to do more than I thought I could do. While I was at the gym one day here recently, I saw a flyer for the 2013 Kaiser Permanente Fight for Air Climb, an event by the American Lung Association in Oregon. Below is a bit about the climb.
“One breath and one stair at a time, the American Lung Association in Oregon (ALAO), take steps in our fight to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. This year’s goal is to raise $30,000 for the programs and services of ALAO. Climbers will take off in 12-second intervals and climb 20, 40, 80 or 160 floors as they ascend “Big Pink”.”
The US Bank Tower (known to Portlanders as “Big Pink” because it has the most floors of any building in Portland and shines pink when the sun hits it) has over 40 floors. Participants may chose to go to the top once (40 flights), twice (80 flights) or 4 times (160 flight). It was something that i knew I wanted to be involved in because I had not done it before. I talked to me family and friends about and one person wagered $20 that I would not be able to go up 40 flights. I scoffed, took the wager and promptly signed up for 80 flights. In sharing this with people, a friend challenged me to do the whole 160 flights. My wife thinks it is crazy. My family things it is crazy. Most of my friends things it is crazy. So what you i say? In the What’s Next mode, I take on the challenge. In a little over a month (36 days) I will run 160 flight of stairs. As my many (and fellow cast member from ABC’s Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition) said, “160 flights of stairs in one day? That’s crazy….or is it?”
I am pumped up to take on this challene. If you are in Portland and want to run with me, feel free to sign up and join Team What’s Next and run right along with me. If not, you can support the American Lung Association and make a donation (tax deductible) to Team What’s Next to help us make our fundraising goal needed to participate in the event. I am really looking forward to thiss and I will be back on here to tell you all about it.
Tip #5 Never Chase your losses
November 5, 2012One thing that has gotten me though though far is the idea of not chasing my losses. I realized that there was not one thing that I would do or one thing I would eat the made me 564 pounds. It was my lifestyle that got me to that point. It was the way I chose to deal with life. If something positive happened to me in my life, I would celebrate with food. If something negative happened to me, I would comfort myself with food.
I would have this bad meal and then I would just say, “ohh well” and follow that up with another bad meal. So the bad meal would turn into a bad day. This is when the spiral would continue because I already had a bad day, may as well have another. I could do this because “tomorrow”, “Monday” or “The first of the month” I was going to start my, “diet”. So then I would have a bad week. Which would quickly turn into a bad month. That is when I started hitting milestones. I would say, “ill never be 400lbs”. Then I would say, “ill never be 500lbs”. Of course all of those things happened.
when it comes down to it, the only way you hit rock bottom is when you chose to stop digging. So put down the shovel and lets stop chasing our loses together. Let not make a bad day be a bad week. Lets not make a bad week a bad month. Lets not make a bad month a bad year. No matter what setback may come, we can always stop and change our behavior forward.
A Letter To Mommy
September 11, 2012This is the letter I read at the beginning of my episode. I wrote this letter of the eve of my college graduation. I was asked to give a speech for a celebration of Black Graduates hosted by the Ujima Education Office at Oregon State University. When I sat down to write, I thought I was going to write something to all the people who did not believe in me and all the people who said I could not do it. But all I could think about was my mom. I wrote this letter at that time in hopes that she would read it.
A Letter To Mommy
By Jarvez Hall
Mommy, wow is it really you? I really just do not know what to say. It has been six years but it seems like only yesterday. I really do not even know what to say. I have always wanted to talk with you one last time and I knew if I did, I could never find the words.
I feel so many things swirling around me and everything comes back to you. I wish you were here to give me advice. You know you were always right. I wish you were here to see Tamea, that’s Timmy’s little girl but I’m sure you know that, I know you have been watching. She is soo cute. Bad, but cute. I wish you were here to see Charlotte’s wedding. Yeah she finally did and he is actually a cool dude. Ivory and Chiquita wilded out but I’m sure you knew that was coming.
I think about you everyday and I do things (sometimes unknowingly) to feel close to you. I still sleep on the floor or sitting up at night like I used to do in your room. I still go to the same restaurants you loved. I even order the same things you ordered. I watch all the shows we used to watch together and listen to all the songs we listened to. Sometimes, I talk to you as if you had never went away.
There have been some changes. Holidays have never been the same. For awhile, Charlotte was not the biggest fan of cooking. You remember when we lived on Kirby and it was the first time she made Thanksgiving Dinner? Timmy was doing what he always did, stay over Tina’s family’s house all day and we wouldn’t start until dusk and me, I just stopped caring for awhile. You know we even have fake Christmas trees now? Can you believe it? That part didn’t bother me as much because I loved decorating the tree with you. You would always get one that was too big for the house and we would saw it down for about a week with a Ginsu knife. We’d go to the store and buy tons of fake snow and always end up with a fake snow fight and singing Christmas Carols after we lit the tree. I don’t open a gift on Christmas Eve anymore either. I realized that yesterday made it six years since you passed away.
I remember the last time you were awake and I told you, “I love you” and you said the same with a tear. I hope you heard me the next night as well just before you passed. Mommy I am actually graduating from college tomorrow. Everyone who was in your room on June 10, 1999 will be there, me, Charlotte, Timmy, Bishop and Mother Irving. I am pretty sure Terry is hanging with you right now. I just pray that you will be able to be there too. To see me walk across the stage. Bring Terry and Grandma with you and I pray, for one day, if only for one day, we can be a whole family together again.
I love you Mommy and I miss you
Your son, Jarvez Hall
Tip #4 Break up your workouts
August 26, 2012A good tip would be to break up your workouts. No matter how much time you do, spitting it up will help you burn more calories throughout the day. So if you work out for one hour a day, try doing 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night. This way, you are speeding up your metabolism twice per day. This will also lead you to burn more calories while you are not working out which means you will see results faster. Think of it this way, If I have a charcoal grill and I put all of the coals and lighter fluid on at 8am, by noon the coals are burnt out and the grill will start to get cool. If I but half of the coals and fluid on at 8am and then the other half at noon, the grill will burn longer and be hot throughout the day. So if you have been reached a plateau or you are just starting your workout regiment, breaking up your workouts will help you reach your goals more quickly.
My Dairy: Day one
August 23, 2012When I began my journey, I started keeping a journal. I will, from time to time, share some of my entries with all of you.
October 18th Day One:
Was a whirlwind day. I still cannot believe this is happening. When I hear all I will be doing this year….I am excited and scared at the same time. Though this is the case, I will step out on faith and let the Lord direct my path. I was very encouraged today. I met with a nutritionist today and started to learn the way I can eat. I actually get to have food with seasoning! I was able to cook dinner and the recipes were actually good.
Even though the day started out overwhelming, I am growing more confident that I can complete this journey. If a thousand-mile journey starts with a single step…today was a good first step of faith.
My Victory Today: Actually believing I can complete this journey
The Day after my first workout with Chris Powell
August 20, 2012
Throughout my transformation, I would write poetry as a way of documenting everything I felt during this time period. This particular poem is one that I wrote the day after my initial workout with Chris Powell. This was is patented fight or flight workout. It is entitled “Pain” because that is what I felt the next day. My body was aching and I was sore in places I did not know I could be sore. It is also titled this because I could physically feel how far I was in the whole and how difficult the year would be. It was like taking three steps up a hill, looking up and realizing you still have a mountain to climb. Without further ado….Pain. Continue reading →
Tip #3: Drink Water for No Reason
August 19, 2012Find any excuse you can to drink as much water as possible. It will help with weight loss and aid in clearing toxins from your body. Try drinking a glass of water before a meal, a glass halfway through the meal and a glass after the meal. Not only will this help your food digest but you will feel more full without consuming additional calories.
Tip #2: Extra ordinary effort will bring you extra ordinary results –VonRay Johnson of VShape Fitness
August 19, 2012When I was still an athlete, I would come home from college for the summer to be around my family. I would work out with a trainer named Von Ray Johnson. He would always say “extra ordinary effort will bring you extra ordinary results.”
I used to think what I was giving at that time was extra ordinary effort. I was working out twice-a-day and working out hard. At that time in my life, I just did not get it. I would work out at the gym in the morning then go straight to a restaurant for “reward” breakfast. I would go work out at the gym in the evening and then go straight to [insert random fast food restaurant here] and eat.
What I found is that I was giving extra effort in areas I was comfortable giving extra effort in. For example, I would go to the gym, but all I would do is lift weights. I did not like doing cardio, i.e. running, biking, etc., so I would put all my extra effort into lifting weights. I was disillusioned into believing the extra effort I was putting into lifting weights would make up for my lack of effort in regards to my cardio training. If you want results and lasting results, you will have to put effort in all areas. Thank you VonRay. Thank you.
Tip #1: Always carry a pack of gum with you
August 19, 2012If you would like to curb craving between meal, try chewing gum. If you have a peace of gum in your mouth, you will not be able to taste sugary drinks or do any “mindless snacking”