Well ...this is it...here I go. I'm laying it all out on the table. My life is an open book. This journey that I am on right now is not for the faint of heart. So, I advised you if you are not into blood and guts, this may not be the blog for you. But as they say, No GUTS, No GLORY. Alright, enough of the Melodramatic crap, let me just get down to it.
My name is Michael Gaudet, I am 33 years old Christian who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have a wonderful wife, I am a musician and I love to work with people and to learn about history and different cultures. Oh and I love to cook. I'm so good add it that my wife refuses to coo anymore. I guess I'm a pretty typical guy. However, my life is not as typical as it may seem, I have suffered from obesity since childhood. My weight has always gone up and down but at this point in my life is when I have weighed the most I have ever weighed. On Wednesday the 3rd day of February, I weighed in at 522 pounds. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It is a very overwhelming feeling to know that I am carrying all this weight. Just a few weeks ago a friend began helping me in the gym, somewhat like a unofficial trainer and he wanted to know my weight so that we could have a number to refer to. This is the number I came back to him with. 522....I couldn't believe it......I felt weak just thinking about it....
NOW...here is where my faith kicks in to this story. In October 2009 I went to a Christian retreat in the Sambro area at a beautiful lakeside lodge. I got there and just let myself go with the flow. I remember one of the first things I did was tend to the fireplace in the main lodge. I have always been that kind of person who liked doing things like that. I enjoy the feeling of doing something for others. This weekend retreat was a special time for me because I had quite a few intense experiences. One was that I kinda took on the role of guardian for these two twin brothers who where there with their mom. The kids were known as troubled youth and they were being a little difficult to manage so I kept a close eye on them. I kept them in check but also I made sure they didn't get hurt. This meant that at times I had to separate myself from the regular activities of the retreat but I felt blessed to be the one to watch over them. The Most important thing that happened to me on that weekend was that, after years of uncertainty, I decided to fully give myself to the lord Jesus and accept him as my savior. It was the most peaceful feeling that I have ever had. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted off of me and that I could breath again. I came back home a changed man after that weekend, I'm pretty sure my wife could see the difference in me.
So how does this tie into my obesity and my training. Well, here it is. I have tried lots of diets and gone to many gyms and so on. I have tried and tried and tried and I have failed and failed and failed. "So", you say, "What's different this time?" Well my friends, this time, I have Jesus. My faith in him is the rock I stand on. When I started training a few weeks ago I prayed for the lord to give me the strength to get through this the whole step of the way. I asked for him to guide me through the darkness and to pick me up when I feel like giving up. My friends, I have full faith that he is doing this for me. I only just started my training but I am feeling a ferocity and hunger for this like I never have before. I am very focused on what needs to be done. Like Yoda said " There is only do or do not do, there is no try." This time I DO!!! No Holds Barred it's the fight of my life, the fight for my life, for my future, to be here, to be alive, to conquer and to accomplish many things. This is real and this is now and I invite you to join me on this journey. Like I said before , it might get bloody and gory and it's not going to be easy. There will be some ups and downs on the turbulent seas. But the shore is there and it is attainable. Captain says, "Full steam ahead" They'll be no turnin' back now Arrrrrrrgggghhhh!!!
