Last Updated on May 29, 2013.
“It used to be thought that the events that changed the world were things like big bombs, maniac politicians, huge earthquakes, or vast population movements, but it has now been realized that this is a very old-fashioned view held by people totally out of touch with modern thought. The things that really change the world, according to Chaos theory, are the tiny things.” – Neil Gaiman
It is the little changes in our lives that make the biggest changes. I moved to the USA when I was only three. Fast forward a bit and I’m sleeping through college classes that I should be doing well in. I was tired for every reason I could think of. So, I ate a lot in the hope of keeping my energy up. I wanted to make my family proud that we moved to a wealthy country and succeeded. Instead, I became fat and somewhat depressed. I didn’t graduate with the degree I set out to get in the first place. It is a scary thought in a time with so few jobs. Then I got a job and worked for a bit of money but something wasn’t right. I still felt like I wasn’t where I needed to be. I worked hard and only saw a bigger check but didn’t feel any better than usual. I still went home and could not get myself off the couch. One day I broke the chair in my room and said that was enough, I went to a doctor and he told me the morbid risks of being over weight. I suddenly understood I was obese at over 275lbs.
“I suddenly understood I was obese at over 275lbs.”
It was hard to go to gym, everyone was fit there. I felt fatter and plus my friends didn’t want to go everyday so I didn’t. I tried some supplements and a few diets. Lost 5 pounds in 3 months… only 110 more to go and I meet my goal. I thought that I would have some kind of illness before I lose the weight that I needed to lose. In a world where we know about DNA, the fundamental script that our bodies follow, I could not understand how I was failing so hard and I have failed at many things, but this could determine how long I stay alive and healthy. I saw an ad for free boxing gloves while trying to buy groceries. I thought it was crazy and I wanted the gloves so I made appointment with Tiger Schulmann’s. I had no idea what I signed up for and vaguely knew it was a martial arts place. At the first appointment, I filled out the questionnaire. The only thing I wanted was the body conditioning. The first class was hard. I could not finish. My body and mind quit functioning after 20 minutes. I saw people bigger than me doing just fine and I did not want to quit the whole program. I signed up for more.
” I saw people bigger than me doing just fine and I did not want to quit the whole program.”
I failed to meet my goal every 90/60 day challenge, but that did not phase me, every failure is an opportunity to learn how to succeed. I changed one habit a week. Burgers were cut in half and shared with friends. Next week, I would try to add a small snack to my diet exactly when I get hungry. Some weeks I would go for an extra MMA class here and there. It was a struggle trying to remember all the little things changed over time but somehow I had more focus and energy than usual to do so. Even when I got injured at work, I went to MMA class as soon as my doctor said it was ok. He said the changes I made almost never happens and to keep going. I just did not use my wrist as the doctor ordered. I recovered rather promptly and did not look back.
The effects of the extra energy gained through the Tiger Schulmann’s MMA program were dramatic.
The effects of the extra energy gained through the Tiger Schulmann’s MMA program were dramatic. I now do web development, write science fiction, do personal investment research, and attend college classes at the same time. Somehow my friends get to see me every week as well. It wasn’t about sacrifice for me although some people do focus on that. It was about surviving to see another day. One more day to see family, friends, and people that you care about. Literally all my friends and family see the difference in my attitude and health today. It was worth the effort. What did I learn from all this? The investment into your own health is the most important decision you can make and small changes are best way to achieve that. I still set my goals aggressively to this day and would not change my choice to make the small step of going to Tiger MMA classes every week. My weight is now 172.5lbs. Still not there yet but I will keep going.
“It wasn’t about sacrifice for me although some people do focus on that. It was about surviving to see another day.”