My time lately has been consumed by preparations for the upcoming Boot Camp4Life with Sione and Filipe in Provo, UT. It is amazing to me how many details must be covered to successfully coordinate these Boot Camps. The upside is that planning for this latest event has really brought us together as the EvaZing team. We are all learning how to better work together to make sure that everything is done correctly and on time.
A big part of learning to work together to our highest potential has been learning to recognize our true worth as individuals. This recognition involves not only identifying our strengths but also honestly facing our limitations. If we are too modest we risk not being able to contribute to the group in the areas in which we really shine. In order to be as valuable to the team as we can be, we have to be willing to stand up and say, "I'm good at this! This is something that I can do well." On the other hand, we also have to resist the temptation for pride. Pride is the voice inside of ourselves that tells us that we have to do everything ourselves. Humility allows us to realize that we CAN'T do everything...sometimes we can't even do what is asked of us. We need to learn to say, "I'm sorry, I can't handle that." If we accept more weight than we can carry, we set ourselves up to be overwhelmed. We are a better team player if we are honest with ourselves and the other members of our team about exactly what we can and cannot do in the time we have.
"In the multitude of counselors there is wisdom." - Proverbs 11:14
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
To Thine Own Self Be True
Touching first on practical matters...I am happy to announce that I have dropped from a size 62 waist to a size 50. I put on my size 50 shorts today for the first time in years and I thought to myself, "Cool...look how my wardrobe has expanded. Suddenly I have three times as many choices when I look in the closet." That was a fun realization.
Moving on to matters of the heart...I have found that the most important thing I have learned in my journey so far is how very important it is that we are honest with ourselves in all areas of life. So often, it seems to me, we spend all of our time and energy focusing on how to make ourselves LOOK good to other people...rather than actually trying to BE good. If we would focus even a fraction of our efforts on actually doing what we ought to do instead of worrying about what other people think of us, just imagine what amazing things we could accomplish!
The scariest part is that even if we manage to stop worrying about what others think of WHAT we are doing, we then begin worrying about whether or not other people will approve of HOW we are doing it. How we eat is an area where this type of thinking is especially noticeable. How many times have any of us been at a restaurant and wondered what other people would think of us if we ordered this or that? I have found myself battling with this at times because I am not following a specific diet in my journey to lose weight. I'm not counting calories or watching my fat or carbs intake. So sometimes I find myself wondering if other people think that I do not take my weight loss journey seriously. But then I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter what other people think. I have made important changes in my eating habits: drinking only water, cutting down on my sugar intake, being satisfied with smaller portions...and it is obviously working for me. This is all that matters. But sometimes we lose sight of that.
I remind myself today as I remind all of you...Be true to yourself.
"Allow the world to live as it chooses, and allow yourself to live as you choose."
- Richard Bach
Moving on to matters of the heart...I have found that the most important thing I have learned in my journey so far is how very important it is that we are honest with ourselves in all areas of life. So often, it seems to me, we spend all of our time and energy focusing on how to make ourselves LOOK good to other people...rather than actually trying to BE good. If we would focus even a fraction of our efforts on actually doing what we ought to do instead of worrying about what other people think of us, just imagine what amazing things we could accomplish!
The scariest part is that even if we manage to stop worrying about what others think of WHAT we are doing, we then begin worrying about whether or not other people will approve of HOW we are doing it. How we eat is an area where this type of thinking is especially noticeable. How many times have any of us been at a restaurant and wondered what other people would think of us if we ordered this or that? I have found myself battling with this at times because I am not following a specific diet in my journey to lose weight. I'm not counting calories or watching my fat or carbs intake. So sometimes I find myself wondering if other people think that I do not take my weight loss journey seriously. But then I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter what other people think. I have made important changes in my eating habits: drinking only water, cutting down on my sugar intake, being satisfied with smaller portions...and it is obviously working for me. This is all that matters. But sometimes we lose sight of that.
I remind myself today as I remind all of you...Be true to yourself.
"Allow the world to live as it chooses, and allow yourself to live as you choose."
- Richard Bach
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Boot Camp in AZ
It's funny how things always happen in our lives for a reason, but sometimes it is hard to see at the time exactly what that reason is. Take the recent Boot Camp 4 Life in AZ as an example. Our turnout was good but not as great as we had hoped. But, as a result, we ended up spending a lot more time together as a team and really solidifying our purpose as a group.
I was also able to spend some good quality time with Sione and Filipe. We spoke a lot about the challenges that they have faced coming home from Biggest Loser and trying to continue in the new lifestyle that they have learned. Sione expressed to me how difficult it can be to not only try to change his entire way of looking at food and nutrition but to try to get that message to the Tongan people as well. Food is so embedded in the Tongan culture that trying to completely overhaul that outlook can be almost impossible. I suggested to Sione that perhaps the best way to approach things with our Tongan brothers and sisters as well as ourselves is to try to make little changes...baby steps. For example...I now drink only water. And when I do eat some of my favorite foods, I try to eat smaller portions. These aren't huge changes, but they have made a difference for me. I am down another belt hole and have lost more weight since the last time I wrote.
I have come to realize that it has taken me a lifetime to become as heavy as I am. It may take me years to lose that weight. That is ok. As long as I am moving in the right direction...that is what counts. The same is true, brothers and sisters, in all other areas of our lives. We cannot "make everything better." All we can do is start the journey in the right direction and keep moving forward one step at a time. Don't be discouraged...whatever your journey...we can do this together.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu
I was also able to spend some good quality time with Sione and Filipe. We spoke a lot about the challenges that they have faced coming home from Biggest Loser and trying to continue in the new lifestyle that they have learned. Sione expressed to me how difficult it can be to not only try to change his entire way of looking at food and nutrition but to try to get that message to the Tongan people as well. Food is so embedded in the Tongan culture that trying to completely overhaul that outlook can be almost impossible. I suggested to Sione that perhaps the best way to approach things with our Tongan brothers and sisters as well as ourselves is to try to make little changes...baby steps. For example...I now drink only water. And when I do eat some of my favorite foods, I try to eat smaller portions. These aren't huge changes, but they have made a difference for me. I am down another belt hole and have lost more weight since the last time I wrote.
I have come to realize that it has taken me a lifetime to become as heavy as I am. It may take me years to lose that weight. That is ok. As long as I am moving in the right direction...that is what counts. The same is true, brothers and sisters, in all other areas of our lives. We cannot "make everything better." All we can do is start the journey in the right direction and keep moving forward one step at a time. Don't be discouraged...whatever your journey...we can do this together.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu
Monday, June 22, 2009
Discoveries About Myself
I have been thinking a lot lately about how we use truth in our lives. Sometimes we use truth to empower ourselves and sometimes we use it to justify our negative actions. It is still the same truth either way, but it makes all the difference how we choose to interpret it.
For example...I went out yesterday to walk my daily mile and a half at the track. Almost immediately I started feeling my legs cramping up. I said to myself, "You know man...you are really in pain here." My mind starting going through all the stresses and difficulties that I have been facing in my life over the last few weeks. I asked myself, "Are these things true? Or am I trying to justify letting myself off the hook for today?" The answer surprised me...because it was yes to both questions. Yes...I was hurting. Yes...I did have legitimate difficulties that I am facing in my life. But yes...I was trying to use those difficulties to justify giving up in that moment. I realized that truth is truth...but we can either use that truth to motivate ourselves or use it to justify giving up.
I chose to keep going. And the funny thing was, after the first 3 laps of my walk I began to feel all the physical pain melting away. It was replaced by a sense of happiness flowing through me. I was proud of myself for continuing on. I was proud of myself for using my truth for good.
For example...I went out yesterday to walk my daily mile and a half at the track. Almost immediately I started feeling my legs cramping up. I said to myself, "You know man...you are really in pain here." My mind starting going through all the stresses and difficulties that I have been facing in my life over the last few weeks. I asked myself, "Are these things true? Or am I trying to justify letting myself off the hook for today?" The answer surprised me...because it was yes to both questions. Yes...I was hurting. Yes...I did have legitimate difficulties that I am facing in my life. But yes...I was trying to use those difficulties to justify giving up in that moment. I realized that truth is truth...but we can either use that truth to motivate ourselves or use it to justify giving up.
I chose to keep going. And the funny thing was, after the first 3 laps of my walk I began to feel all the physical pain melting away. It was replaced by a sense of happiness flowing through me. I was proud of myself for continuing on. I was proud of myself for using my truth for good.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Boot Camp 4 Life
Before the Boot Camp with Sione and Filipe, I hadn't worked out for probably around 4 - 5 years. On the first day of the Camp, when I started the workout with the cousins and the rest of the participants I couldn't believe how difficult it was. I can only describe it as grueling. Although my mind was determined to continue, my body was screaming at me to quit.
As I lay in my bed after each of the three days, I knew that I wasn't going to give up, but still that was exactly what I felt like doing. I had to keep telling myself that my mind and my will were strong enough to do this, I just had to catch my body up to my mind. Each day, whenever I felt like giving up, I would remind myself that my journey had truly begun and any step forward, however small, was better than a step backwards.
As I lay in my bed after each of the three days, I knew that I wasn't going to give up, but still that was exactly what I felt like doing. I had to keep telling myself that my mind and my will were strong enough to do this, I just had to catch my body up to my mind. Each day, whenever I felt like giving up, I would remind myself that my journey had truly begun and any step forward, however small, was better than a step backwards.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Journey Begins
Many of you who will read this blog have already met me in person at an EvaZing event or a Boot Camp4Life with Sione and Filipe. I am lucky enough to call many of you friends. For those who have not met me...my name is Oscar Fakahua. Like Sione and Filipe Fa (the cousins on NBC's Biggest Loser), I am Tongan and was raised in this close knit culture. And, also like Sione and Filipe, I have struggled with my weight for my entire life.
When I saw the cousins working so hard to set an example for the entire Tongan community, I was inspired to start a weight loss journey of my own. I know that this journey will require hard work and committment...and I'm sure that there will be ups and downs along the way. But I also know that I have the support of my friends...here at home, on the road, and all of you who will join with me by reading this blog and hopefully sharing details of your own journey. Together we can accomplish great things.
Just the other day I had to punch a new hole in my belt. I can't express to you in words the sense of triumph I felt at that moment.
Come along with me and we will see where this road leads us. I welcome your comments and questions. I truly believe...it's gonna be alright!
When I saw the cousins working so hard to set an example for the entire Tongan community, I was inspired to start a weight loss journey of my own. I know that this journey will require hard work and committment...and I'm sure that there will be ups and downs along the way. But I also know that I have the support of my friends...here at home, on the road, and all of you who will join with me by reading this blog and hopefully sharing details of your own journey. Together we can accomplish great things.
Just the other day I had to punch a new hole in my belt. I can't express to you in words the sense of triumph I felt at that moment.
Come along with me and we will see where this road leads us. I welcome your comments and questions. I truly believe...it's gonna be alright!
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