I am a healthcare worker who never, and I mean never, took time for his health. From the time I was young, I have always struggled with weight, but when I was younger, it was easier to drop weight as I was more active and there were more opportunities based on time. Sadly, as those times became more few and far between, I didn’t watch my health. I gained a few bad habits, and my motivation was low, based on the hustle and bustle of everyday life as a respiratory therapist, husband, father, provider, and trying to be everything to everyone.

It got bad… downright bad. I was 26, while smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, drinking a gallon of sweet iced tea daily, not exercising, and generally being a terrible person on the one body I was given… I was hospitalized. I got off the caffeine and cigarettes with God’s help, but I put on even more weight after that.

Finally, I was 278 on the scale. I was 22 pounds away from 300. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. I had tried other diets and exercise plans before with some success, but nothing sustainable. Then came the pandemic. I thought, even though we’re locked down, I will eat better when I am at home. That was determined to be a lie. I pretty much ate, didn’t exercise, and while the cookies and pizza were nice for recognition of what we did on a daily basis, it wasn’t the best for my health. I maintained a weight of 273 pounds. I wasn’t happy with me at all, and I was committed to the fact that I was always going to be the “fat guy”. This also wasn’t good for my job working on helicopter flights for child transport. Their ideal weight is 220 pounds, and that has a great deal to do with fuel consumption in aviation. Safety of crew, patient, and minimal stops is of the utmost importance. I didn’t know if they would crack down, and if they did, it would be a loss of something I really and truly enjoy.

In October of 2020, my Aunt Kathy (Coach Kathleen Ernette), told me about ZipSlim®… I was skeptical, let alone that I had two kids’ birthdays and Christmas to think about when it came to spending money. I wasn’t in a place financially to do something at that time. I thought, January will be the ticket. Aunt Kathy never nagged, begged, or pleaded… only prayed. I started my journey in early February of 2021… at 273 pounds.

At first, I was skeptical. “How can this work? How can I stick to these “9 Reboot Rituals”? I can explain away a great deal of these rituals and why they work.” A still, small voice in my head said, “Humor me. Worst case, it doesn’t work, and you get your cash back.” Then the scale started moving down. I didn’t feel like I was working at all, I didn’t feel like I was being restrictive, and I didn’t feel like a failure. Let’s keep going. That first five pounds falling off in the first two weeks sold me. This was healthy weight loss, no restrictions, I felt great about myself, I had (and still have) an incredible support system, and this felt EASY to sustain.

So I kept going, because, JUST WOW! I had my first quarterly weigh in for flight in late March… 250lbs! The nurse seemed to think I would be disappointed… 23 pounds down, and I was psyched!

Not long after that encounter and approximately 5 more pounds lost, we were called to take a flight to Cincinnati for a sick child to come back to Morgantown. This was a 2 hour flight, and they had to take the lighter of the two crews. Our pilot, Joel Obertance, asked, “How much do you weigh, Jim?”

I sheepishly responded, “A lot.”

Joel responded, “I know you have lost a good bit of weight, so seriously, what do you weigh now?”

I said, “245 pounds.”

“Good!” Joel said, “Because of that and not what we have on file, now we don’t have to make any fuel stops. We can complete the trip on one tank of gas!”

I was doing backflips (figuratively of course, body ain’t what it used to be)! I didn’t stop there, though. I have set a goal of 212 pounds, and I am currently at 227 pounds. I have an incredible team behind me who help me up when I’m feeling down, give me tips, we cheer each other on, and they are truly the “Golden Goodness Girls” who are a huge part of this transformation as well! Can’t do it without Mission Slimpossible and Coach K!

Further, I am happy to go to the doctor’s office again as they’re completely impressed. At my physical, my physician noted upon the weight reduction, “Jim, that’s over 10kg! That’s amazing! Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s working!” I don’t cringe when people want to take my picture. I feel like I have more energy, I sleep better, I haven’t fought with GERD at night like I used to, I don’t have near the cravings I did, I eat to satiation and not to excess, I want to keep moving because I cannot sit still anymore, there’s just so much better that I’m experiencing, and that’s all thanks to this incredible tasting blackberry lemonade twice a day with the other 8 Reboot Rituals! Friends, family, co-workers, people I haven’t seen in years have all commented on how amazing I look since last they’ve seen me, and having become a coach, I finally got two customers to start experience what I’m experiencing, and I am rooting for them to be Fitter, Happier, and Healthier just like all of us!

To anyone wanting to make a strong, sustainable change in their lives… this is it. It’s not about restriction and constant meticulous tracking, it’s about creating new, healthy habits to make you fitter, happier, and healthier. The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. Take it! You won’t regret it. Also, just like my coach and teammates, we are here for you. Feel free to reach out and ask us how we can help you succeed, because this isn’t just personal achievement, this is helping others. That’s what this company does.