“My mindset was the key to real transformation.”

My 28th year was a roller coaster. The ups and downs of that year left me unprepared to navigate life with a newborn and a disabled wife. Being a caregiver and raising a family was beyond overwhelming. I would neglect myself for others, always putting my family first and myself last. The anxiety and stress would lead to chronic depression. At 52 years old, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, it was the wake-up call I needed, and I knew it was time to make a change.

I started DDPY Jan 23rd, 2024, with the Beginner+ program and made my why and Smackdown goals; to lose 50 lbs. by the end of the year and reverse my diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. In March of this year, I visited the PC for a live class. I met so many wonderful people and felt so inspired that I enrolled in the Positively Unstoppable Challenge. My goals were due on 12/31/24, so I moved them up 3 months to meet the PUC deadline of Sept 30th. To meet this new goal I gave up processed fast foods and cut my alcohol consumption by 80%, adopted a “no days off” attitude, and enlisted the help of Kenny Dunn, as my Fast Track Coach.

No change is free of challenges. I faced friction with my family, though supportive, while adapting to my new lifestyle, fear of judgment, and self-hatred. In time though, my mindset changed from “I can’t do it” to “I can’t do it YET” and ultimately “I can do it.” By the end of my 6 months I exceeded my weight loss goal, losing 54lbs. My A1C dropped to normal levels and was able to get off my antidepressants. I feel better now at 53 years young than I did in my 20’s. I have learned to forgive myself and be thankful that I had the strength to change. Self care isn’t selfish, I can’t help my family if I’m dead.

“DDPY has helped me experience all the positive things in life!”

“I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE,” this pretty much sums up my past six months. In these six months I have had more NSV’s than I can count. I sat down in our school auditorium before getting up and switching seats, without thinking twice - BECAUSE I FIT. I ran down the stairs to the office this morning without holding onto the railing. I did fat burner during my lunch break - a workout that used to make me cry because I’d ‘die’ on the mat. Just to name a few.

DDPY isn’t just a lifestyle - it has given me a life, complete with amazing experiences, people, and victories every single day. DDPY has given me the confidence to say yes without having to think, plan or stress. I don’t need to research seats in a restaurant. I can play, dance and JUMP with the 2-3 year olds that I teach. I can buckle my seatbelt in any vehicle. I am wearing t-shirts that have not fit since I was ten years old. Want to sit in a hammock? YES! Want to go to a concert? YES! Want to be on stage at Summit during Dallas’ workout? YES! Want to do an hour workout? YES! Want to go on a date? YES! Want to go out and dance for hours? YES!

Most importantly, the last six months have brought me to a place of trust. Trust in myself that I do the work everyday. Trust that I can always come back after a setback. Trust that I am worthy of a life beyond my wildest dreams - this life - that I get to live. And that, for the first time, I WANT to live. Now, I’m off to crush some more goals I never knew I had!

“Transformation starts when you decide it’s time to take control of your health.”

For years, I struggled with depression, low self-esteem, and emotional pain, often turning to food for comfort. Rejection and unhealthy relationships, including a damaging one in my early twenties, left me feeling broken and unworthy. I reached my heaviest weight at 225-230 lbs., standing just 5 feet tall. A knee injury due to my weight made me realize I needed to change, but for years, I felt stuck and unloved. Becoming a mother at 30 brought me joy, but I continued to use food to mask my deeper pain.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which devastated me. At 50, I finally decided it was time to take control of my health and emotions. I joined the DDPY Positively Unstoppable Challenge in January 2024, and it changed my life. Today, I embrace the belief that I am enough and I am unstoppable.

“This journey has strengthened not just my body but my bond with my family.”

My Positively Unstoppable Challenge began on March 24, 2024, and has been transformative. Although I didn’t lose as much weight as I hoped, the progress in other areas has been incredibly rewarding. I started at 273 lbs and now weigh 253 lbs. While the weight loss has been slower, I’ve focused on consistent fat loss while maintaining muscle—a sustainable change.

At the start of the year, I introduced whey protein and creatine into my routine. This has led to noticeable muscle growth, and a recent health check confirmed my muscle mass is excellent. While my body fat is still higher than I’d like (around 26%), I’ve shifted my goal from a specific weight to reducing my body fat to 12%. One major achievement is finally being able to do push-ups—a goal I’ve worked hard for.

I’m still working on mastering the Black Crow pose but feel confident I’ll get there. Another victory has been fitting into size L Powercuffs shirts, a milestone I’ve been aiming for. Most importantly, I’m now able to be active in my daughter’s life—teaching her to ride a bike and sharing outdoor activities together.

“This community is amazing. It helped me regain my confidence and health.”

Next month marks one year since I hit rock bottom. Last October, I took my girlfriend to Disney. We’ve been together almost ten years, but that trip opened my eyes to how far I’d let myself go. It wasn’t the exhaustion or the pain in my body, nor the embarrassment of being too big for some rides. It was a simple request from my girlfriend: “Babe, can we take pictures?” At that moment, I felt annoyed, not at her, but at myself. I hated the person I saw in the mirror.

I wasn’t always like this. I used to feel confident, even a bit of a “camera hog,” but I’d turned into someone who avoided being seen. That day, I decided to reclaim my life. I joined the DDPY Positively Unstoppable Challenge in March, and it changed everything.

The DDPY community became my support system, motivating me daily. I began to care about people I’d never met, and I wasn’t alone anymore. I now want to become a certified DDPY instructor, helping others through the program that changed my life would be an honor.

“It all starts when you believe in yourself.”

“If you could do anything without the fear of failure, what would you do?” That question from DDP changed my life. In my first year, I said I’d lose weight. In my second year, I focused on self-esteem and confidence. But I realized that fixing myself wasn’t enough to change my family’s future. The answer became clear: it wasn’t just about what I would do, but about doing the hard work. “If I could do anything without the fear of failure, I would change my family’s situation and future by believing in myself enough to try!” For years, I didn’t have the discipline or courage. I’d fallen into the wrong crowd, becoming an alcoholic with a drug problem. From 2006 to 2021, I spent 15 years chasing an imaginary life, convinced all hope was gone. But in my third year of DDPY, I’ve accomplished more than I had in the last 20. I got the job, moved my family to our dream state, and landed a role I’m grateful for. Had I not changed my outlook and believed in myself, I never would’ve had the courage to reach for the stars. Choosing myself and my dreams felt wrong, but it was the best decision I ever made. I’m finally happy.

“If you embrace life and commit you WILL take control.”

Unlike previous years, I didn’t start this one with a lot of weight to lose. Thanks to long-term changes, I was in a good place with fitness and nutrition. I’ve worked hard, logging time on the mat and focusing on protein intake to fuel my body. Nutrition is still a work in progress—sometimes I struggle to eat enough—but I know it’s necessary. I lost 16 lbs before restarting my challenge due to a hard drive failure.

This year, my focus shifted to a deeper challenge: changing my mindset. For years, I felt like I didn’t belong, isolating myself and believing opportunities weren’t for people like me. I lived in a self-imposed exile, avoiding judgment by staying invisible. This pattern was rooted in a lack of self-acceptance and a refusal to acknowledge my achievements.

I decided to break that cycle. I stopped assuming others judged me as harshly as I judged myself and started embracing life. If my circumstances wouldn’t change, I would. I took control of my mindset, both on and off the mat, and it’s transformed me. I’m no longer a spectator in my own life. I’m stepping fully into every opportunity, knowing that I belong.

“I’m leaving no doubt about my physical and mental health!”

From January 1st to July 1st, I set several ambitious goals to push my physical and mental limits. My primary objectives included strengthening my lower back, completing 9,000 pushups, working out daily, conquering the Strawberry Fields 50 Ultramarathon, and reaching a target weight of 225 pounds. Along the way, I aimed to “leave no doubt” by proving my capabilities to myself. For the first few months, I followed a structured workout plan combining Powercuff exercises and DDPY stretches, later shifting to cardio as the ultramarathon approached. Strengthening my lower back was critical, as it had always been a weak point. I focused on building stability through exercises like planks and table poses. To achieve 9,000 pushups, I broke the goal down to manageable daily sessions. By habit stacking, I increased my reps over time, surpassing my goal by completing over 11,000 pushups. I also strived to work out every day, maintaining a 96% success rate. Although I didn’t reach my weight goal, I made significant progress, dropping from 261 pounds to 235 by July 1st. I completed the ultramarathon on June 22nd, proving my resilience and determination, and ultimately, leaving no doubt about my achievements.

“DDPY and PowerCuffs helped me set, hit, and surpass all of my goals.”

In 2023, I was a runner-up in the Positively Unstoppable Challenge, another step in my continuous journey of self-improvement. I knew I’d join the challenge again in 2024, giving me a few weeks to set goals and prepare mentally and physically for the next six months.

For nearly five years, I’ve strived to embody discipline, growth, and leadership in the DDPY community. It’s crucial to me to be someone others can turn to for support, encouragement, and accountability in their own struggles. In 2024, I focused on proving that PowerCuffs combined with DDPY could build muscle and increase strength. I set a three-rep max bench press goal, starting at 240 lbs, aiming to reach 260 lbs. By February, I reached 255 lbs, but poor diet habits led to me ballooning to 195 lbs. This prompted a second goal: to lose 20 lbs before the challenge’s end.

Through hard work and dedication, I achieved both goals. On June 19, I benched 260 lbs for three reps, setting a personal best, and on June 26, I surpassed my weight loss goal, hitting 174.5 lbs. Without the unwavering support of my family and the DDPY community, none of this would have been possible. Today, I’m truly positively unstoppable.

“This is a lifestyle. Embrace it, commit, and you’ll become unstoppable!”

When I discovered DDPY, I was at my lowest point—268 pounds, constantly injured, and feeling like I’d never get back in shape. My self-esteem was in the gutter, and I dreaded the future. That all changed when I found Diamond Dallas Page and his approach to fitness and rehabilitation. DDPY isn’t just a workout—it’s a lifestyle. The combination of dynamic resistance, yoga, and rehab techniques appealed to me, especially since it minimized impact on my bad knees, wrists, and shoulders.

Starting from zero, I found a program I could actually follow. For six months, I fully committed, streaming my daily workouts on YouTube and Twitch for accountability. Looking back, I’m proud of my progress. The first sessions were tough, but DDP’s motivational words kept me pushing forward. His emphasis on making the program your own was just as vital as the workouts themselves.

Over time, I lost 88 pounds, reaching my goal weight of 180. My strength, flexibility, and health improved dramatically—my acid reflux healed, and the nagging pains disappeared. DDPY pulled me out of a dark place and transformed my life. Now, fitness is a lifelong journey, and I finally love the person I see in the mirror.

“Inspiration waits for no start date.”

In my fourth PUC attempt, on September 16, 2023, I had an “Aha moment.” That day, I took my last drink of alcohol and transformed my diet—embracing real food, going organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Though it was too late to win that challenge, the fire within me was lit.

In previous PUC attempts, personal tragedies like the loss of my younger sister and mother derailed my efforts. In 2023, a new diagnosis of skin lupus, along with depression and anxiety, threatened to do the same. But September 2023 became my turning point. From September to the start of PUC 2024, I lost nearly 30 pounds by maintaining sobriety and committing to discipline.

Inspiration waits for no start date. I also launched Warriors Purpose Foundation, a charitable organization for veterans in partnership with DDPY. Our dream became reality on July 4, 2024, helping fellow veterans heal. Despite personal physical battles, I continue to teach DDPY classes, inspiring resilience.

“This was a life-changing experience but just the beginning of a transformed life.”

On January 12th, 2024, I started the Positively Unstoppable Challenge at 208 pounds. Just days earlier, my wife and I learned we were expecting our second child. This news gave me the motivation I needed to take my health seriously. I realized I had to be fully present for my growing family. Determined to change, I committed to the challenge.

In the first month, I lost 7 pounds—a small victory but a sign of progress. I needed more than willpower, so I found DDPY Fast Track Coaching with Coach Murray Thomson. He helped me focus on key habits like drinking more water, improving sleep, and tracking my progress. Having that accountability changed everything. Over six months, I dropped from 208 pounds to 170 pounds. I lost so many inches that I switched belts twice and went from an extra-large to a medium shirt. But more importantly, I felt strong and confident for the first time in years.

On July 2nd, just days before the challenge ended, my son Declan was born. The journey came full circle. Now, my focus is on strength-building with Powercuffs, as I continue to grow. This challenge has been life-changing, but it’s only the beginning of a new chapter.