That Aha Moment!

Have you ever had an Aha moment? I have!

It’s that moment for you when something just “clicks.” As in, everything makes sense all of a sudden.

For me, my Aha moment was limping out of my doctor’s office on a cane and exploratory surgery looming in the future. It clicked, right there in the parking lot, if I didn’t change my life soon – there wouldn’t be one later.

A couple of months ago, Mutual of Omaha’s Aha Moment Tour of 2015 contacted me, having found my blog and subsequently picking-up on all the local buzz about Bubba’s Odyssey. A short time later their silver streamline bus pulled into Lynchburg and I got to sit down for an interview.

Having the privilege of sitting down with the awesome folks conducting the Aha Moment Tour was what I think was my most impactful interview to-date. AND HERE IT IS!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

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No Fluff. All Buff. T-Shirts!

I wanted to let you know that we have added a new color scheme to the No Fluff. All Buff. shirts, and for the first time we are offering them to the public (Attached is a preview of the new shirts). With just under 50 lbs. to go, not only will these shirts be offered to the public, the money raised from them will go specifically to help cover the cost of the skin removal surgery I hope to have once my weight-loss goal is reached!

Sizes

Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large XXX-Large

A Small Goal is No Small Feat (One Goal and 250+lbs. DOWN!)

It brings my heart joy to announce that I have met my FIFTH SMALL GOAL! What was this goal you ask? Well, as of Wednesday, March 25th, I have reached the goal of losing 250 lbs. since joining Crosswhite Fitness -- 252 lbs to be exact! After 20 months of hard work and dedication I am just 48 lbs. away from my overall goal of 300 lbs.!

There is no way I could have ever reached this point without your support along the way. This past year, especially, has been filled with numerous rewarding victories while also seeing some pretty tough battles – having you along for the journey has made all the difference. I am grateful to all of the friends and family that have stayed with me through thick and thin - literally. I now weigh less than I did my SENIOR YEAR of high school!

RUNNING INTO OBSTACLES? NO BIGGIE... WE ALL DO!

I am excited for what the future holds for me as I inch closer to my final goal and I anticipate seeing you there with me at the finish line!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

Be sure to follow me on Social Media!

Twitter

Bubba's Odyssey | Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Shedding Pounds and Overcoming Plateaus

When it comes to shedding pounds, and even ounces, visiting the scale for a weigh-in can be gut-wrenching, especially when you don’t see your weight go down for the first time. Sometimes a couple of hiccups in your eating that week may be to blame, or maybe you’ve missed a session or two of cardio at the gym. There are countless reasons why you might maintain your current weight, or even gain a couple of pounds - these are normal occurrences on a weight-loss journey. But, there is that one thing that’s even more gut-wrenching, realizing you’ve hit a plateau.

Don’t allow yourself to sink into a scary and dangerous world in which you become surrounded by insecurities and doubts. Plateaus are NOT a bad thing! Sometimes your body just needs time to catch-up with you. There is HOPE!

Here are some of the things I’ve done to tackle my plateaus…

Make Changes

This is where you can have some fun being in a plateau. One of the first ways to help your body overcome a plateau is to “mix it up!” Your body most likely will respond to what some call a shock factor.  You can add another day in the gym, change up your workouts, try new types of cardio, or even change up your diet by lowering your carb or sugar intake. The options are endless, and it’s all about what keeps you motivated. You even might try channeling your adventurous side by organizing a hike, doing a group run, or biking some trails.

Stay Consistent

One of the hardest things to do during a plateau is to stay consistent with your diet and exercise plans. Hitting a plateau may cause you to “let off the gas pedal” due to not seeing results right away. During these times, it is important to remember why you started the journey to begin with and remain dedicated to that purpose. After you have remembered your why, keep your goals in check and stay determined to meet them. Where do you want to be one day? How do you want to look? Do you want to be able to do something in the future that you’re unable to do now? Finally, and I know it’s hard to do, stay disciplined! Maintaining consistency in a plateau will get you through it and make you a stronger person on the other side.

WANT TO SET GOALS? HERE'S HOW!

Build Support

Strength for any journey comes from building a support team, and it is one of the most important things you could ever do for yourself during your weight-loss journey.

Hopefully you have a support team prior to your plateau. There’s nothing formal about having a support team. Sometimes it’s a couple of family members, a few close friends, and sometimes it’s your personal trainer. If you don’t have a team, don’t worry! What better time than now? Your support team should be made-up of a mixture of folks that will love you, encourage you, assure you, inspire you, and hold you accountable when you are weak. Try to maintain a support team in all environments of your life – work, home, and social settings. The greater the diversity and more thoroughly spread out your team is, the greater the chances are for victory.

Allow me to end with the best advice I ever received on the subject of plateaus. This advice came from my weight-loss mentor, “The first plateau is kind of rough, but with each plateau you gain victory over it making the next one easier and easier, because you have already proved to yourself that you could live through one or a few.” There could not be a statement made that is more correct than that. Make sure to venture back next week for Overcoming a Plateau: Part 2 (How I did it)!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

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Instagram

YouTube

Let the Series Begin!!

Hey guys!!! 

First and foremost, I just want to thank everyone that has been participating in either the “Share The Dream With Me” initiative or the “Financial Aid Biggest Loser.” I have greatly enjoyed sitting down over coffee or lunch, talking on the phone, corresponding through text or email, and carrying on Facebook conversations with you. I pray that each of you have been as touched, inspired, and encouraged by me as I have been by you.

Second, I have heard each of your concerns over the last month and a half, and feel inspired to write a blog series answering all of these questions for everyone, but also creating a resource for myself and for your reference.

Here’s the breakdown of what I have so far! I am extremely excited for the series… I hope you are too!

#1: Introduction     

                                                   

#2: Setting Goals (Three Goals that must be set)

#3: Overcoming a Plateau Part 1 (How to do it)

#4: Overcoming a Plateau Part 2 (How I did it)

#5: Helpful Nutrition Hints (Eat this, Not that)

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

The Biggest Loser, Bubba Style

Hey guys!

I want to tell you about something really cool that is taking place right now! On Monday, January 5th, 2015 myself and another co-worker (who has also lost almost a hundred pounds) launched a department wide “Biggest Loser.” A total of 37 people turned out to commit to changing their lives by eating healthier and exercising. As of Monday, January 26th, 2015 those same people have shed a total of 140 pounds!!! I am so very proud of my co-worker’s first-steps!

A few months ago, I accepted a new position within my department and my new team threw myself and another new team member a “welcome to the team” party. Yes, there was fruit on that table, but there was also; cheesy-carb loaded breakfast casserole, deep-fried doughnuts, and starchy bagels. I thought to myself, “oh my heavens, I am either going to die in this office or everyone is going on a diet!”

The next week, the Biggest Loser Pilot was launched and even through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons my team lost an approximate total of 50 lbs. I am so PROUD of those guys!

I could not be happier and blessed to work with such a phenomenal group of people. We are building an environment of health awareness in my workplace, where people are concerned about developing a lifestyle of healthy living and holistic wellness.

You can do the same in your own life! I would encourage you to join the “share the dream with me” initiative at sharethedreamwith.me. I love sharing weight-loss tips and ideas, but it would be far more beneficial for you to commit to your own weight-loss goals and then share that dream with me and others. And remember, be sure to check out my facebook, twitter, instagram, and youtube for more updates on my weight-loss journey.

I am absolutely convinced that 2015 will be the year we see a record number of people set-free from the bondage of unhealthy living. I cannot wait to see it unfold!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

Big Goals for Bubba In 2015

Last year, I committed to making six measurable goals instead of making resolutions. That worked so well, I have decided to do it again. If you have been following my journey, then you have probably heard or read me say, “failing to plan, is planning to fail.”  I challenge you to plan for success in 2015 and to reach out and share those goals with me. My goals for 2015 are:

1. Lose another 60 lbs. by the end of July (taking me to my ultimate goal of losing 300lbs.).
2. Participate in my first 5k by May/June.
3. Begin regular swimming and biking as stage one training for marathon-prep 2016 by May.
4. Run/jog the Virginia 10-miler by October.
5. Be taken off all prescription medicines, except for one by October.
6. Skin augmentation surgery by December.
7. Continue to help others with starting their weight-loss journeys.

Now, let’s see review last year’s goals!

1. Get rid of another 132 lbs. (I got rid of 122 lbs.).
2. Be taken off all prescription medicines, except for one (off all Rx except two).
3. Participate in my first 5k (re-goaled for 2015).
4. Be able to bike from Langhorne Rd. to Percival’s Island on the Blackwater Creek Trail (unable to save enough funds to purchase a bike, but I average about 16 miles on a stationary bike per hour).
5. Participate in the Virginia 4-miler (DONE!!! See blog post from 10/10/2014).
6. Continue to help others with starting their weight-loss journeys (several dozen people committed to starting their own journeys and also re-goaled for 2015).

Please visit ShareTheDreamWith.Me to see my challenge for you in 2015, and respond to me if you accept the challenge. Looking forward to hearing from you and hearing what your goals and dreams are for 2015.

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

My Dream for 2015!!

It’s Time to Start a Movement: #sharethedreamwithme

Guys, I am so excited about the “share the dream with me” initiative at sharethedreamwith.me  Throughout this journey so many friends and family have asked me for tips and advice about kick-starting their own weight-loss journey. As much as I love sharing the little tips and ideas, it is equally as important for you to commit to your dream by sharing it with me and others. You will not believe how much the support of my friends, family, and community contributed to my dream. So whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, make sure to #sharethedreamwithme along with your dream. 

So as we begin 2015, let’s celebrate the beginning to our new beginning, and accomplish ourwildest dreams together!   

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle

Story of a Lifetime: How My Dream reached Thousands

WOW folks! Wow! I am completely humbled and ecstatic by the overwhelming response generated by the recent article released by WSET, Healthy for the Holidays!!! First, I am so  thankful for everyone who supported me and encouraged me by following my journey thus far. Second, I feel exhilarated and inspired by all of the comments left by people who had read the story.Finally, the sheer thought that my story might have touched someone’s life and might have given them the motivation they needed to start their own weight-loss journey is simply AWESOME!!!

When I was originally approached about sitting down with Karissa from WSET, I was excited for the opportunity to share how I prepare myself to avoid the pitfalls of the holiday season. One of my greatest motivations for sharing this story with others, is to help them achieve what I have and to believe they could actually achieve it. By Monday evening, I remember telling a friend that something seemed different about this article – there just seemed to be a lot of buzz.

By the end of Monday, I was informed that the article had more than 38k views on WSET’s page alone. By the end of Tuesday, I was informed that multiple other news outlets had also posted the article from Baltimore to San Antonio. Moreover, my friends at the Wills Group informed me this evening by their conservative calculations; more than 60k people had viewed my story and potentially caught their first glimpse at Bubba’s Odyssey. Folks, that just plum blows this small-town boy’s mind!!!

I cannot accurately put into words how thankful I am for each and every reader of this blog, and what you have meant to me as I endeavored to do what seemed like the impossible, almost eighteen months ago. If you have started your own weight loss journey, I’d love to hear about it. Share your story with me on my Facebook page or Tweet about it and use the #BubbasOdyssey hashtag (links to Facebook and Twitter are in the sidebar). Thanks again, everyone!  

Best,

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

Loss of a Friend

Have you ever taken the time to think about the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans? Have you ever considered that there is a cost that must be paid for those freedoms to be afforded? Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 I was confronted face-to-face with the true price of freedom. My dear friend, Mike Donahue, paid the ultimate price for mine and your freedoms – he paid with his life. There is truly no greater price a person can pay, then to lay down their life for a friend or their country. However, if Mike were here, he would probably tell us, “I am just doing my job” with a shrug of his shoulders and a lackadaisical expression on his face.

When the cowardice Taliban extremist set off the car bomb that would claim Mike’s life, they robbed this world of one of the greatest men I have ever met in my life. He was a loving husband and a fantastic father. Despite this void, the memories of Mike have been immortalized in our minds; leaving us to cling to those happy times, the times we felt loved by him, and the invaluable lessons he bequeathed to us all; Dedication, Determination, and Discipline. It has been awe-inspiring to see, in the wake of Mike’s death, the true extent of the impact he had on people all over the globe.

Today as I travel to Arlington to say goodbye to my friend for the last time, I ask that you keep myself and Mike’s family in your prayers. He is survived by his wife, their three children, and his parents.

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

The HIIT 2.0

Cycling

Have you ever had pain in your lower back or hips? Or, have you ever wished that you could do something to improve the strength in your legs? Maybe you have had the desire to improve the endurance or stamina of your legs? Cycling can help you increase functionality in all of those aspects!

This morning I attended my very first cycling class. I didn’t formulate any expectations beyond being scared of the power wedgie that might have carried throughout the rest of the day from spending almost an hour on a bike. However, my experience was nothing short of sweaty

perfection! The workout was intense, stimulating, and it really didn’t feel like I had spent all of that time on a bike. In fact, I will definitely be doing that again.

Facts about cycling:

-Promotes leg strength building and holistic muscle toning because it utilizes the whole body.

-Increasing mobility in the hips and knee joints.

-Builds stamina and cardio-vascular fitness.

-Cycling 30+ minutes can improve metabolic rates lasting throughout the whole day.

-May help reduce stress, reduce depression, and improve self-esteem.

As of the posting of this blog I have lost a grand total of 226 lbs in 60 weeks. I appreciate you for coming along on this journey with me! Be sure you're keeping up with the 30 Day Core Challenge. We are now on Day 15, this is the halfway point! You can do it!!!

Remember, there are now more ways to follow my journey, so be sure to check out the sidebar and like, share, follow, and subscribe!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.

Bubba's Corner 1.0

Food Prep

One of the most frequently asked questions I have gotten throughout my weight-loss journey is, “Doesn’t it take forever to prepare enough healthy food every day to eat?” The short answer here is, NO! If I tried to prepare only enough food to take with me each day, I would constantly be grilling, roasting, cutting, and tupperware-ing for the next day. Who has time for all of that?! I sure don’t! Therefore, I have made Sundays my food preparation days – this is the time that I prepare all of the food I will eat that coming week and it takes a little more than an hour.

The key here is, creating an efficient system that allows you to flow quickly, but effectively through the baking, steaming, slicing and dicing, chopping, and packing, while becoming-one with your kitchen. (Imagine me saying that last phrase in a hushed, zen-like voice while pressing my thumbs and middle fingers together and sitting Indian-style.) Not only am I able to get everything prepped all at one time, but now, the rest of my week’s time is dedicated to what I love most – hitting the GYM!!!

Feel free to check out the recipes I have created that are sprinkled throughout the Bubba’s Odyssey blog, either for new takes on old favorites, or if you are finding it a bit difficult to eat healthy. I also have two unique blog posts; one is an excerpt from my food journal showing my daily eating habits and another showing the breakdown of my typical grocery list. Eating the Bubba Way saves both time and money – it’s a win-win!

As of the posting of this blog I have shed of a total of 220 lbs in  59 weeks, and I appreciate you for coming along on this journey with me! Be sure you're keeping up with the 30 Day Core Challenge. We are now on Day 10! Be on the lookout for a video of me killin' some crucifixes! Gotta love that core strength!!

PS: There are now more ways to follow my journey, so be sure to checkout the sidebar and like, share, follow, and subscribe!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle