It is over...this is the 107 blog of my journey and it will be my last one. Today at exactly 1:26 pm concluded the 100 Pound Challenge to raise money for the Northumberland Hills Hospital. The journey ended after crashing through a life size poster of my old self while the music "I'm too Sexy for this shirt" was playing. I went out on stage, did a few poses and the crowd was very generous with the applause. The Mayor was asked to perform the final duties of announcing my weight....I lost 107.2 pounds over the last year. I now weigh in at 228.8 pounds. That's a world away from 336 pounds believe me; that was a whole different person. Again the kind folks applauded; Andrea was able to say a few words about what she encountered when she first met me and what challenges I presented to her as a client. I was then able to say a few words to thank my family, friends and the community for all their support and encouragement over the last year and of course their generosity! Rhonda announced that we raised $18,000! Incredible...just $2000 shy of buying a crash cart which was rated the highest priority by the hospital to replace. If the additional funds can't be raised by the end of next week when the donations are to be concluded, then the NHH will proceed with purchasing two new ECG machines! This adventure was a win win...no one lost in my opinion.



It's been quite the ride this past year, but a very rewarding one for sure. I recognized that I needed to make some dramatic changes in my life...here are some of the clues that led me to that belief; attending a search warrant at a residence and someone yelling to take cover...all ten officers were able to hide behind me...comfortably! Clue #2, enjoying the beach and wading out in to the water...I look up, I'm surrounded by naturalists splashing me with water trying to keep me alive until i can be towed of the sandbar and join my pod! Clue # 3, when asked what straw broke the camels back to get started on this life style change...it was when i sat on the camel that broke its back! It had nothing to do with straw!

I'm not even sure if anything is going to make sense and i know I'm going to ramble as I have a lot of things going through my head right now...like sooooo many people to thank.

Thanks yous:

to my wife and kids, their support and understanding throughout this adventure and the change of eating habits that most 20 years olds would find foreign! But they stuck it out! The cost of clothes and equipment like shoes was non stop! The cost of the gym membership and training sessions, the cost of laser treatment on my feet, which is still ongoing! I could have bought an ECG machine after all that, mind you I would still be fat.



to my brother Jim and his family Wanda, Bryan and Steven. Always supportive and even joined me in the Hike for Health Event...it was a lot of fun.



to all my other family members, Jim, Nancy, Katie, Sandy, Scott, Ian, Jen, Chris, Liz, Matt, Kristina, Garth, Brianna, Mike and Eliz, Mike, Cathy and TJ for all their support and words of encouragement throughout the year and donations to the cause.



to new friends I met along the way...Robert and Doris Biron, Cindy Adams, Tanya Earle, Linda and Kate Hunter, Kathy and Eric Bernard Thompson, Tracey Llwellyn, Sandra Stothart, Trish Reid, Angel Targon, Wendy Jibb, Andre Arff, Chris Littlechild and Melissa Lewis, Fran, Dave Hughes, JR, Kristen Marshman and Dave Long...this list just goes on. Most of these folks I met while at the gym and they have been very supportive of my adventure. This list wasn't meant to be exhaustive but just a sprinkling of the new friends I've found.

To old friends like Sandra Legacy who has heckled me from as far away as Michigan. She still can't get over the fact I best her in a foot race over twenty years ago...suck it up princess. to Greg Kay always willing to share a breakfast protein shake and words of advise! To the whole DeMattos Family for always sharing their humour and gift of life! The Scowcrofts...wondering when I'm going to come out of hiding....I'M BACK!

To all my coworkers and Board members at the police station, again very supportive and were generous in their donations!

Thanks John Russell who was always there when something needed to get done especially during the Hike for Health Event...he was the glue to that whole committee and did a fantastic job!
Thanks to Rhonda Cunningham...she's a go getter! The word "no" is not in her vocabulary...its just do. She was a workaholic in bringing these different events and lining up the media to generate the public attention. Always a good listener and provides sound advice.

Thanks to the media who have a large role in getting the information out to the public...where would any fund raising event be without their help!? thank you to Pete Fisher, Joel Scott, Yorke Bell-Smith, Peggy McArthur, Susan Amos, Ted Amsden, Tood Purvis, Heather Goode, Mike Cutting, Joe Snider, Mark Rockburn, Ben Burd, The Breeze Radio, The Star Radio, CHEX TV, COGECO TV, Northumberland Today, Northumberlnad News, CBC radio, The Burd Report, SNAP, Northumberland Views...I sincerely hope I didn't miss anyone, if I did I apologize!

Special thanks to Andrea...the Sarge! My trainer, my friend, my supporter and my tormentor! There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have been able to do this without her guidance and support! The training sessions were filled with knowledge and yet a lot of humour was shared along the way. I also believe mutual respect was an important factor in us working so well as a team. It would appear that we have several other training adventures along the way such as preparing for the half marathon in October. The book on my fitness journey is still being written, only this chapter has been closed. Bodilogix rocks!

The future...my current weight now stands at 228 pounds. My goal is to get down to 185 to 190. I hope to break the 200 pound mark before this Christmas...I know I'll do it. Anybody want to wager? All winnings get donated to the NHH. I have the half marathon in October, possibly doing a duothalon in August (bike and run) in Cobourg. A group of 22, mostly from the gym are parachuting on September 18 in Ginseng...yee haw! Sometime in February 2011 a group of us will try the Olympic bob sleigh track at Lake Placid...that should be a good adventure. Also trying to line up a group to go on a hot air balloon excursion, rock climbing and then climbing Mount Kilimanjaro...hopefully! All these adventures are actually structured to keep a healthy and active life...no more sitting on the couch!

Well friends its been a wonderful crazy year and I wouldn't have changed anything...including the 100 kilometer hike! I'm still waiting for the toe nails to drop! I've met so many good people along the way...finally a good news story to share with people. I'm signing off with a mixture of sadness that its done but also happy that I'm a free man so to speak...no longer having the pressure to lose the weight by a certain period of time. My journey still continues for seeking better health and level of fitness but I know am better prepared to go the rest of the away and also maintain what I've done as well.

I leave with you no quotes ...just remember we are all on our own journey and it doesn't hurt to ask for help along the way to get back on track.

Slimmer Dave out!!