I knew I needed to make a change long before I was ready to make one. Jonathan is one of my best friends, and I watched him make his own changes and eventually start First In, but I still waited almost four years to get on the path. It wasn’t until my son was born that something finally clicked. I started thinking about the kind of father I wanted to be and remembered how, no matter how tired my dad was, if I asked him to practice soccer, we went. I knew in my heart that in the condition I was in, I wouldn’t be able to do that for my son.

What I learned was that I couldn’t outwork a bad diet, and I couldn’t make all the changes I wanted on my own. Stop trying to outthink yourself. You can spend endless hours reading about food, diets, plans, and programs and still not know what to do to make progress. Sometimes you need to give up the reins, get some guidance, and find someone who will work with you to build a plan that fits your life.

After losing over 85 pounds, I learned that it was never just about a number on the scale. It was about my quality of life and being able to show up for my family the way I wanted to.

So stop selling yourself short and quit wasting time. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Be open, ask questions, put your effort into doing the work, and give yourself time. Slow and steady wins the race.