my story
Making massive life changes doesn’t mean changing who you are, it’s about building on your strengths and growing into the person you have always dreamt of being.
20 years old 41 years old
I grew up as the fat kid, lived as the Fat guy and being the “fat kid” "the fat guy" it’s easy to develop some pretty intense self-esteem issues that you take with you into early adulthood and beyond.It can really affect you, in ways that a lot of people don't understand. especially people who aren't fat or weren't big.
I lost 45kg and feel better at 42 than i did when i was 21
I spent a lot of my life living a life of excess, I did't know any different I had always been a fatty! I look at photo's with my family and friends now of back then and I ask them "why the BLEEP didn't you tell me I was that big?" Their answer is usually "we never thought you were that big". See when those close too you see you week in week out you don't seem to be anything other than you, they don't see you slowly getting bigger and bigger, and neither do you cause you find a way to subconsciously make yourself comfortable.
What you do know is that you feel shit! You really feel shit! You manage to convince everyone that you love your body and your happy, and to be honest you almost get a chip on your shoulder defending yourself as a fatty! But if we peel back the bullshit you and I know theres a big part of us that feels and knows we are miserable, everything's an effort and summer is a bloody nightmare cause you sweat your arse of just blinking.
I was so sick and tired of being FAT, OVER WEIGHT, and UNHEALTHY, I decided to do something about it for good! It's here that i realised that if i can do this absolutely anyone can! Having achieved some of my biggest goals i have made it a mission to help people just like me, beat the bulge for good.
My first little tip.
The first tip I got was from a friend who said" You need a mantra" so a mantra I got. In fact I got 2, please excuse my language but sometimes you'll find it adds a little power to the punch.
"From SHIT to FIT i won't QUIT" - Benny Owen
"40 and FAT F#CK THAT" - Benny Owen
These two simple mantra's over and over and over again changed my life forever!
My priorities weren't around being a fit and healthy human that's for sure, and as I got into my early 20’s it was also the first time I really became aware of the fact that I was completely addicted to sugar. I found myself eating fast food on a daily basis, sometimes two, three times a day. I spent over half my pay packet eating out, purely because I couldn't be buggered cooking my food at home. I allowed myself to slip into a place that was pretty dark and miserable, especially when the cheeky smile and pretend happy fatty personality was all alone.
Anxiety, alcohol, drugs and anything in-between helped mask my inner demons, it was second nature and it used up serious energy just to get up off my butt and participate in everyday society let alone be physically active. If I cut the BS here, For lack of a better term i was fat, lazy and I hated myself.
Comfort, was a term I used a lot with myself, id convince myself I would be more comfortable or feel better if I ate it, drank it or took it. As it turned out it was my mindset, the inability to believe in myself and my lack of self love and self esteem that was holding me back.
So, I set a goal and I made it my business to achieve it, because without my health my life was on a crash course with a coffin. I decided that if was going to do this and i wanted to make a real difference in my life I was going to give it 110%. All I wanted was a magic pill , or something I could take that would have me waking up skinnier, fitter, healthier. Unfortunately there simply isn't anything other than hard work, determination, discipline and self belief
I remember the day I decided to make the Switch as clear as a bell. I woke up and looked in the mirror and made myself a promise, the promise was I would never bullshit myself ever again. With the help of a few close friends I managed to navigate my way all the way to the stage of a men's physique and bodybuilding show. I know it sounds ridiculous but the feeling I had that day was the ultimate! No drugs, no booze, nothing! has ever come close to the feeling of finally living in the body i deserved. Since then I've made it my life's goal to help people just like me reach the unimaginable. Because if you believe you will achieve.
I want to share this ride with people, show them that you can actually achieve your wildest dreams without having to break yourself. Without having to completely cut yourself to pieces and change who you are, what you stand for. The things that are my core values in life, my morals etc. they still stand strong, I'm still the same person. My heart is exactly the same as it's always been. In my transformation and in my change it's not really anything but the body that I walk around in that's changed. Sure, my mindset's changed a lot too, but to put it simply, Now I believe in myself, there is nothing i can't achieve if i put my mind to it. I'm now more positive as opposed to negative. I’m more open, fresh and feeling younger then I ever have before.
I guess what I’m trying to say, is that making massive life changes doesn’t mean changing who you are, it’s about building on your strengths and growing into the person you have always dreamt of being.
fat and 40 f#ck that
My MANTRA, this is what got me motivated this is what inspired me to achieve the dream, every morning, every night every moment of weakness. I'd say this out loud sometimes to really ram it home in my head.... I'm so grateful that my father was able to see me in the best shape i'd ever been in before he passed away. I thank him every day for teaching me these two simple lessons in life "Grab onto something and own it!" "do it now" words of wisdom from my late father Bertie the "Big Kahuna" Owen.
if getting into shape, living the best, healthiest version of yourself & kicking goals is something you want to achieve… then get in touch today bennyowen@gmail.com
“Teaching yourself to be stoked on the small things make for incremental self-belief”