[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] it was a muggy September morning the air
it was a muggy September morning the air
it was a muggy September morning the air was thick and the earth was soft under
was thick and the earth was soft under
was thick and the earth was soft under my shoes I was closing in on the last
my shoes I was closing in on the last
my shoes I was closing in on the last mile of a six mile slog through the
mile of a six mile slog through the
mile of a six mile slog through the forest meadows trail outside of
forest meadows trail outside of
forest meadows trail outside of Tallahassee Florida
Tallahassee Florida
Tallahassee Florida every breath and every step was
every breath and every step was
every breath and every step was exhausting then out of nowhere an older
exhausting then out of nowhere an older
exhausting then out of nowhere an older shirtless man caught up to me it said
shirtless man caught up to me it said
shirtless man caught up to me it said something that seemed simple that became
something that seemed simple that became
something that seemed simple that became monumental keep going he said so I kept
monumental keep going he said so I kept
monumental keep going he said so I kept up with him and we finished the trail
up with him and we finished the trail
up with him and we finished the trail loop every few steps he encouraged me to
loop every few steps he encouraged me to
loop every few steps he encouraged me to go a little further before he went our
go a little further before he went our
go a little further before he went our separate ways
separate ways
separate ways he said something I’ll never forget
he said something I’ll never forget
he said something I’ll never forget always remember repetitive forward
always remember repetitive forward
always remember repetitive forward motion repetitive forward motion now I
motion repetitive forward motion now I
motion repetitive forward motion now I don’t know this man and I’ll probably
don’t know this man and I’ll probably
don’t know this man and I’ll probably never see him again
never see him again
never see him again and since he had a white beard I’m
and since he had a white beard I’m
and since he had a white beard I’m assuming he went back to the North Pole
assuming he went back to the North Pole
assuming he went back to the North Pole yes this is a TED talk about running
yes this is a TED talk about running
yes this is a TED talk about running with Santa Claus okay not really but
with Santa Claus okay not really but
with Santa Claus okay not really but that became a defining moment you see he
that became a defining moment you see he
that became a defining moment you see he didn’t know who I was or why I was
didn’t know who I was or why I was
didn’t know who I was or why I was running he didn’t know that I had lost
running he didn’t know that I had lost
running he didn’t know that I had lost 130 pounds he didn’t know that I was
130 pounds he didn’t know that I was
130 pounds he didn’t know that I was training for my first half marathon he
training for my first half marathon he
training for my first half marathon he didn’t know that I was I woke up that
didn’t know that I was I woke up that
didn’t know that I was I woke up that morning dreading that awful run all he
morning dreading that awful run all he
morning dreading that awful run all he knew is that we were on the same path
knew is that we were on the same path
knew is that we were on the same path trying to reach the same finish line
trying to reach the same finish line
trying to reach the same finish line that story and ultimately that run are
that story and ultimately that run are
that story and ultimately that run are part of a much larger story you see my
part of a much larger story you see my
part of a much larger story you see my weight was always an issue I was bullied
weight was always an issue I was bullied
weight was always an issue I was bullied as a kid I hate my feelings and I always
as a kid I hate my feelings and I always
as a kid I hate my feelings and I always thought I’d spend the rest of my life
thought I’d spend the rest of my life
thought I’d spend the rest of my life being obese when it comes to losing
being obese when it comes to losing
being obese when it comes to losing weight or accomplishing any major goal
weight or accomplishing any major goal
weight or accomplishing any major goal in one’s life people tend to forget to
in one’s life people tend to forget to
in one’s life people tend to forget to utilize their own strengths yet their
utilize their own strengths yet their
utilize their own strengths yet their creativity tenacity or yes even humor
creativity tenacity or yes even humor
creativity tenacity or yes even humor for me that passion was strength with
for me that passion was strength with
for me that passion was strength with social media even in 2010 I was
social media even in 2010 I was
social media even in 2010 I was fascinated by the
fascinated by the
fascinated by the actions social media created in my own
actions social media created in my own
actions social media created in my own life it was the space to be bold in this
life it was the space to be bold in this
life it was the space to be bold in this authentic version of myself while being
authentic version of myself while being
authentic version of myself while being incredibly open it also helped that I
incredibly open it also helped that I
incredibly open it also helped that I was a self-professed overshare in fact
was a self-professed overshare in fact
was a self-professed overshare in fact it’s taking me everything I have right
it’s taking me everything I have right
it’s taking me everything I have right now not to take a selfie I know they
now not to take a selfie I know they
now not to take a selfie I know they said no devices but that’s okay
said no devices but that’s okay
said no devices but that’s okay well this is happening okay
well this is happening okay
well this is happening okay here we go there we go
here we go there we go
here we go there we go what’s that compounded my passionate
what’s that compounded my passionate
what’s that compounded my passionate strengths for social media towards
strengths for social media towards
strengths for social media towards becoming this healthier version of
becoming this healthier version of
becoming this healthier version of myself that’s why I started to succeed
myself that’s why I started to succeed
myself that’s why I started to succeed at this whole weight loss thing a few
at this whole weight loss thing a few
at this whole weight loss thing a few years ago I started a blog called the
years ago I started a blog called the
years ago I started a blog called the photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some
photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some
photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some random post on it about taco bell sauce
random post on it about taco bell sauce
random post on it about taco bell sauce packets and things like that but I
packets and things like that but I
packets and things like that but I decided that would be the best place for
decided that would be the best place for
decided that would be the best place for me to share my story and to keep me
me to share my story and to keep me
me to share my story and to keep me accountable from then on I decided that
accountable from then on I decided that
accountable from then on I decided that my brand identity was to be a weight
my brand identity was to be a weight
my brand identity was to be a weight loser now if you told me that I would
loser now if you told me that I would
loser now if you told me that I would start this journey at the beginning of
start this journey at the beginning of
start this journey at the beginning of graduate school as a probationary
graduate school as a probationary
graduate school as a probationary student who should have spent most of
student who should have spent most of
student who should have spent most of his time studying instead of going to
his time studying instead of going to
his time studying instead of going to the gym I would have laughed and eaten a
the gym I would have laughed and eaten a
the gym I would have laughed and eaten a cake in your face but that was the time
cake in your face but that was the time
cake in your face but that was the time that it worked because I’m on the outset
that it worked because I’m on the outset
that it worked because I’m on the outset it didn’t seem like the right time had I
it didn’t seem like the right time had I
it didn’t seem like the right time had I waited for the right time and still be
waited for the right time and still be
waited for the right time and still be waiting now your goal may be something
waiting now your goal may be something
waiting now your goal may be something completely different like learning a new
completely different like learning a new
completely different like learning a new language climbing Mount Ranier we’re
language climbing Mount Ranier we’re
language climbing Mount Ranier we’re starting your own cat photography
starting your own cat photography
starting your own cat photography business called mr. whiskers photo lab
business called mr. whiskers photo lab
business called mr. whiskers photo lab but when you go after it with repetitive
but when you go after it with repetitive
but when you go after it with repetitive forward motion it becomes that itch you
forward motion it becomes that itch you
forward motion it becomes that itch you can’t scratch it envelops you soon every
can’t scratch it envelops you soon every
can’t scratch it envelops you soon every facet of life becomes fixated on that
facet of life becomes fixated on that
facet of life becomes fixated on that goal so today I want to share some of
goal so today I want to share some of
goal so today I want to share some of the tips I’ve learned throughout my own
the tips I’ve learned throughout my own
the tips I’ve learned throughout my own journey they’ll help you move you
journey they’ll help you move you
journey they’ll help you move you towards your goal
towards your goal
towards your goal the first is find your peeps thought it
the first is find your peeps thought it
the first is find your peeps thought it was no secret that I wanted to lose
was no secret that I wanted to lose
was no secret that I wanted to lose weight so when I open myself up to my
weight so when I open myself up to my
weight so when I open myself up to my friends that I was about to go on this
friends that I was about to go on this
friends that I was about to go on this journey I asked them to join with me
journey I asked them to join with me
journey I asked them to join with me from that first post it was amazing how
from that first post it was amazing how
from that first post it was amazing how many people came out of the woodwork to
many people came out of the woodwork to
many people came out of the woodwork to tell me we got this like friends from
tell me we got this like friends from
tell me we got this like friends from second grade who messaged me with
second grade who messaged me with
second grade who messaged me with support to friends of friends who
support to friends of friends who
support to friends of friends who reached out with their own weight loss
reached out with their own weight loss
reached out with their own weight loss stories and their own low
stories and their own low
stories and their own low calorie recipes and of course my amazing
calorie recipes and of course my amazing
calorie recipes and of course my amazing wife Megan who’s been there every step
wife Megan who’s been there every step
wife Megan who’s been there every step of the way after I started blogging for
of the way after I started blogging for
of the way after I started blogging for a few months I realized that there were
a few months I realized that there were
a few months I realized that there were hundreds of other social media folks and
hundreds of other social media folks and
hundreds of other social media folks and bloggers who are on their own journey
bloggers who are on their own journey
bloggers who are on their own journey towards a healthier life each with their
towards a healthier life each with their
towards a healthier life each with their own strengths and struggles
own strengths and struggles
own strengths and struggles it helps me realize that I wasn’t the
it helps me realize that I wasn’t the
it helps me realize that I wasn’t the only one in the world trying to lose
only one in the world trying to lose
only one in the world trying to lose weight I even started going to
weight I even started going to
weight I even started going to conferences where I met some of these
conferences where I met some of these
conferences where I met some of these digital friends some who were there from
digital friends some who were there from
digital friends some who were there from the very beginning when I moved to
the very beginning when I moved to
the very beginning when I moved to Seattle in 2015 I was worried about
Seattle in 2015 I was worried about
Seattle in 2015 I was worried about losing my support I was moving to a
losing my support I was moving to a
losing my support I was moving to a place where people didn’t know the
place where people didn’t know the
place where people didn’t know the Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my
Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my
Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my journey was at a new stage now not only
journey was at a new stage now not only
journey was at a new stage now not only do I get support for my friends across
do I get support for my friends across
do I get support for my friends across the globe online I get support locally
the globe online I get support locally
the globe online I get support locally for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my
for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my
for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers
amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers
amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers meeting people are ready to support you
meeting people are ready to support you
meeting people are ready to support you sometimes you just have to look around
sometimes you just have to look around
sometimes you just have to look around the next is make your goal part of your
the next is make your goal part of your
the next is make your goal part of your brand I always felt like my identity was
brand I always felt like my identity was
brand I always felt like my identity was tied to my weight sure I was outgoing
tied to my weight sure I was outgoing
tied to my weight sure I was outgoing and funny ish but I always felt like
and funny ish but I always felt like
and funny ish but I always felt like people saw us on the outside first so
people saw us on the outside first so
people saw us on the outside first so once I made this brand identity shift
once I made this brand identity shift
once I made this brand identity shift towards becoming this healthier version
towards becoming this healthier version
towards becoming this healthier version of myself
of myself
of myself my peeps and my community were ready to
my peeps and my community were ready to
my peeps and my community were ready to buy into my rebrand once I made that
buy into my rebrand once I made that
buy into my rebrand once I made that shift these random instances like the
shift these random instances like the
shift these random instances like the runner in Tallahassee became guiding
runner in Tallahassee became guiding
runner in Tallahassee became guiding lights throughout my journey encouraging
lights throughout my journey encouraging
lights throughout my journey encouraging me to keep going it only further
me to keep going it only further
me to keep going it only further increased this shift I made in my life
increased this shift I made in my life
increased this shift I made in my life once I made open my mind to that
once I made open my mind to that
once I made open my mind to that opportunities for success were
opportunities for success were
opportunities for success were everywhere I turned through it all I try
everywhere I turned through it all I try
everywhere I turned through it all I try to stay as transparent as I can not only
to stay as transparent as I can not only
to stay as transparent as I can not only is that what people respond to it’s what
is that what people respond to it’s what
is that what people respond to it’s what keeps you grounded as you move towards
keeps you grounded as you move towards
keeps you grounded as you move towards your goal finally it’s progress not
your goal finally it’s progress not
your goal finally it’s progress not perfection now I’m not at my goal weight
perfection now I’m not at my goal weight
perfection now I’m not at my goal weight in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from
in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from
in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from being out of the obese weight range and
being out of the obese weight range and
being out of the obese weight range and that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because
that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because
that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because since I’ve started this journey in 2010
since I’ve started this journey in 2010
since I’ve started this journey in 2010 I’ve moved across the country I’ve had
I’ve moved across the country I’ve had
I’ve moved across the country I’ve had six different amazing jobs
six different amazing jobs
six different amazing jobs and I’ve had well multiple comments from
and I’ve had well multiple comments from
and I’ve had well multiple comments from trolls online but we’re not gonna talk
trolls online but we’re not gonna talk
trolls online but we’re not gonna talk about them today contrary to popular
about them today contrary to popular
about them today contrary to popular belief life goes on even when you’re
belief life goes on even when you’re
belief life goes on even when you’re hyper focused on your goals here’s a
hyper focused on your goals here’s a
hyper focused on your goals here’s a graph of my weight loss and as you can
graph of my weight loss and as you can
graph of my weight loss and as you can see it looks kind of like a checkmark
see it looks kind of like a checkmark
see it looks kind of like a checkmark and again that’s okay because since I’ve
and again that’s okay because since I’ve
and again that’s okay because since I’ve started this journey not only have I
started this journey not only have I
started this journey not only have I advanced my career I accomplished
advanced my career I accomplished
advanced my career I accomplished another major life goal moving to the
another major life goal moving to the
another major life goal moving to the fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest
fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest
fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest these goals increased my confidence to
these goals increased my confidence to
these goals increased my confidence to be bold take risks and not be afraid of
be bold take risks and not be afraid of
be bold take risks and not be afraid of failure goals aren’t meant to be done
failure goals aren’t meant to be done
failure goals aren’t meant to be done with perfection obstacles are bound to
with perfection obstacles are bound to
with perfection obstacles are bound to happen in those moments don’t be afraid
happen in those moments don’t be afraid
happen in those moments don’t be afraid to give yourself a dose of grace
to give yourself a dose of grace
to give yourself a dose of grace sometimes that’s where your best ideas
sometimes that’s where your best ideas
sometimes that’s where your best ideas begin to blossom we all have a goal this
begin to blossom we all have a goal this
begin to blossom we all have a goal this idea the size of a mustard seed buried
idea the size of a mustard seed buried
idea the size of a mustard seed buried deep within our hearts right now I want
deep within our hearts right now I want
deep within our hearts right now I want you to think about your own goal this
you to think about your own goal this
you to think about your own goal this idea that might not make sense to anyone
idea that might not make sense to anyone
idea that might not make sense to anyone else but it makes sense to you now ask
else but it makes sense to you now ask
else but it makes sense to you now ask yourself how will I cultivate this goal
yourself how will I cultivate this goal
yourself how will I cultivate this goal what can I do to nurture it
what can I do to nurture it
what can I do to nurture it what other strengths and passions in my
what other strengths and passions in my
what other strengths and passions in my life can I utilize to make this goal a
life can I utilize to make this goal a
life can I utilize to make this goal a reality because whether you know it or
reality because whether you know it or
reality because whether you know it or not this could be a critical moment in
not this could be a critical moment in
not this could be a critical moment in your life your own journey won’t be
your life your own journey won’t be
your life your own journey won’t be perfect but that’s how you grow so just
perfect but that’s how you grow so just
perfect but that’s how you grow so just remember when it seems impossible
remember when it seems impossible
remember when it seems impossible rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock
rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock
rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock break through it you get tired think
break through it you get tired think
break through it you get tired think about repetitive forward motion and keep
about repetitive forward motion and keep
about repetitive forward motion and keep moving forward thank you
moving forward thank you
moving forward thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] it was a muggy September morning the air
it was a muggy September morning the air
it was a muggy September morning the air was thick and the earth was soft under
was thick and the earth was soft under
was thick and the earth was soft under my shoes I was closing in on the last
my shoes I was closing in on the last
my shoes I was closing in on the last mile of a six mile slog through the
mile of a six mile slog through the
mile of a six mile slog through the forest meadows trail outside of
forest meadows trail outside of
forest meadows trail outside of Tallahassee Florida
Tallahassee Florida
Tallahassee Florida every breath and every step was
every breath and every step was
every breath and every step was exhausting then out of nowhere an older
exhausting then out of nowhere an older
exhausting then out of nowhere an older shirtless man caught up to me it said
shirtless man caught up to me it said
shirtless man caught up to me it said something that seemed simple that became
something that seemed simple that became
something that seemed simple that became monumental keep going he said so I kept
monumental keep going he said so I kept
monumental keep going he said so I kept up with him and we finished the trail
up with him and we finished the trail
up with him and we finished the trail loop every few steps he encouraged me to
loop every few steps he encouraged me to
loop every few steps he encouraged me to go a little further before he went our
go a little further before he went our
go a little further before he went our separate ways
separate ways
separate ways he said something I’ll never forget
he said something I’ll never forget
he said something I’ll never forget always remember repetitive forward
always remember repetitive forward
always remember repetitive forward motion repetitive forward motion now I
motion repetitive forward motion now I
motion repetitive forward motion now I don’t know this man and I’ll probably
don’t know this man and I’ll probably
don’t know this man and I’ll probably never see him again
never see him again
never see him again and since he had a white beard I’m
and since he had a white beard I’m
and since he had a white beard I’m assuming he went back to the North Pole
assuming he went back to the North Pole
assuming he went back to the North Pole yes this is a TED talk about running
yes this is a TED talk about running
yes this is a TED talk about running with Santa Claus okay not really but
with Santa Claus okay not really but
with Santa Claus okay not really but that became a defining moment you see he
that became a defining moment you see he
that became a defining moment you see he didn’t know who I was or why I was
didn’t know who I was or why I was
didn’t know who I was or why I was running he didn’t know that I had lost
running he didn’t know that I had lost
running he didn’t know that I had lost 130 pounds he didn’t know that I was
130 pounds he didn’t know that I was
130 pounds he didn’t know that I was training for my first half marathon he
training for my first half marathon he
training for my first half marathon he didn’t know that I was I woke up that
didn’t know that I was I woke up that
didn’t know that I was I woke up that morning dreading that awful run all he
morning dreading that awful run all he
morning dreading that awful run all he knew is that we were on the same path
knew is that we were on the same path
knew is that we were on the same path trying to reach the same finish line
trying to reach the same finish line
trying to reach the same finish line that story and ultimately that run are
that story and ultimately that run are
that story and ultimately that run are part of a much larger story you see my
part of a much larger story you see my
part of a much larger story you see my weight was always an issue I was bullied
weight was always an issue I was bullied
weight was always an issue I was bullied as a kid I hate my feelings and I always
as a kid I hate my feelings and I always
as a kid I hate my feelings and I always thought I’d spend the rest of my life
thought I’d spend the rest of my life
thought I’d spend the rest of my life being obese when it comes to losing
being obese when it comes to losing
being obese when it comes to losing weight or accomplishing any major goal
weight or accomplishing any major goal
weight or accomplishing any major goal in one’s life people tend to forget to
in one’s life people tend to forget to
in one’s life people tend to forget to utilize their own strengths yet their
utilize their own strengths yet their
utilize their own strengths yet their creativity tenacity or yes even humor
creativity tenacity or yes even humor
creativity tenacity or yes even humor for me that passion was strength with
for me that passion was strength with
for me that passion was strength with social media even in 2010 I was
social media even in 2010 I was
social media even in 2010 I was fascinated by the
fascinated by the
fascinated by the actions social media created in my own
actions social media created in my own
actions social media created in my own life it was the space to be bold in this
life it was the space to be bold in this
life it was the space to be bold in this authentic version of myself while being
authentic version of myself while being
authentic version of myself while being incredibly open it also helped that I
incredibly open it also helped that I
incredibly open it also helped that I was a self-professed overshare in fact
was a self-professed overshare in fact
was a self-professed overshare in fact it’s taking me everything I have right
it’s taking me everything I have right
it’s taking me everything I have right now not to take a selfie I know they
now not to take a selfie I know they
now not to take a selfie I know they said no devices but that’s okay
said no devices but that’s okay
said no devices but that’s okay well this is happening okay
well this is happening okay
well this is happening okay here we go there we go
here we go there we go
here we go there we go what’s that compounded my passionate
what’s that compounded my passionate
what’s that compounded my passionate strengths for social media towards
strengths for social media towards
strengths for social media towards becoming this healthier version of
becoming this healthier version of
becoming this healthier version of myself that’s why I started to succeed
myself that’s why I started to succeed
myself that’s why I started to succeed at this whole weight loss thing a few
at this whole weight loss thing a few
at this whole weight loss thing a few years ago I started a blog called the
years ago I started a blog called the
years ago I started a blog called the photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some
photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some
photographing fat kid I’d rinsed some random post on it about taco bell sauce
random post on it about taco bell sauce
random post on it about taco bell sauce packets and things like that but I
packets and things like that but I
packets and things like that but I decided that would be the best place for
decided that would be the best place for
decided that would be the best place for me to share my story and to keep me
me to share my story and to keep me
me to share my story and to keep me accountable from then on I decided that
accountable from then on I decided that
accountable from then on I decided that my brand identity was to be a weight
my brand identity was to be a weight
my brand identity was to be a weight loser now if you told me that I would
loser now if you told me that I would
loser now if you told me that I would start this journey at the beginning of
start this journey at the beginning of
start this journey at the beginning of graduate school as a probationary
graduate school as a probationary
graduate school as a probationary student who should have spent most of
student who should have spent most of
student who should have spent most of his time studying instead of going to
his time studying instead of going to
his time studying instead of going to the gym I would have laughed and eaten a
the gym I would have laughed and eaten a
the gym I would have laughed and eaten a cake in your face but that was the time
cake in your face but that was the time
cake in your face but that was the time that it worked because I’m on the outset
that it worked because I’m on the outset
that it worked because I’m on the outset it didn’t seem like the right time had I
it didn’t seem like the right time had I
it didn’t seem like the right time had I waited for the right time and still be
waited for the right time and still be
waited for the right time and still be waiting now your goal may be something
waiting now your goal may be something
waiting now your goal may be something completely different like learning a new
completely different like learning a new
completely different like learning a new language climbing Mount Ranier we’re
language climbing Mount Ranier we’re
language climbing Mount Ranier we’re starting your own cat photography
starting your own cat photography
starting your own cat photography business called mr. whiskers photo lab
business called mr. whiskers photo lab
business called mr. whiskers photo lab but when you go after it with repetitive
but when you go after it with repetitive
but when you go after it with repetitive forward motion it becomes that itch you
forward motion it becomes that itch you
forward motion it becomes that itch you can’t scratch it envelops you soon every
can’t scratch it envelops you soon every
can’t scratch it envelops you soon every facet of life becomes fixated on that
facet of life becomes fixated on that
facet of life becomes fixated on that goal so today I want to share some of
goal so today I want to share some of
goal so today I want to share some of the tips I’ve learned throughout my own
the tips I’ve learned throughout my own
the tips I’ve learned throughout my own journey they’ll help you move you
journey they’ll help you move you
journey they’ll help you move you towards your goal
towards your goal
towards your goal the first is find your peeps thought it
the first is find your peeps thought it
the first is find your peeps thought it was no secret that I wanted to lose
was no secret that I wanted to lose
was no secret that I wanted to lose weight so when I open myself up to my
weight so when I open myself up to my
weight so when I open myself up to my friends that I was about to go on this
friends that I was about to go on this
friends that I was about to go on this journey I asked them to join with me
journey I asked them to join with me
journey I asked them to join with me from that first post it was amazing how
from that first post it was amazing how
from that first post it was amazing how many people came out of the woodwork to
many people came out of the woodwork to
many people came out of the woodwork to tell me we got this like friends from
tell me we got this like friends from
tell me we got this like friends from second grade who messaged me with
second grade who messaged me with
second grade who messaged me with support to friends of friends who
support to friends of friends who
support to friends of friends who reached out with their own weight loss
reached out with their own weight loss
reached out with their own weight loss stories and their own low
stories and their own low
stories and their own low calorie recipes and of course my amazing
calorie recipes and of course my amazing
calorie recipes and of course my amazing wife Megan who’s been there every step
wife Megan who’s been there every step
wife Megan who’s been there every step of the way after I started blogging for
of the way after I started blogging for
of the way after I started blogging for a few months I realized that there were
a few months I realized that there were
a few months I realized that there were hundreds of other social media folks and
hundreds of other social media folks and
hundreds of other social media folks and bloggers who are on their own journey
bloggers who are on their own journey
bloggers who are on their own journey towards a healthier life each with their
towards a healthier life each with their
towards a healthier life each with their own strengths and struggles
own strengths and struggles
own strengths and struggles it helps me realize that I wasn’t the
it helps me realize that I wasn’t the
it helps me realize that I wasn’t the only one in the world trying to lose
only one in the world trying to lose
only one in the world trying to lose weight I even started going to
weight I even started going to
weight I even started going to conferences where I met some of these
conferences where I met some of these
conferences where I met some of these digital friends some who were there from
digital friends some who were there from
digital friends some who were there from the very beginning when I moved to
the very beginning when I moved to
the very beginning when I moved to Seattle in 2015 I was worried about
Seattle in 2015 I was worried about
Seattle in 2015 I was worried about losing my support I was moving to a
losing my support I was moving to a
losing my support I was moving to a place where people didn’t know the
place where people didn’t know the
place where people didn’t know the Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my
Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my
Nathan that weighed 357 pounds but my journey was at a new stage now not only
journey was at a new stage now not only
journey was at a new stage now not only do I get support for my friends across
do I get support for my friends across
do I get support for my friends across the globe online I get support locally
the globe online I get support locally
the globe online I get support locally for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my
for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my
for my friends on my CrossFit gym and my amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers
amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers
amazing Saturday morning Weight Watchers meeting people are ready to support you
meeting people are ready to support you
meeting people are ready to support you sometimes you just have to look around
sometimes you just have to look around
sometimes you just have to look around the next is make your goal part of your
the next is make your goal part of your
the next is make your goal part of your brand I always felt like my identity was
brand I always felt like my identity was
brand I always felt like my identity was tied to my weight sure I was outgoing
tied to my weight sure I was outgoing
tied to my weight sure I was outgoing and funny ish but I always felt like
and funny ish but I always felt like
and funny ish but I always felt like people saw us on the outside first so
people saw us on the outside first so
people saw us on the outside first so once I made this brand identity shift
once I made this brand identity shift
once I made this brand identity shift towards becoming this healthier version
towards becoming this healthier version
towards becoming this healthier version of myself
of myself
of myself my peeps and my community were ready to
my peeps and my community were ready to
my peeps and my community were ready to buy into my rebrand once I made that
buy into my rebrand once I made that
buy into my rebrand once I made that shift these random instances like the
shift these random instances like the
shift these random instances like the runner in Tallahassee became guiding
runner in Tallahassee became guiding
runner in Tallahassee became guiding lights throughout my journey encouraging
lights throughout my journey encouraging
lights throughout my journey encouraging me to keep going it only further
me to keep going it only further
me to keep going it only further increased this shift I made in my life
increased this shift I made in my life
increased this shift I made in my life once I made open my mind to that
once I made open my mind to that
once I made open my mind to that opportunities for success were
opportunities for success were
opportunities for success were everywhere I turned through it all I try
everywhere I turned through it all I try
everywhere I turned through it all I try to stay as transparent as I can not only
to stay as transparent as I can not only
to stay as transparent as I can not only is that what people respond to it’s what
is that what people respond to it’s what
is that what people respond to it’s what keeps you grounded as you move towards
keeps you grounded as you move towards
keeps you grounded as you move towards your goal finally it’s progress not
your goal finally it’s progress not
your goal finally it’s progress not perfection now I’m not at my goal weight
perfection now I’m not at my goal weight
perfection now I’m not at my goal weight in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from
in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from
in fact I’m 65 ish pounds away from being out of the obese weight range and
being out of the obese weight range and
being out of the obese weight range and that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because
that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because
that’s okay I’ll keep fighting because since I’ve started this journey in 2010
since I’ve started this journey in 2010
since I’ve started this journey in 2010 I’ve moved across the country I’ve had
I’ve moved across the country I’ve had
I’ve moved across the country I’ve had six different amazing jobs
six different amazing jobs
six different amazing jobs and I’ve had well multiple comments from
and I’ve had well multiple comments from
and I’ve had well multiple comments from trolls online but we’re not gonna talk
trolls online but we’re not gonna talk
trolls online but we’re not gonna talk about them today contrary to popular
about them today contrary to popular
about them today contrary to popular belief life goes on even when you’re
belief life goes on even when you’re
belief life goes on even when you’re hyper focused on your goals here’s a
hyper focused on your goals here’s a
hyper focused on your goals here’s a graph of my weight loss and as you can
graph of my weight loss and as you can
graph of my weight loss and as you can see it looks kind of like a checkmark
see it looks kind of like a checkmark
see it looks kind of like a checkmark and again that’s okay because since I’ve
and again that’s okay because since I’ve
and again that’s okay because since I’ve started this journey not only have I
started this journey not only have I
started this journey not only have I advanced my career I accomplished
advanced my career I accomplished
advanced my career I accomplished another major life goal moving to the
another major life goal moving to the
another major life goal moving to the fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest
fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest
fantastically amazing Pacific Northwest these goals increased my confidence to
these goals increased my confidence to
these goals increased my confidence to be bold take risks and not be afraid of
be bold take risks and not be afraid of
be bold take risks and not be afraid of failure goals aren’t meant to be done
failure goals aren’t meant to be done
failure goals aren’t meant to be done with perfection obstacles are bound to
with perfection obstacles are bound to
with perfection obstacles are bound to happen in those moments don’t be afraid
happen in those moments don’t be afraid
happen in those moments don’t be afraid to give yourself a dose of grace
to give yourself a dose of grace
to give yourself a dose of grace sometimes that’s where your best ideas
sometimes that’s where your best ideas
sometimes that’s where your best ideas begin to blossom we all have a goal this
begin to blossom we all have a goal this
begin to blossom we all have a goal this idea the size of a mustard seed buried
idea the size of a mustard seed buried
idea the size of a mustard seed buried deep within our hearts right now I want
deep within our hearts right now I want
deep within our hearts right now I want you to think about your own goal this
you to think about your own goal this
you to think about your own goal this idea that might not make sense to anyone
idea that might not make sense to anyone
idea that might not make sense to anyone else but it makes sense to you now ask
else but it makes sense to you now ask
else but it makes sense to you now ask yourself how will I cultivate this goal
yourself how will I cultivate this goal
yourself how will I cultivate this goal what can I do to nurture it
what can I do to nurture it
what can I do to nurture it what other strengths and passions in my
what other strengths and passions in my
what other strengths and passions in my life can I utilize to make this goal a
life can I utilize to make this goal a
life can I utilize to make this goal a reality because whether you know it or
reality because whether you know it or
reality because whether you know it or not this could be a critical moment in
not this could be a critical moment in
not this could be a critical moment in your life your own journey won’t be
your life your own journey won’t be
your life your own journey won’t be perfect but that’s how you grow so just
perfect but that’s how you grow so just
perfect but that’s how you grow so just remember when it seems impossible
remember when it seems impossible
remember when it seems impossible rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock
rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock
rethink it when you’ve reached roadblock break through it you get tired think
break through it you get tired think
break through it you get tired think about repetitive forward motion and keep
about repetitive forward motion and keep
about repetitive forward motion and keep moving forward thank you
moving forward thank you
moving forward thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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