BY DELANY DUNN

As I start the Kin's Green Fighter Challenge I find myself filtering through hundreds of photos to find the most telling photo of my story; where it began and its current state. After enjoying positive results in my adventure I'm often asked "What did you do?" or "What did you take?" or "What's the secret?". Let me think about that.

In June of 2007 my Mom was clearly nearing the end of her road after many years of living in a poor state of health. Her deteriorating condition was the motivation I needed to ask my long-time girlfriend and soul mate to marry me after a short dating cycle of about nine years (sarcasm). Lisa Marie and I planned our wedding and with the help of my then employer (the Vancouver Canadians) we were pulling together the wedding of our dreams (well at least mine) within a short couple of months in an all-out effort to have my Mom there with us. We wed at home plate at Nat Bailey Stadium on September 5, 2007 with my Mom there... in spirit. We lost Mom in July but we're pretty sure that she was there with us.

That was what I did. That is what I took. That was the secret.

Losing my Mom was the kick in *ss that I needed to wake up and realize that I was headed down the same path that eventually took my Mom. Not only was I headed down the path, I had been lumbering along it for a long while. I was morbidly obese. Nearing 400 pounds I came to the realization that I too may not make it to 60. My Mom had passed away at the young age of 59. Way too young!

Lisa Marie and I together embarked on a massive life change. We both wanted to have family (one day) but we knew that our current state of being (in 2007-08) was not one that was healthy to bring another life into both physically and mentally. So, away we went on our adventure. Calories in, calories out. That's it. Simple right? Ask all the yo-yo dieters how simple it is. We would need the right tools.

My key tools included (and still include):

- Good running shoes

- An elliptical trainer

- A treadmill

- Lose it! – app on my iPhone (awesome calorie tracker)

We've all heard someone say "It takes blood, sweat and tears!" and that really is the truth! Here's what I do know... I have never soaked so many shirts and even the socks in my shoes as during the one and a half years that I truly focused on losing weight. I can tell you for certain I cried at points mostly due to pain in my legs and joints but I didn't let that stop me, I just kept pushing. The blood thing I'm not too sure about though (sorry).

Between 2007 and 2010 Lisa Marie and I had done it! I'd lost about 150 pounds, we had moved to a pescetarian diet and managed to keep the weight off while remaining active and engaged in our daily lives. We were ready for the next adventure. Children! 2011 brought the gifts that we could never have dreamed of, our twin baby girls! Life was (and still is) grand.

Fast forward, those of you that are parents know that this (fast forward) is a constant state of time once you have children, to 2013 and the girls are now two. I'm ready for the next chapter in our on-going challenge for a healthier and happier life and along came Kin's Green Fighters Challenge. Perfect!

I start the Challenge at 262 pounds and knowing that my healthy BMI weight would have me around 200 pounds. The goal, lose 62 pounds. I'm not going to accomplish that in the 13-weeks of the Challenge but I know I can lose about 20 in that time! The rest will come as I WILL continue on after the challenge to reach my healthiest weight... ever!

I appreciate you reading my story and I hope that somewhere along this road I can motivate, challenge and maybe even inspire just one person to pursue and live a happier, healthier life ;-D