Spark Spotlight: Brian (BMCGRAW)

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Spark Spotlight: Brian (BMCGRAW)
 
At SparkPeople, we love helping people accomplish big goals—but we believe it's equally important to celebrate the small successes along the way. Each week in the Spark Spotlight, we'll check in with a featured member about his or her proudest moments, biggest challenges and advice for others on living, thinking and feeling healthier. We hope these quick snapshots will help motivate you to keep moving steadily toward your own goals, week by week.
 
This Week's Spotlight: Brian (BMCGRAW)
Age: 47
Location: Hoover, Alabama
 
Small Success of the Week
 
Brian recently conquered a feat he had never completed before: running a 5K without walking. "[I] ran the Magic City 5K today," he reported to the Community Goal Feed. "I did not walk at all, so even though I was slow, I count it as a huge win."
 
What's your overall goal?
 
This past summer, I weighed in at 265 pounds. My youngest son graduates this upcoming May, so I set a goal to weigh 200 pounds by then, [which] would put me at my lowest weight since 2007. I have a "stretch" goal to hit 180 pounds next summer, but I'm taking it one step at a time.
 
How is SparkPeople helping you get there?

I have been a SparkPeople user on and off since 2007. I use it to track my daily calorie intake, and I use its integration with my Apple Watch to track exercise. Tracking calories keeps me accountable and helps me make informed decisions about what I'm putting into my body. I also used the 5K Your Way Running Challenge to get ready for my 5K. Back in September, I could not walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded—to go from that to running the 5K feels great!
 
What's your biggest challenge right now?
 
My biggest challenge right now is that I travel for business a good bit and finding healthy food on the road is a challenge. I also like a lot of variety in my food, so ordering the same entree of salmon and salad can get boring.
 
What advice do you have for someone who just joined SparkPeople today?
 
Stay with it. I can look back on my long SparkPeople history and see that when I track my calories, I am able to hit my fitness goals. Don't worry so much about short-term gains or setbacks. You're in this for the long haul!
 
Want to be the next small success we spotlight? Share your successes on the goal feed or in the comments below, and you might be the next person we contact!