Want to join me in making a difference? From May of 2016 &gt; May of 2020, 360lbs lost, a life regained, much gratitude, and a path for us all to inspire, inject much needed positivity into the world while giving back.  My name is Chris. I used to weigh 600 lbs. Now, I'm just working on becoming the best version of me, working on my Thor body and to someday be worthy. I made a promise to myself four years ago (more on that below), and that day is arriving. <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/47794320_1588541362348500_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="47794320_1588541362348500_r.jpeg" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/47794320_1588541462292499_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="47794320_1588541462292499_r.jpeg" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/47794320_1588541495686120_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="47794320_1588541495686120_r.jpeg" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/47794320_1588541700219458_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="47794320_1588541700219458_r.jpeg" /> I'm not here to tell you what they perfect version of you is, or what passions you should be pursuing. But I'm here to support you, to inspire you, and to provide a place where you can join in giving back. You can help. Here's how. This is a short version, of a long story. What we're going to do is choose to celebrate what should have been an impossible milestone. I'm committed to running my first (social distance friendly) marathon on my 40th birthday to celebrate 360lbs lost over four years, and we're using the power of that day to inspire, and to give back to front-line medical workers battling Covid 19. It takes less than a minute to share some positivity, to inspire someone to start pursuing their own passion, to make someone smile. :) If you haven't chosen to share yet, here's more about my story, and the promise I made to myself four years ago... ------- In May of 2016, as I approached my 36th Birthday, I walked into the gym at Flagship Athletic Performance in San Francisco tipping the scales at weighed 600lbs.  I made a promise to myself on that day. The gift I would give myself on my 40th Birthday would be the version of me that I was able to achieve over the next four years. There are no finish lines when it comes to your passion, but there are milestones, and this is a big milestone! I've privately thought a lot about how that day would look. Surrounded by my friends and community, celebrating progress made with an extra sweaty workout, loading up the sled with the weight I've lost as a reminder, and then the world changed. But one thing we often talk about, friends, is that we remain solutions oriented in the face of any obstacle. Would it have been fitting if the last three months of this four journey went as planned, if there weren't unexpected challenges, if I didn't need to adapt to see how committed I am to keeping that promise I made myself? No! It's the biggest challenges which offer the greatest opportunity for positive change. Do my challenges amount too much in the face of what many are facing today? No! Over the course of 4 years, or 1,461 days, I've lost 360 lbs. This is in no short order thanks to the inspiration, support, and encouragement of my #FitFam community. I shouldn't have been able to lose that amount of weight through exercise, diet, and lifestyle change. It should have been impossible. I've come to find that if you believe something is impossible, you're right. But, if you believe in the limitless potential that you posses. If you have a goal, a purpose, a plan, a support system...if you CHOOSE to believe that NOTHING is impossible...then you're also right! This day won't look like the day I originally intended. But, that's OK! Just because it's not the day you thought you would have doesn't mean that it's not the day that you're supposed to have. IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE: We're running! I've decided to challenge myself to pour the power of that day into an effort to celebrate, challenge, inspire, and to give back. I've never run a marathon, it's another event that I would have thought IMPOSSIBLE for me to achieve just four years ago. For this reason, I'm running a social distance friendly marathon on birthday, that four year fit-ness-aversary. You...WE...have the power to inject some much needed positivity back into the world. Many folks are feeling isolated, anxious, and unsure. If we're able to take the power of this day to add any level of much needed positivity back into the world, to inspire, and to most importantly, humbly show support and give back to those who out on the front lines.  I'm raising money to benefit Project HOPE - The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc., and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me. More information about Project HOPE - The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.: Project HOPE delivers essential medicines and supplies, health expertise and medical training to respond to disaster, prevent disease, promote wellness and save lives around the globe. We have mobilized our emergency response team and are actively responding to COVID-19 around the world. We are providing health workers with COVID-19 training, essential supplies and equipment, and deploying medical volunteers to provide extra capacity on the frontlines. Remember, ANY day can be better despite the challenge, all you have to do is choose to leave the day better than how you found it. Thank you, friends, for your support, for spreading positivity, and for choosing to be better everyday.

Katie Steele

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SPARKS OF HOPE: A run to celebrate and inspire

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