Meet The Team Members: Bios | Video Photo Gallery: Check Out Pictures Of The Challenge

Alright ......Zippy the all powerful one (it’s ok to call it that if you need) has been busy in our household. First watching over my bride during 7 hours of surgery at the moffit cancer center. She is doing awesome thank you very much! Second I did the Maderia beach triathlon and I am still alive but what is so much cooler was watching my 7 year old compete in his first kids tri. I could not wipe the smile off my face I was so proud and more important he had a blast. A couple days later I find out he won his age group. Third I bought my boys a toy video camera at target just to see if they might like doing that kind of thing (since it’s what dad does for a living). I Come home after work and my wife Pat tells me Zack my 9 year old has spent a good part of the afternoon shooting a movie with his lego toys and was just so into setting up his shots the whole nine yards. My face is starting to ache from smiling so much. My friends Life is to cool to pass up. This weight loss challenge has brought all of us so much. Nancy riding her bike with her beautiful daughters it is so right! Sonya and Marty just crushing the pounds away. Brenda owning curves fitness center at this point. Dan a USF senator nice. As for me 1lb. of weight loss and a thousand pounds of JOY gained. If you ever get the chance to take the challenge take it, you will find out HOW much weight you can LOSE and How much life you can gain!!! To my fellow contestants and all the people at the TRIB and TBO.com THANK YOU. Now lets get back on our boards and catch the big one.

Peace
JON CLOSE &
Birds,Squirrel’s,butterflies,plants,trees,dirt and all the rest of my world participants!

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Now I know why those soccer announcers get so exited when A player scores a .....GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! My loss is His gain! I did it, I reached my goal of 40 lbs or 10% of my total weight! I feel terriffic. Not that I want to climb more stairs terriffic , but pretty darned terriffic! I’ve lost 6 inches of unwanted waist, 2 shirt sizes, my old wedding ring fits, my cool green shorts fit, my whiteys aren’t so tighty(TMI I’m Sure). But I have a desire to live life to it’s fullest potential now. Did I mention my cholesterol is down to normal limits? It’s all good! God is good!
This is only the beginning. Theres so much more work to do. All I can say is like I told that building with all the stairs....Bring it!
I must thank all of my supporters who have given so much. Debbie, Mom,Lori,Alex(kaboo!),Jon,Brenda,Nancy,Sonya,Corey and fam.,Kevin,Coco,and all my dear friends who are so numerous to mention. You have been my rock through this and I am forever grateful. May God bless you all richly for your efforts. Dad,I feel you smiling,I know this was your wish too. I’m so blessed I cant even explain. Peace be with you all.GET MOVING!.In Christ, Marty Gonzalez

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Quite simply...It goes like this. The challenge ends Thursday, today is Tuesday. I have to lose 1 more pound in 1 more day to reach my goal of 10% total weight lost. Can I do it? Through Christ I can do anything! Stay tuned....In Christ..Marty G. 

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Hello to all one last time. It has been a true blessing from above to share these last 4 months with you. As I write this I am 38 lbs lighter than when I started on Feb 1st. Praise God, for without His help I’d probably be 38 lbs heavier and more miserable than I was at 400 lbs. My goal was to lose 40 lbs during this challenge or 10% of my total weight. It’s Sunday night and I still have 4 days to lose 2 lbs. Seems like a lot but with continued discipline I’m confident I’ll get there. I’d like to tell you my testimony about how this came to fruition. Please endulge me.
Last year after I lost my father, I was in a deep state of depression. I came to realize that I was always going to be heavy. I had given up on life so to speak. Spiritually sound though. I had started to inquire about several weight loss surgeries because having one of these , weight would fall off automatically. Everyone was very supportive because they wanted the best for me knowing that I was in despair. Thank God for my Brothers and Sisters, family, and friends for their prayers and support. I really thought that surgery was my last hope. There is no such thing, there is always hope. One night late in January, I layed down in bed and became very emotional. I knew the Lord was there as I could feel His presence and compassion. It all came out. My Dad, my weight issues, my lack of enthusiasm for life etc. I cried out to Him saying “I know that you see all of your children as beautiful..... 

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Where to start? First to all my fellow participants you guys are so awesome. Watching the weight come off all of you and the determination is amazing. This also includes the people I read in the 4u section like Paula Buth. It reminds me I can do it. I hope others know they can to. Friends are sometimes hard to come by in this fast pace world we live in and the people I’ve met through this challenge will always be remembered. We are not necessarily the closest of friends but when you walk away from something with a smile on your face you know it’s been good and that is time well spent. Marty...swimming? my friend I hope you will be joining me on the tri circut I know for sure you can do it, I am looking forward to that. I am proud to say to the senator way to go. When someone sees what they want and goes for it that says allot, continue on brother. Ladies what is there to say… SWEET… I can’t write it any bigger. So far I’ve lost and gained weight only down 2lbs. for the whole challenge but you know I still can’t keep the smile off my face thinking about this adventure. I’ve got to go explain this all to the plants outside, we’ll talk again soon.

Peace
JC

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Strokin to the left, strokin to the right, strokin back and forth until my legs get real tight. Thats right boys and girls, I’ve discovered a new passion. SWIMMING........ yay for swimming! You get your cardio and dont sweat! My ankles dont even hurt (everything else does though). My family joined the New Tampa YMCA this week and horray! Swimming, basketball,volleyball,spinning classes,even Judo on Saturday mornings Hiiiiyaa! And swimming!
Life is good. Praise God!
Were comimg to the end of this challenge and I really want to go out with a loud bang. So strict diet, pounding workouts, and jon will love this....playing some serious drums. Sweating off the pounds never sounded so funky and fresh!
I’m down 34 pounds as I write this blog. I didnt think I could go this far but Gods plan is greater than any of our own! What a wonderful headstart to reaching my goal of 120 lbs by Christmas. I think of it as a christmas present to not only my family, but to God Himself who heard that tearful prayer I offered Him in January and answered it by way of this challenge. A big thank you to Marty S. and the team at tbo for allowing me to participate. May God bless you all for your support. I thank Him daily for you all. Gotta go now, The pool opens at 6am for more swimming! Yay swimming! In Christ..Marty G. 

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This just burns my bahookey. Not that I gained the weight but that I know why yet I keep being a pinhead. Then to top it off I start walking around pouting like my 7yr old. That’s attractive let me tell you. But I am moving on, back in the saddle and am charging the hill. As a famous governor once said” I’ll be back” besides the birds still like me they told me so!

Peace
JC

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Ahh!!! The beach. The sand,The kids, The water...The unbelievable pain that I am currently experiencing due to my not listening to my wife when she told me” Put on sunscreen or you’ll be sooooorrrryyyyy"." Phooey” I say sunscreen is for sissys! Besides I’m latino, we don’t burn...yea sure. All In all the beach was beautiful. Inspiring sunrises and sunsets, My beautiful bride, My 4 fantastic kids and long mellow walks a plenty. I learned that Rachel can rope a wiffle ball if you say GIRL POWER before you pitch it to her, Jacob burns too, Jordan cannot build a sandcastle if his life depended on it, and Ben...well...He’s my boy....He can run like a gazelle,eat like a horse, and swim like a fish. Deb, I cant love you enough and pray for at least 17+ more years. Lets grow old together shall we?
I know these blogs are supposed to be about our weight loss journey,But without the support of my loving family,I’m nothing. So please indulge me this one blog to sat that I am a very blessed man, Heavy or thin to share my life with them. I’m proud of my kids, deeply in love with Debbie and stand firmly on the rock that is Christ who without Him none of this matters. May God bless and keep you all.....In Christ...Marty G.
P.S.GET MOVING!!!! 

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Thank you everyone for all of this, it is so enjoyable. Just like life.

Peace
JC

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I must work quickly the sandman is closing in. 7:00-8:20 normal child prep and school acclivities 8:30-10:00 enjoy garden,put in laundry,blog ,psych myself up for trip to Ymca 10:10-11:15 ride bike over to Y 1/2 hr.lap swim bike home 11:30-1:50 lunch, read paper continue work on laundry take cat nap. 2:00-3:00 pick up boys get them started on homework, finish up laundry.3:15 drop boys off at play date 3:45 arrive at work Rays win get real sleepy. Spelling much better tonight.
Sandman arrives.

Peace
JC

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Sitting in the garden this morning and mrs. blue jay is just having a ball so I asked “what is going on”? She says “jc you know I have found the answer you want to know what it is”?. “worms” I said jokingly."no you knucklehead not worms the answer is” I AM GOING TO SING MY SONGS TIL I FALL OVER DEAD AND THEN I AM JUST GOING TO CHANGE KEYS AND SING SOME MORE” She is pretty wise for 9 0’clock in the morning. Of course she also said “lighten up on the peanuts”

Peace
JC

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Sonya steps right up to the plate… oh my ...it’s working is what I have to say about that. Senator has congress aready taken a break? Marty the power is everywhere surf it on the beach. Mom’s home I’m diggin that! overslept to 7:05 really dragging 7:30-8:20 normal school stuff 8:30-8:55 enjoy garden with pat9:00-10:30 spin at the Y it kicks my bahookey (see kids movie open season to understand bahookey).10:45-11:30 lunch, read paper try to stay awake.
11:45 -1:00 The simplest things to into major problems. When trying to just replace your cars battery turns into having to call a dealer to figyre out how to turn off an alarm system you just have to laugh. I treid real hard to stay cool I sort of did. 1:30-11:30 Work at the baseball game. I must say I do not consider my job work at all. I love it I really enjoy the people I work with and I don’t know what I would do if I ever got a real job. It would be a cool one I’m sure. Anyway Rays win in 10 innings and I now have a another camera to run. Thanks to yall of you for taking the time to muddle through these musings. Thanks to the MOJO of MOJOS for giving us all the power to paint the picture that is our lives. I am sleepy 12:43 Peace JC

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Well tomorrow the family and I are on our way to treasure Island for some sun and fun. My hope is that any sharks that may be reading this blog might be inspired to go on a strict carb only diet and leave me and all my protein alone! Hey sharks, remember that you too go well with a little mayo, garlic, lemon juice and melba toast. Don’t try me anywhere around lunchtime or anythings possible I cant be responsible for my actions...You sharks have been warned!
On a little more serious note, I want to openly thank God for answering my prayers back in Feb. by giving me this weight loss challenge. It has given me a new outlook on my life. Whether it takes a year or 5 years to take this weight off doesn’t matter. I just know that His will is perfect and by putting accountability on my plate He has made me realize that a sincere heart and a good desire to better oneself is the key to not only discover self success but is also the way to help others. I hope that the small amount of success that I’ve had thus far is enough to inspire you to make the changes that are necesary in your life to inspire those around you. Thats how we make a difference. One person, one life,one soul at a time.
Father, We embrace your will. Help us to be better people,And may your light shine through us all.I praise you with every ounce of my being.
On Christ the solid rock I stand proudly....Marty G

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Sure he can go to the beach but can he have this much fun 3:00-5:30am awake courtesy of neighbors car alarm 7:00-8:20 Kids , breakfast school ,morning show, van still dead 8:20 -11:00 MAJOR CLEANING bride comes home tonight. toilets, floors flowers whole nine yards eat grapefruit, protein shake 11:00 -11:30 lap swimming at ymca 11:45-12:30 bank ,grocery store allot of fruit among other things.12:30 -1:50 put groceries away have lunch single serving chicken parm 3 oranges continue cleaning read paper.1:50 off to school pick up boys send Shane on playdate bring zack home.2:20-3:10 homework with zack part1 3:15 take zack to playdate for an hour and a half3:30- 4:30 clean 4:30 pick up zack 4:45 help zack with homework part2 5:00 shane home 5:10 -6:00 ps2 time for boys dads frantic final cleanup6:00-6:15 showers for everyone eat a lot of grapes6:20 leave to drop off books to library then to friends house to follow us to Rays game until mom gets home.7:00 arrive at ball field 7:10 first hot dog purchase. remain in our seats for almost three innings then have a great time wandering around the dome. we all had a blast9:30 leave ballpark (rays pounded)arrive at airport 10:00 wait at the cell phone parking lot, a first for me.10:25 YEA pick up mom at baggage claim everyone is happy.11:00 home boys in bed by 11:10 LIFE IS COOL 12:01 Goodnight JC

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