Tonight is different. Tonight I am watching a GPS tracking device online.  Why? John Adair is finishing a 22+ mile hike on Mt. Whitney.  John is a client of mine who has struggled with a weight problem for many years. He appeared to not be motivated or inspired to sticking to a exercise/eating plan… until this year. John turned 65 this year. In fact, today.

In his own words: “Tomorrow is my Sixty-Fifth birthday (7/22).  Friends have suggested that I am now “OVER THE HILL” I have given this a little bit of thought and I have to ask myself, what is on the other side? After a short amount of time I decided I would take a look before I found myself some place I may not want to be.So to mark this point in life’s progression I have decided to climb Mt Whitney and see for myself what is on the other side? Mt Whitney (14,505 ft) the highest point in the continental US. I will camp (7/21) at the trail head and plan to depart sometime between 1am and 4am (7/22). I would like to reach the summit between noon and 3pm, take a short rest and start my decent. I hope to return by 11pm.  The trail is about 22 plus miles round trip, with an altitude gain of about 6,700 ft. It will be a long day.  This will be a life time first; I have never climbed any mountain before. I have not asked anyone to join me, this is a solo effort.  I invite you to follow my efforts by clicking on the link below (It will show a Google Map with my tracking points).  I will be carrying a GPS tracking device with me.  It should report every 10 min for 24 hrs. Here is the link to follow my progress on climb to the summit of Mt Whitney

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0NlZc9AXSOLso2TuHCJ4f3flooSU9v11u”

(Please check out his voyage. You can change the view to satellite to see the trees and the snow.)

How inspiring is that?  This year, when John decided on this goal, it was like a spark lit up inside of him.  He was no longer trying to lose 40 lbs, he was on a mission.  When his mind set changed from a number on a scale to a reason to be leaner, John’s life transformed.  John wanted to eat better so that he could hike longer. He wanted to walk everyday because he had a goal – an exact date – to hike the tallest mountain he could find.  This transformation is the key to releasing weight for good.  If you are still trying to lose a few pounds, I invite you to think outside of the box and do a bit of soul searching. Find out what you really want to do with a leaner body. Dance? Ski dive? Rock climb? Climb a mountain?  When you follow your dreams and listen to your inner voice, you will have the motivation you are looking for to achieve your goals.

I have been tracking him all day. I sent him energetic vibes to keep him strong as he switch backed up the mountain.  I cheered for him from my computer as he reached the summit.  I watched as he descended the mountain after being up for over 12 hours.  I remembered our conversations about what he should be eating on his hike and hoped that he wasn’t feeling hungry or overly fatigued. I wondered if I gave him all the advise he needed to make his goal.  And now I wait in anticipation for John to arrive safely back.

Tonight I am congratulating John for doing something many fit 65 year olds wouldn’t consider doing.  He is moments away from arriving back at the Whitney Portals.  His family is there to surprise him.  I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate life, doing something you physically didn’t think was possible.

John at Mt. Whitney