Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 in a 2 part series. You can read Part 1 here.
I’m sure you expected to read about Vibram Five Fingers in this article, I’m getting to that. I promise. I have to tell the whole story.
I walked into the Saginaw Muscle Factory almost a year ago today. I was met by the owner Tim Whalen. I was planning to join no matter what but I asked Tim to show me around anyway. What I discovered was a whole new world of fitness. A painful, humbling, challenging, and extremely rewarding world if I do say so.
As I said in Part 1, I have lifted weights my entire adult life. Tim asked if I could do pushups, of course I can do pushups. So Tim told me to try some pushups on the suspension trainer (similar to trx). I did one, just one damn pushup. The next assessment was to see how long I could do a rope wave for, the answer, not very long. I may have been able to do it for thirty seconds. I was sold. The next day I joined the Muscle Factory, they offer a free week to try it out and see if you like it, I didn’t need it, I signed up and proceeded to begin the process of transforming my body and my mind.
In my first month I lost three inches of fat from my belly and my physical performance improved dramatically. I went from doing forty-two pushups in a minute to over fifty. I was introduced to new exercises that I had never even heard of. The frog squat, the burpee, the lunger, and something else that I would learn to love, the kettle bell.
One of the amazing aspects of this type of training is that it elevates your heart and keeps your metabolism burning for hours after you are done. There is no need to spend time on the treadmill because you are getting your cardio in while you do the exercises.
The staff at the Muscle Factory also gave me priceless advice on nutrition and eating. As I said earlier, I eat. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of hiring a personal chef or eating special expensive diet plans. What I did was to just be sensible. No more eating McDonalds or an entire bag of cookies in one sitting. I still eat that stuff, don’t get me wrong, but I do it in moderation. So many people are stuck on the idea that you have to eat chicken and broccoli every day for the rest of your life. You don’t. You just have to be smart. The key to weight loss for me is to burn more calories than I take in. I do that and I lose weight. I began to see that food was something that was to be used as fuel, not as fun.
Once spring finally came I decided I was ready to run again. I went to my normal running trail and expected to run a couple minutes and then die, like I normally did. I ran for six minutes and stopped, not because it hurt, but because I was surprised at how far I had made it and how good I felt. Anyone who has ever run in the spring in Michigan knows that its a dangerous thing! I spent more time dodging ice and jumping over snow than I did running. So I kept at it and kept going a couple times a week until the weather finally broke.
For Christmas a dear friend of mine had gotten me a subscription to “Runners World”. I read every single page of every issue. I got so much from those magazines: inspiration, knowledge, nutrition, and recovery advice. By June I had worked my way up to running two or three miles at a time. One day I decided I was going to run six miles. I don’t know why six, it just sounded like a good number. So I measured six miles according to my phones GPS and got busy. I did it, or I thought I did. I would later learn that it was only four miles but hey, who’s counting! I could run.
The August issue of “Runners World” would turn out to be something that would change my life. It said that if you have been running two or three miles a couple times a week, you could run a half marathon. The friend that got me the subscription to the magazine ran half marathons and had always told me I could do one! I would tell her she was crazy and shrug it off. By this time I had lost about 50 pounds so I began to think “maybe I could actually do one”. So I studied the training plan in the magazine and decided I was going to do it.
I picked a race in Lansing later on in September and got busy. To my surprise the training wasn’t all that hard and the miles gradually began to add up. My sister came to visit in July and of course we had to run. I kicked her ass. My long run that week was six miles (actually six, not four) so I ran and she rode a bike… with my water. That day I ran six miles in a minute faster than I had ran five miles the week before. I was pumped. Then on my 33rd birthday I pulled my hamstring…bad.
To be completely honest, I was almost relieved that I pulled my hamstring. The old fat guy in me was telling me to quit, like I always did when things got tough. I had to take some time off or it would never heal. Here was my excuse. But, over time I had changed on the inside without even knowing it. I wasn’t going to listen to that old fat guy and quit. I was going to finish this. I was going to run every single step or die trying. I changed up the training a little and instead of running my two short weekly runs at race pace, I just ran them. Slow and deliberate. I didn’t want to chance pulling my hamstring again. I was only competing against myself so there was no need to worry about speed. All I wanted to do was finish.
Race day came and in the back of my mind I still wanted to find a way out. I was hoping maybe the truck will break down, or I’ll oversleep. Millions of things were running through my mind but I showed up. I was always told “showing up was half the battle”. Well I was ready. Most people don’t pick a half marathon to be their first organized race, but I did. I had never seen so many “runners” in my life. I got my bib and my t-shirt and I headed for the starting line.
What I would experience over the next 2 hours and 35 minutes would change me forever. I remember running past store fronts and looking at the reflection in the window and thinking “all these runners and here I am looking like a defensive tackle”. No short shorts for me, no hydration belts, no cool running sunglasses. Just a pair of basketball shorts and an under armour t-shirt. I decided to line up with the eleven minute mile group. I was right on pace through mile seven and then the gorilla jumped on my back. I was being passed by old ladies, moms pushing strollers, and I think, even a race walker, but I kept going.
Mile nine, mile ten, my longest training run was eight miles due to my pulled hamstring so every step was a new record for me. Slowly but surely I kept going. My goal was to run every step and I was going to make it. Then the cramps set in. My calves and hamstrings were shot. I decided to step off the path and try to stretch, bad move, it hurt more to stretch that it did to actually keep going. So I kept at it. The mile eleven marker must have fallen down or someone moved it because miles ten to eleven felt like the longest mile in the history of man. Finally, mile twelve, I kept going. As we came down the stretch to the finish I prayed ‘Please God, don’t let me catch a cramp now and fall down in front of all these people”! I didn’t and I finished. Where’s my damn medal? The medal would prove to the world, but more importantly to me, that I was a runner. I finished.
I hobbled back to my truck and called my mom. My mom has always been my biggest fan, as all moms should be. She kept telling me I could do it, that I could finish. I didn’t want to let her down. I could barely talk because I was so tired and I was choking back tears but I told her “I did it. I ran every damn step”. This is the first goal I had set and met since making the eighth grade basketball team.
Now finally this is where FiveFingers come into my story. I was hooked on running and I knew I had to get stronger. 300 pounds is a lot of weight to carry for 13.1 miles. What better time to get stronger than in the winter when you can’t run outside. I purchased the KomodoSport and, after finally learning how to put them on in less than twenty minutes, fell in love with them.My friends think I’m crazy for wearing them. I call them my “creeper” shoes. I wear them every chance I get. The Muscle Factory has a Woodway Curve treadmill and that thing is the devil. I usually run intervals in my Komodos three or four times a week on them. My legs feel better than they ever have. My feet used to bother me after long runs, especially my toes. The Vibrams just make sense, they allow your feet to act naturally, like they would if you were barefoot. I don’t only wear them when I run, I wear them for kettle bell workouts, weight lifting, and any other chance I get. Squatting in them is my favorite exercise. You get so much feedback from your feet. Often times I feel my feet correcting themselves without me telling them to. It’s quite a feeling to actually feel your toes working. I’ve had mine for two months now and can see a huge difference in my calves and feet. They look so much more defined and leaner than they did before. I can’t wait for spring when I can run outside again.
When I set out to write this I just wanted to tell my story. I want people to see that you don’t have to join an expensive gym, hire a personal trainer, or eat these overpriced boxed meals that are going to help you slim down. You just have to be smart. You have to be sensible. You have to work at it. It takes work, lots of hard work. Most people want instant gratification. You can’t get instant gratification when it comes to losing weight. You didn’t get fat over night. You definitely won’t get healthy overnight. Notice I said “healthy”. Your fitness goal should not be “skinny”, it should be “healthy”. Any trainer or gym that preaches “skinny” isn’t worth your time and they’re certainly not worth your money.
One thing I’ve learned from the Muscle Factory is to throw your scale out. There are no scales at the muscle factory. Use a measuring tape to determine your progress. I weigh between 290 and 300 on any given day, depending on what I ate for breakfast. A doctor would tell me I need to lose weight. Do I? Sure I do. I don’t need to lose weight as much as I need to lose fat. That should be your goal, to lose fat. As you can see in my picture I’ve come a long way but I’m not done yet. Life is so much better these days. Life is just easier when you’re healthy. I went from 380 pounds to being able to run a half marathon, so anything is possible.
That’s the end of my story up to this point… I hope you’ve enjoyed it, I’ve definitely enjoyed sharing it with you.
Logan Skura
January 05th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Way to go Mike, this is awesome.
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Thanks! Where you been?
Dan
January 05th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Thanks for sharing! It’s really helpful to all of us working on getting and staying healthy. Look forward to hearing more of your adventures, insights, and lessons learned.
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Hopefully I’ll be able to keep posting. It’s definitely a battle but if I can do it anyone can. Thank you.
Steve Dinn
January 05th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
That sounds surprisingly similar to my story. I’m 6’3″, and in January 2009, I weighed 330lbs. My then girlfriend (now wife!) dragged me kicking and screaming to a personal trainer where I, too, discovered the weight-loss magic of kettlebells. Over the course of the next 15 months I shed 120lbs. I currently sit between 210 and 220.
I had run off and on, here and there. I had even managed to run 10k without stopping, which was a pretty major feat for me. In October 2010, I decided to sign up for a local half marathon to take place in April 2011. I immediately got a training plan and followed it as best I could.
In February 2011, I discovered Vibram FiveFingers and I decided that I had enough time to transition my running style to accommodate them and still be able to run my race. I probably went at it a little harder than I should have; my calves certainly paid the price for it :) But come May, I finished my first half marathon, and only my second organized race (I did a 5k a month previous) in 1:52! I couldn’t believe it. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to run that distance if I hadn’t transitioned to forefoot running.
My wife was on this adventure with me, and lost over 70lbs herself. She has since become a kettlebell instructor and has a dedicated following in her classes. I’m taking the same certification in a couple of weeks, so I’ll be able to fill in for her when our first child arrives sometime next month.
It’s been a wild ride, these past couple of years, but if I was able to take the sedentary, obese person I was back in 2009 and turn him into the active, strong guy I am today, then I’m certain that anyone can do it if they set their mind on it.
Good luck with the rest of your journey!
P.S. Don’t buy new clothes until you find you absolutely need them. I bought some smaller clothes just because they were on sale, and they were too big by the first time I put them on. I think I went through 3 entire wardrobes. That got a bit expensive, but many charities got a whole lot of clothing that year :)
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
I like to buy clothes a little small and then work into them. It’s awesome to be able to wear Under Armour and other athletic clothes right off the shelf! No more online shopping looking for a 3x or 4x.
Jennifer Winsbro
January 05th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I really enjoyed your story. I found myself laughing and crying while reading it. Most of all I am inspired. I can’t wait to read more on your journey!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Thanks. I owe a lot to my sister and brother in law. I could never ever repay them for everything have done or given to me. They probably saved my life.
Steve Dinn
January 05th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Me before: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-ash1/v135/111/87/517305567/n517305567_581557_2559.jpg
Me after: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevedinn/5748096152/in/photostream/
Jennifer Winsbro
January 05th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Steve,
WOW! Thanks for sharing your story and your pictures! Congratulations on the baby!
Everett
January 05th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Awesome Mike! Many more transformation stories like this going on with the many Factory family members we have. Thanks for sharing your journey, everyone has their story and your story is very refreshing about what can be achieved with hard work, determination, and understanding that it is a lifelong commitment! It doesn’t happen overnight!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Thanks Everett. Your help and advice has definitely helped me along the way.
HelenB
January 05th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
How proud your mom must be of you and what you have done!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I’m sure she is, more importantly I’m proud of myself. Thanks for the kind words.
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Thanks. I’m sure she is.
Kim Rodriguez
January 05th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Your story is very uplifting and I want to follow you and your accompolishments as you are a true testament!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Thank you very much. I’m just an example of what you can accomplish with hard work and a little discipline. If I can do it, anyone can.
Autumn
January 05th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Great Job….You’ve came such a long way!!! You have proven that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. Your hard work, dedication, and self discipline have certainly paid off. You are an inspiration to so many…even skinny girls :)
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Ha! Thanks.
Lisa
January 05th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
AMAZING!!! Keep at it and I LOVE your healthy attitude!!!!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Thank you. It sounds corny but “ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING”.
Brock
January 05th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
I still watch the scale I guess because Im curious although my goal is to loose weight. Dropped from 210 to 200 late last year. The best part was fitting back in old clothes and feeling lighter on my feet. I may have to try these FiveFinger deals out. Can you Mountain bike in them?
Brock
January 05th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
By “weight” I meant Fat.
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I’m sure you could. The top is soft though so you’d have to be careful about banging them on stuff but they work great for everything else. I want to go hit golf balls in them.
Amy Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Michael, I think you’ve found your calling…you’re an excellent writer! I didn’t want your story to end. Keep writing! Very brave of you to ‘go public’ with everything you did and I applaud you. Really really neat, and I’m so happy for you!
Michael Kutsch
January 05th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Thank you. It didn’t hit me until after I wrote it that i had actually put myself out there like that. Obviously, I was fat and unhealthy, people could tell I ate like crap and was pretty sedentary but to actually say it myself, on the internet was a whole different monster. It’s amazing the response I have received. There are millions of people in the same boat I was, hopefully I can give them a little bit of inspiration. Anything is possible.
Robin Melcher
January 05th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
You sir are my new hero. I think I need some of those shoes
kelly fulton
January 05th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
What an inspiring story from an amazing human being! This was so enlightening and gratifying to read! I can only hope that I have half of your integrity throughout my wieghtloss journey. Good job Michael!!!!
Steve S
January 05th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Great follow up. Keep on going.
Meggin
January 05th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
The end didn’t disappoint! I really like your ideals of training to health, not weight! I hope we get to hear more about your journey in the future!!
Jessica Michael
January 05th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
So inspired, it’s great to hear that someone is taking it day by day- and healthy is certainly the best option- way to go!
Michael Kutsch
January 06th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Thank you very much. It’s a day by day struggle and it’s not easy but I’ll get there.
Petros Constantopoulos
January 10th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Hey Michael.. I’m interested have you done anything significant with you’re diet? I know some good crossfit boxes will advise on nutrition and lean towards a paleo lifestyle (tho not all do unfortunately)
Paleo specifically (in conjunction with a little training but not too much) has changed my life.. going from 280 lbs to 180 lbs (and packing on a bit of muscle, which is continually improving)…
I wholeheartedly recommend you check out “www.robbwolf.com” “www.marksdailyapple.com” “www.bulletproofexec.com”…
some excellent free resources right there,.. this has been damn-near effortless and you never go hungry (being overweight is not a simple maths equation… you fix you’re hormones/toxins/stresses and your body will lean out regardless of how much you eat)
Alden
January 05th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Thanks for Part II.
I am 7 weeks away from my first half marathon.
So ready.
Please keep writing and let us know your progress on life’s journey.
PS – I found another pair of KSO’s in 48 this afternoon. So Happy!!!
Michael Kutsch
January 06th, 2012 at 11:27 am
That’s great! Are you going to run the half in Vibram’s?
Alden
January 10th, 2012 at 9:58 am
Oh yeah.
Did 11 miles on Sat, pb so far.
Tim Whalen
January 05th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Thanks for the kind words about The Factory Mike, you know I am proud of you; and whether you know it or not you have been inspiring people here for sometime. There is a reason I try to create a family atmosphere, because when people like you accomplish all that you have it lifts everybody physically and spiritually. Keep up the good work, and thanks for doing your part.
Chris
January 05th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Love the story Michael, and like Jennifer I laughed and cried through some of it. Because I know the strugle quite well! I know Jeremy is so proud and would want to be working out right next to you, just because you were doing it!
Michael Kutsch
January 06th, 2012 at 11:29 am
So many times when I was tired or didn’t feel like running or coming to the gym I thought about Jeremy and that gave me the inspiration to do what I needed that day. He and I had many conversations on the trail while I was training for my half. I’m just trying to be what he always thought I was.
Nathaniel
January 05th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Michael,
Thanks for having the guts to write about being a “fat boy.” I have never been large but at 39 am at the heaviest I have ever been. 208 pounds this morning at 6′ tall. The biggest majority of my fat is around the middle so I spend the day sucking it in so I can look good in my clothes. I turn 40 in just under 5 months and have been feeling really unhealthy over the past year or two. I am tired all the time, my joints hurt and as I sit in the loco g room adoring my beautiful wife and teenage son, I think they don’t deserve this lak of effort on my part. I am writing this as I sit in the gym waiting for my son’s basketball game to start and held back tears multiple times reading your article. I have been needed that extra little motivation to be in the best shape of my life when I turn 40, and you have provided. I know for the sale of my wife and son should be enough, but sometimes we need the kick in the seat and fortunately I got it before I got a slam to the chest.
A Huge Thanks
Michael Kutsch
January 06th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I’m glad my story could help you. You have a lot to be healthy for. If I could offer some advice it would be to get for healthy for you! It sounds selfish but you have to do it for yourself. Take care of yourself and it will benefit every other aspect of your life. You will feel so much better about yourself and that will only make your relationships with your wife and son that much better.You read my article and took the time to respond so that means a ton. The desire is there, just act on it! There will be times when you want to quit, that’s when you think about your loved ones to get that little extra to help you see it thru. You can do it. If you ever need a kick in the pants feel free to contact me. I don’t know much but I’ve been where you’re at. It’s an ongoing process for sure, but you’ve made the first step and that’s the hardest one. “I’m not there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday”. Good luck Sir.
Carrie
January 05th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
The Saginaw Muscle Factory has always been a dream of my brother-in-law, Tim Whalen (owner). Your part 2 story made me cry, smile, and laugh. I hope your story can motivate others. It has placed a spark in me. I can’t read to read part 3.
Your Dad
January 06th, 2012 at 12:03 am
I am as proud of you today as I have ever been and you know how I feel about you.
Michael Kutsch
January 06th, 2012 at 11:25 am
Thanks Nig! I’m glad I could make you proud. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without everything you have taught me. You instilled this competitive desire in me from an early age and I thank you for that. I don’t always act like it but I appreciate everything you have done for me. I didn’t set out on this thing expecting anything but what I have received has been priceless. I’ll see you in a couple days. I’m proud to call you my Dad. I know you are proud of me but I’m finally proud of myself again.
Scoper
January 06th, 2012 at 12:06 am
I don’t know what to say other than WAY TO GO SLUGGO! You know exactly how much I can relate to your story and I’m pumped now to work hard to get a similar success. Keep it up bro. FWO used to rule but I think we need to go for Formerly Fat World Order now. Thanks for the inspiration.
Geoffrey Winsbro
January 06th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Michael,
Your story is awe inspiring. You have so much to be proud of. I really hope I am able to read more as you reach new goals.
cherie
January 06th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
This is truely awesome big guy. (Not meant to be a fat joke). I have always liked to run, like most I am not fast but I enjoy. I am glad you found the enjoyment. In case your interested there is a local 1/2 and full marathon, the Qualifier. I have insanely signed up for the full just because I thought it would be cool to run from Midland to Bay City:)
Heidi
January 07th, 2012 at 10:12 am
This is so amazing Slug, CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you and so inspired! An 11 mile race for your first? I thought I’d done well for doing a 5k… lol and look at you!
So, you’ve not only inspired everyone here, but Jordan, as well, to order his own pair of NEON YELLOW shoes… thanks for that… and myself as well, as I’m leaving to run right now :)
You’re rocking it. Never give up and keep up your amazing work!!
Sam Hight
January 07th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Hi from New Zealand, Michael! You have an awesome story and you write in a captivating and inspiring way.
I’m another who shed 80+ pounds and have enjoyed using VFFs along the way. I got into minimalist footwear, and my weight loss, through parkour and the exciting challenges that hook you so easily. I’m currently rocking a pair of Luna sandals and ran for a relaxing couple of hours in them yesterday.
Parkour, crossfit, and similar more natural exercise methods seem to be a common thread in weight loss stories like ours. I discovered through Dr. Phil Maffetone that a bit of distance running and sensible eating is the key to keeping myself in balance and preventing over-training and related injuries from the high intensity stuff.
Keep up the great work Michael! I’m going to share your story around because it has a lot of potential to inspire others.
Sam
Yaj
January 09th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Dude, you are awesome. This story is amazing. Not because you lost 200 lbs, or went from a fatty to a hottie. Or did some incredible feat that no one else in the world did. You’re just a real guy like everyone else who just keeps trying and doesn’t give up. Some days you cave in to the McD’s or feel like failing because it’d be easier. Some days the negative wins over, but you still keep at it.
It’s what I’m trying to do with my life. I was 185 in 2001, went up to 247 5 year ago, and have been yo-yo-ing ever since. I’ve been on Vibrams and doing all my workouts in them. I recently completed Tough Mudder, just so I know my body and mind can do it. I want to train my mind to never give up. Down to 220 now, with much more muscle. Not extraordinary in any way whatsoever. I just want to be ordinary. Some days I cave in to Wendy’s and give myself days and days of grief over it, even though I know I would more than make up for it.
Your story is inspiring, dude. More inspiring that any other superhuman story that is commonly posted out there. Keep on chuggin’ dude. You’re doing awesome!
Willie
January 12th, 2012 at 1:30 am
Big Mike, The best golfer you know is SOOOOO PROUD of his boy. And that ain’t no TW shit…LOL