Walker Stradley, a Texas farmer and rancher, shares his 11-year journey with Leanness Lifestyle University and his personal journey from obese adolescent, topping the scales in 1993 at 309 pounds, to lean and fit 56-year old!
This is a unique interview. I’ve known Walker for more than a decade now. He first came to me in 2002 after buying my book that, at that time, was not even bound! It was printed on 3-hole punched paper and put in a 3-ring binder with a slip-in cover.
The reason I think this interview is unique is because while I’m interviewing Walker and we discuss his amazing transformation and journey from 309 pounds to 180 I also discuss pieces of my Leanness Lifestyle University journey which is no less of a before and after from a business perspective.
Walker and I candidly discuss his many recycles from 199 back to 220, then back down to 190ish and back to 220ish. As Walker discusses his ups and downs I also share why I’ve evolved the program and coursework. Walker and the other “Walkers” are the reason I no longer offer the short, 7-week courses with nothing to follow up. They don’t work.
Now both Walker and I believe he’s lost this weight for the last time. Not only has he grown as a person and student but I share how I’ve grown as a person and Coach.
Walker was obese as early as grade school. At his heaviest he topped the scales at 309 pounds. He remembers the day well. He had sent his wife to the store to get him some bigger pants. He needed a size 52 waist. His wife returned teary-eyed. She had to break the news to him. “Baby, they don’t have the size pants you need.”
Walker says during the periods he has been obese he could have been in the most crowded room there is and felt completely alone. He never felt a part of. Instead he felt a part without.
Borderline hypertensive with worn-out knees and signs of prediabetes Walker returned to Leanness Lifestyle University in January of 2013 at 225. In our interview Walker further discusses the REAL cost of being obese.
This time both he and I were different. No longer would he be doing a short-lived course and then turned loose. No, this time the course was 26 weeks with continued follow up in place to support him properly for the long haul.
Now, one year after starting Lifestyle 180 he’s maintained his weight loss for six full months – the longest he’s maintained his weight loss ever! Now we’re on to the next six months, taking it one day at a time. Walker is committed to maintaining the loss and now I’ve got the program and curriculum to help him keep the weight off.
It isn’t just my students who transform and evolve. I do too. I need to. I’ll never settle. I will always be striving to help one more person to achieve permanent weight-loss success.
This is a great, unique success interview. Neither of us could be any more candid if we tried. Make sure you listen to the 51-minute interview, if, for no other reason, to hear Walker’s poem at the end. Walker has gifts in the poet field even though he’d never admit to it. Throughout the years Walker, when he feels moved to do so, shares poems on our discussion forum, and they always bring a smile or tear to the reader – they’re good.
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