My name is Joshua Hughes and I live in southwestern Pennsylvania. I was diagnosed with Aortic Stinosis when I was an infant. I was always over weight to obese on the BMI scale and I never joined many extracurricular activities. Growing up was hard because I was constantly teased and bullied for being overweight. I never really went out with friends or any of that because I was so self conscience. The worst was probably gym class or swimming…brutal. Kids are ruthless and it didn’t get any easier when I got to high school, in fact it probably got worse. I endured constant harassment about my weight and my social life was pretty much nonexistent.

When I was eighteen my heart condition worsened and my doctors had to replace my failing aortic valve. When I had my surgery I was 235lbs and terribly out of shape and with my heart condition this is a terrible place to be in. My waist was around 42” just under the belly button. The constant bullying had made me very shy and I was terrified to go to the gym because I assumed it would be just like gym class in high school.

It wasn’t until I was 23 that I decided to do something about it. I started hitting the treadmill to build up stamina. I weighed around 230lbs at this time. I found IWSPA one day while I was surfing the internet for workout tips. I was so excited when I found the workout that I couldn’t wait to try it. It looked like it was something that would actually work. I gave myself a few months of the jogging and walking before I started the program because I knew it was going to be hard. I completely rebuilt my eating habits around Arnel’s suggestions.

When I started my journey I had a 42” waist and weighed around 230lbs. I assume my body fat percentage was easily in the 29% range or so. Today I weigh around 170lbs and I am in the 8-9% body fat range. My waist is 30.5 inches and my 32” Levis fall off of me. I have energy levels that I can’t even describe and I can easily run circles around all of my friends. My confidence level has increased so much in all aspects of my life. I am mentally and physically stronger than I would have ever imagined possible. Achieving my fitness goals has become one of the biggest aspects of my life and I have never felt so good.

My life has been completely changed for the better and I owe Arnel a ton of thanks. Being able to go swimming or running with no shirt on, without fear of being bullied or teased, is a feeling that can never be described with words. I would have never been able to get to my level of fitness without Arnel’s program. To everyone that is taking the Abs Challenge I want to wish you the best of luck. I hope that everyone can find the strength to achieve their fitness goals and conquer any task that stands in their way. If I can do this then I know YOU can.

If you want to change your body like Joshua did, then visit http://www.TheAbsChallenge.com

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Arnel Ricafranca