09/02/2011 Sam Poueu

I’ve written about Sam a few times on my blog, he is best known for being a high intensity dedicated contestant from the 9^th season of the Biggest Loser TV Show.  Presently he is a trainer at the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu, it is in this capacity that I met him 5 months ago. 

All told over a three week period I probably had a total of 30 hours of interaction with him, half of which was in a one on one capacity during personal training sessions.  The role which he has played in transforming my life can’t be quantified, being a former fat body himself, the things he would say, and make me do, completed changed the way I viewed myself.  

His ability to push a person when they no longer want to push themselves is remarkable; it’s a gift to be able to motivate someone to do something that they normally wouldn’t do on their own.  

“Your body is ready to do the work; it’s your mind playing tricks on you…”

He took two fingers and ran them down my sweaty forearm, and flicked the sweat off, and said
“That’s what I like to see, this just means we are starting to work.”

While doing a group session, Dwayne who I just met that week was on a treadmill next to me, Sam barked out speeds and inclines.  He comes up right behind me and yells at Dwayne to set his treadmill 2 levels faster than mine, I got pissed and turned mine up.

I think this video below is a good example of my relationship with Sam for three weeks. 

“It hurts to sit-up that’s what we are going for…”

Yesterday his Cousin Koli who was also a contestant on the Biggest Loser Season 9, posted on Facebook that Sam had an accident and fell from a height of about 4 stories, he’s presently in the ICU in a hospital in California.  I have no other information about the situation, but have tried to reach out to people who know him in Cali.  Anyone who has additional information please let me know, as I want to send my wishes of a speedy recovery.

Sam, you helped me rediscover a deep place that I had long forgotten, you showed me the way back down a road which was avoided for many years.  It was always easier taking the path of least resistance, this shitty path took me to a deep dark place, and I cocooned myself behind hundreds of pounds of excess fat.  Working with you made me realize that I didn’t have to live that way anymore, choices lead me to that place, and different choices would get me out.

Whenever you do read this, know that you have the internal fortitude of a warrior, and warriors always find a way to succeed.  Inside you have a burning fire.  Recently you have taken this fire and turned it into helping others overcome those obstacles that blocked you from being the person you are, and continue to develop into, know that the work you do has value.  It’s an unquantifiable value because the impact that you leave on people is lasting far beyond the time they spend with you. 

A person without a purpose is like a plant without the sun. 

Know you have lots of work to still do, and your life has a purpose.   One day soon, after the doctors have left, and it’s time for you to go home, you will face a moment of choice.  When this moment appears, know that first you have thousands of people all over the world (literally) who are behind your recovery.   

But take a deeper look into yourself and know that you have too much unfinished business not to get back up and become stronger than you were before the accident and too many days ahead of you, doing what you do best, motivating and changing people’s lives. 

Life is full of tests, some being more challenging than others, but each one of them gives us something that we needed, and we would have never know how much we needed it had the test not occurred, it’s not important what and how it happened, it’s how you step back up and get moving.

I refuse to believe that Sam Poueu will have a long hospital stay; he’s too fucking strong for that…

When this time is right…”Let’s Go!”

I hope the two videos below is evidence enough, the role you have played in the difference between these two videos is unquestioned.

 Lunges With Sam:

Lunges With Liz Five Months Later

Shillism

If you don't know already…

I'm Invovled With Fight Gone Bad!  A CHARITY WORKOUT WHERE YOU RAISE MONEY FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW!  SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD HELP ME!!

Fight Gone Bad is a workout named by an MMA fighter who when finished with it said it was like a fight gone bad, and Crossfit has dedicated a day this month for all Crossfit affiliates to get together and do the workout while raising money for three charities. 

Fight Gone Bad Consists of:

The following five exercises for one minute each, with a one minute rest between rounds and three total rounds.

1. Wall-ball: 20 pound ball, 10 ft target. (Reps)
2. Sumo deadlift high-pull: 75 pounds (Reps)
3. Box Jump: 20" box (Reps)
4. Push-press: 75 pounds (Reps)
5. Row: calories (Calories)

The charities invovled are:

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Camp Patriot

The Crossfit Foundation

The event is supposed to be on the 17th of September, yet my affiliate Potomac Crossfit is holding the event on September 24th 2011.  In an effort to overcome feeling like a fat guy I am going to do the event.