DDP YOGA has made me realize that anything is possible.
Name: Kevin "Rev Kev" Tankersley
Hometown: Dalton, GA
Starting Weight: 337 lbs
Started DDPY (again): November 2014
Timeframe: 6 Months
Weight Lost: 103 lbs
I was 22 years old and my life was going through a tailspin of health problems. I weighed 305 pounds and was suffering from slow breath, bad knees, and had began to start having chest pains. Seeing where my life was heading I knew I had to make a change. I saw my family and my fiance and thought if I wanted to grow old with my wife to be that I had to make this change.
I began to pray to God for help. On June 5, 2010, my prayers were answered when I met DDP at a wrestling convention in Atlanta, Georgia. I watched the transformation of Arthur which drew my attention. However I still brushed it off and decided to leave. It was at that moment I won an autographed DDP action figure that read " Do your YRG (DDP YOGA) or else!" I then took that as a sign from God.
I began the program on June 8, 2010 and in my first month I had a weight loss of 32 pounds. I began setting goals. In 4 months I lost 107 pounds. By January 2011, I had gone from 305 pounds to 167 pounds! My life is so much better. I ran my first 5K in October 2010 finishing in 38 minutes. In October 2011 I ran my first Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in 2 hours and 29 minutes! In September 2011, I began training to be a police officer which was a dream I had but didn't pursue because of my health. DDP YOGA has made me realize that anything is possible.
It's not a program where no one supports you! When my family thought I was nuts, TEAM DDP YOGA was always there encouraging me to do my best!
Update May 2015
So like that Life happens. In June 2010, I met DDP at Promolast Events in Atlanta Georgia and shortly after that event I ordered the program. In 4 months I lost 107 pounds and went from 305 all the way to 167 in 6 months. I was a happy 22 year old guy who finally had a reason to live. I no longer had chest pains, bad knees, shortness of breath and I was even running half marathons. This experience led me pursue my dream of becoming a police officer and that is exactly what I did.
However, when I got to my goal I decided to go back and eat Gluten and Dairy on occasion. Well this occasion turned into something regular and eventually turned back into me eating fast food and I even started drinking sodas again. I am not a smoker or an alcoholic but the experience seemed the same as someone who goes so long without a cigarette, alcoholic beverage, or any addiction and then gives in. I lost control, literally. By August 2011 I was back up to 212 lbs. I attended the first ever retreat shortly after I married the love of my life, Lisa, and had a great time. After that experience I decided to get my head out of my butt and own it. I got back down to 197. Then my happy life took a downward spiral.
On September 15, 2011 I awoke to the news that I had lost my Mammaw Parks. She was my biggest support and for 5 years I saw her health deteriorate after a car accident left her with a collapsed lung. For most of my life, she was there from babysitting to attending my graduation and she always encouraged me. To lose her was like a sledgehammer to my heart. I just quit caring anymore and I started eating the bad food again. Fast food became easier and my weight escalated slowly.
On April 1, 2012 I received the news that I was going to be a father. Talk about stress. The experience was so frightening to me. Because at this time I'm living with my wife in a tiny bedroom at my parents house, working a minimum wage job and now I'm going to be a father. How am I going to support this? What am I going to do? Every police agency is turning me down.
My daughter was born on November 30, 2012 and I was very happy. In April 2013, I finally got that police job and that helped relieved some stress. In September 2013, My family finally was able to move into our own home. Stress free but still carrying the grief of losing mammaw.
In November 2014 I go for a checkup and my weight is 342 lbs and my blood pressure is 220/112! The doctors are telling me I need to get on all these medications or I am going to die. Now what? I looked at my family and it hit me. Is this what I want? Heck no! If I continue this way someone else will walk my daughter down the aisle and I will never see her graduate. I want to be an active father and an active husband who is there for there for their family and so I put in the DDP YOGA DVDs that had been collecting dust for 3 years.
As of May 2015, I am down 103 pounds and going. My goal is 185 and I couldn't be happier. I'm running again. I can mow the grass without getting exhausted, I can tie my shoes without losing my breath. The first time was all about me and bragging to others, but now I have purpose and reason and I can't complain one bit. I look forward to waking up without those pains. If I had continued where I was I may not be here today and I'm always willing to help someone along their journey.
I am currently working to get certified as a Level 1 instructor to continue on this journey. I love my life more than I ever have before.
Rev Kev is now a Level 1 DDP YOGA Certified Instructor. You can join his classes in Dalton, GA and learn more at facebook.com/revolutionddpyoga
