Burn With Us

Mike once worked as a manager of a retail electronics chain and gained 80 pounds in three years due to a hectic work schedule and a diet of fast food. Through the seven years following, he gained 20 more pounds, most likely due to the sedentary nature of the computer career he’d shifted to.

After a layoff in 2005, Mike decided there was no better time to start an exercise program. He subscribed to Men’s Health and soon tried the Abs Diet from the same publisher. Mike had tried one or two diets in the past, including the infamous Atkins Diet, but with the Abs Diet’s common sense approach to healthy eating and exercise, Mike lost 20 pounds in just two months.

His new job led to a long commute that destroyed his workout routine, but his better eating habits helped keep his weight stable. In March of 2007, Mike started studying Shuri-ryu karate with the Academy of Okinawan Karate. As of March 2008, Mike has lost 35 more pounds and has recovered a lot of his previous strength and stamina.

Mike will be starting a running program in March ‘08, and you will probably see a lot of posts about karate, his personal workouts, and his running efforts.

Mike is currently the tech director for a rural school district near Peoria, Illinois, and is a published horror writer and winner of the Bram Stoker Award. You can learn more about Mike and his writing and follow his regular blog on his home page, www.mikeoliveri.com.