From rock bottom to race day — together.
We didn’t just lose weight — we found our fire.
Together, we’ve dropped over 180 pounds, climbed out of the dark, and built a life centered around strength, sweat, and second chances. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s real life. The ugly cries, the finish line highs, and everything in between.
A Moment Before Change: A Snapshot of Where We Were
Before we knew how far we still had to go.
December 9, 2022 – The Avion Christmas Party. We had no idea how far we had to go at this point. While we were dressed up and enjoying a festive evening, we were still grappling with the realities of our health and how far we'd let things slide. I was in survival mode, struggling with emotional wounds, and Billy was doing everything he could to hold it all together. Little did we know, this moment was just one in a series of steps that would eventually lead to the transformation we never saw coming.
A Sneak Peek at the Carnival Frolic
Our First Half Marathon – A Journey Worth Every Step
March 1, 2025 – Carnival Frolic Half Marathon, Decatur, AL. From the struggles captured in the September 2021 photo to this victory on race day, we've experienced a transformation we never imagined. This was a milestone for us – the first of many more to come. Stay tuned for a full gallery of memories, from the excitement before the race to the exhaustion afterward, every step tells a story of determination and growth.
Stacking Our Deck, One Mile at a Time
We’re not just logging miles — we’re stacking wins. Every run, every ride, every sweaty, breathless moment is a card we lay down on our path forward. Together, we’re building a life we believe in. A life where strength is earned, momentum is sacred, and showing up — even on the hard days — is how we win the damn hand.
Captured on April 6, 2025, this photo marks the start of our first official triathlon season. We were knee-deep in training, feeling the intensity of our new journey, but we made a point to step back and enjoy a break. After pushing ourselves during training, we treated ourselves to a relaxing afternoon at Lake Guntersville. It's a reminder that even as we train hard, it's important to enjoy the moments together, celebrate our progress, and embrace the journey—one swim, bike, and run at a time.
Embrace daily moments – fueling the grind
Daily Moments
Life's journey isn't just about the big moments; it's about the small, daily choices that keep us going. For Lesley, it's fueling up with coffee every morning, while Billy relies on a sugar-free energy drink to power through the day. Whether it's these go-to drinks or a burst of energy from somewhere else, each step is part of the grind. These moments of focus and action — even when they seem simple — keep us moving forward, and that's how we build momentum, push through, and show up, day after day.
“Acknowledging your accomplishments, regardless of their size, is vital for sustaining motivation and self-worth. Each achievement, whether a personal milestone or a professional success, represents your dedication and hard work.“
— Celebrate achievements
September 2021: This was one of the photos that made us stop and say, 'Something needs to change.' At the time, we were both nearing our heaviest, but we hadn’t yet taken the steps to make a change. It would still be some time before we found the strength to begin our journey, but this was the moment we both knew things had to be different.
March 2024: After months of hard work and dedication, we decided to recreate a moment from our past. Billy, now down about 60 pounds and having been on Mounjaro/Ozempic for nearly a year, is wearing the same shirt from the 2021 photo, while I’m proudly sporting the same size sweater after being just over a month post-op. We’ve both shed some serious weight—Billy 60 pounds and me 35—and had a blast recreating these pictures. It’s amazing how far we’ve come, and we’re excited to keep pushing forward together.