My Story

Greetings, My name is Efren, and would like to share my story with the public. In 2004 I weighed in at 300lbs, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and if I continued with my eating habits, on my way to type 2 diabetes. In 2005 I decided to make a life long commitment and get healthy through exercise, nutrition and my faith. I joined a gym weighing in at 230 and as of August 1, 2005 I weighed in at 156lbs.

I started spending 3 hours a week at the gym and worked my way up. After spending 16 to 24 hours a week at the gym doing cardio and lifting weights, along with volunteering.  I just became a certified fitness instructor and feel very good about myself. I think it’s important for people to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel with weight loss. With so many diets and extreme surgeries happening today I think people forgot that exercise and eating right just works, I am proof of that. Recently I ran a 5k run in Ripon and beat my time by nearly a minute. My time was 20:29. This is a big deal, for I was a smoker since the age of 16 and quit cold turkey in March 2005. Included are some photos of before and after.

Thank you for your time.

Efren J

I came up with idea for this website one evening while I was working out late.  I thought to myself, what's a great way to help promote Exercise, Health, Nutrition and my Love for Jesus Christ at the same time.

Below are a few photos of some races I have entered and a few other pics showing me keeping  the weight off and a much happier me. 

YOU CAN DO IT! 

Me and my best bro, My Dad. Thanksgiving 2005

I love you Dad!

Below is a prayer that I came up with when I was running one day.

I hope you enjoy it.

January 5,2006

Glory to God in the Highest; Thank you Jesus for a better lifestyle and a healthier me. It may be my hard work, but it’s your will. Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to live a healthier life. With you in my heart, I shall continue to treat my body as a temple of faith in Christ.

Amen

December 2005

This was my first race in the cold weather. The race was a lot bigger and even though it was cold that day, I was able to improve my time by 2 minutes. What a great run thanks be to God

Photo below in prayer before the run

December 2005 YMCA 5K Run Time 22.12

April 8,2006

My first Triathlon at Stan State University. It was a ¼ mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and a 5k run. Never in my life did I ever think of going to one much less entering in any competitive sporting Event. Much to my surprise, I came in 5^th out of 122 people in my age group. Thanks be to God.. It just goes to show you what you can do when you have Jesus in your Heart.

In prayer before the start of the Triathlon 4/8/06

May 13,2006

Saturday I entered the Run for Wishes 5k Race at Stan State University. I am happy to say that I came in first in my age group. It just goes to show you that you can do all things through Christ. It was a great run and the Event benefited the Make a Wish Foundation. 

Run For Wishes 5/13/06

This was a small Event at Stan State University, but none the less it was very competitive. Most of the people who participated were professional runners and competed on a regular basis.

5k First Place in my age group

Wharf to Wharf Race 7/23/06

This was the biggest run I have ever done so far! I It was a 10K Race Starting from The Boardwalk In Santa Cruz to

Capitola. Was an Honor to run with some of the best runners in the world. Their was over 15,000 Runners. It was a sea of runners 5 miles long... I was happy to have placed in the top 200 with a time of 46.33.  It was a great experience and I plan to make this run a tradition every year god willing.. Thank you Jesus.

Memorial Hospital Run and Ride 7/16/06

A wonderful event promoting Cancer Awareness. There was a 2 mile walk, 10k run, 12 mile bike ride, a 19 mile bike ride and a 63 mile bike ride. This was a wonderful event and I was proud not only to run with some of the fastest runners in are area, but extremely happy to have my DJ business there to help spread Cancer Awareness in our community. My run was Awesome!

47.48 6.6 miles a 10K

I beat my time by over a minute & placed 7th in my age group total 83 runners

Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day 2006

It was Wednesday night when I heard of this Awesome Race.. Should I do it? Hmm, I will give it my best shot.

I'm the person in the blue out front. 

What a wonderful experience and a great way to start out a new Thanksgiving Tradition. There were nearly 700 runners that competed and I was very thankful to hear of this Event. Out of 688 runners I came in 101 with a time of 22:33.. Not my best time, but hey what a blast. In fact I enjoyed it so much that later that day I ran over to my Father-in-law's house just to get more of that same rush..

Praise God I Love to Run

YMCA 5K Christmas Tree Run 2006

It’s The Annual YMCA 5k Christmas Tree Run! For me this was the second time participating in it and what a thrill. In 2005 my time was 22.12 this year I beat my time by 1 minute 10 seconds with a time of 21.42. I placed 5^th in my age group & 14^th out of 98 runners. What a great feeling it is to see the improvement your time & pass up all those young

5K 21:42

July 2007

The Wharf to Wharf In Santa Cruz CA. 2007

This was my second time running the Wharf to Wharf 10K run. Thanks be to God. Last year my time was 46.33. This year I beat my time running the Wharf to Wharf in 44.20.  My goal is to run it in under 40 minutes. My life time goal is to run a 10 k in 35 minutes. One day I will God willing.

July 2007 The Wharf to Wharf Race 15,000 runners! 10K 6 miles 44.20 

The Wine & Cheese 5k Run October 2007

Incredible! I beat my time by 58 seconds in a 5K race. In 2005, I did a 5K race;  I did it in 22.12. 2 years later, I did it in 21.14 My goal is to do a 5K in under 20 minuets. This was a fun race and loads of people turned out for it. I place 7^th in my age group and if I was 9 years younger, I would have place 2^nd in my age group! If I was one year older, I would have placed 3^rd and if I was a women, I would make for one ugly lady. Giggles Thanks for your support.

21.14 7th Place

The Halloween River Run 2007

21.07 5K

21.11 5K

Almond Blossom 8K Run 2/23/08

Time 34.36 8K

This run was dedicated to my wife. She has been just amazing and her support for me to continue a healthy lifestyle. This was my first 8K run and I was very happy in placing 7th out of 400 plus runners. Glory to God in the highest! I Love Jesus, My Wife and my Mother.

Henry's Run 3/15/08 2nd Place Over All

5K 20.26

After several runs, I finally was able to beat my best time by 3 seconds. It seems I do best when I push away all thoughts on placing and run more for fun. Still, I was very excited to place 2nd over all out of over 300 runners. I actually placed fist in all other age groups except the 13 to 19 age group. The winner was only 13 years young and came in 26 seconds ahead of me. That kid ROCKS!  Folks, this is just a reminder. YOU CAN DO IT! Again, I smoked for more then 20 years and abused my body one way or another. Don't give up! Make exercise a lifestyle and  experience the secret to the fountain of youth.

Run for Health 4/19/08

20.03 2nd place 5K race 

3 seconds can make a world of difference! Sure I beat my best time of 20.26. But still, my goal is to run a 5K in under 20 minutes.  By the grace of God, I will do it someday. 

Below is a photo of all who placed in this run for health. winners! sure everyone one who ran that morning were winners for giving it a go for health.

The 5K Run, The Chocolate and the Heat of 106 degrees!

5/17/08 

This was a great run regardless of the extreme temperatures that hit the Oakdale Chocolate festival  & "5K fun run"  This race was about the hottest race I have ever entered with the temperatures hitting a record high for the day of 106!  Still, I was very happy with my run, I finished in 5th place with a time of 21 minutes flat.  After the run, I went to the festival and had to break up a chase between a Cat and a Tweety Bird. WOW, it was a good thing I was there, that Sylvester can be a terror when it comes to Tweety Birds.  

The Escalon Park Fete July 14 2008

13.26 for a 2 mile run and a 6AM wake up call. Eek!

Good times and My DJ service was hired to entertain the runners and bring them in with some get go to the finish line. It was a 10K race & or a 2 mile run. Since I was hired to entertain the folks there, I entered the 2 mile run so that  I would be missed for to long behind the sound system. In fact, I told me wife. play this recorded mix of 14 minutes & I will be back before it ends. Sure enough, I did the run in 13.26 placing third in my age group.  As far as the song I left paling with my wife. Heck, I still had enough time to get back & cue the next song and dance around. 

3rd place

The Santa Cruz Wharf to Wharf 08

Saturday night came & I was off to work. Being a DJ this happens every year. I get home around 1AM and wake up at 3AM to make the trip to Santa Cruz for the big race of 15000 runners and walkers.  Still, with very little sleep, I beat my time by 1.26 minutes. Incredible! I didn't even race a hard race. My thoughts where to not use my ipod and just go easy to enjoy the run and all the music and people along the route. I finished the race in 43.14 minutes. The Wharf to Wharf race is a hard course with loads of turns and uphill challenges. Me, I was so happy with my time, that when we got into Santa Cruz I jumped in the ocean and swam 1/2 mile in 17minutes. Yes, it's official, I am a cardio junkie.  During my time in Santa Cruz I trained hard with more running, biking and swimming in the ocean. I just loved it. The fallowing day, I swam to the 4th bowie in the ocean witch is the half mile mark. you can't really see that bowie from the shore, but trust me. It's there. In fact, if your ever in Santa Cruz swimming in the ocean on the dream Inn hotel side, take a swim to the 4th Bowie and you will see that it reads in small wording, "Efren Was here" Giggles.. Happily I completed that 1 mile swim in a little over 31 minutes. 

43.14 6 miles

Wharf to Wharf Race 2008 Fifteen Thousand People 

                                                     OK so I enjoyed the heck out of my swim, there's nothingnlike being one with nature, God and all the critters that are swimming all around you. 

I hope this has served as an inspiration to all.  I am proof that all is possible through exercise, nutrition & faith.

In the words of Jack LaLanne

"YOU CAN SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE WITH EXERCISE AND NUTRITION"

Don't let time pass you by.
The best days of your life are Now!

email efren@iwillliveforever.com