Scott LaPierre of California — 
Scott LaPierre was used to helping others. As an elementary school teacher and wrestling coach, Scott spent hours enriching the lives of his students and athletes. Still, something was missing—Scott had become out of shape and his energy was dwindling. After accepting the Body-for-LIFE Challenge, Scott was ready to help himself for a change. With his goals of shedding 20 pounds of fat and becoming a Challenge champion firmly in his mind, Scott set out to create his best body—and mind—ever. With a full teaching schedule and pain from shoulder and rib surgeries, Scott faced numerous obstacles during the 12-week Challenge. Instead of letting that slow him down, Scott became more dedicated to the program. “To transform these [obstacles] into positive energy, I created a daily schedule of my work, training, studying and meals,” Scott writes. “I adjusted my training around my injuries… and recorded every weightlifting and cardio session to track my strength and endurance.” Scott also drew on the inspiration of his brother, who had died a year earlier. Scott’s will to succeed was strengthened by the memories he held constantly in his mind. After only eight weeks, Scott had reached his fat-loss goal of shedding 20 pounds. At the end of his Challenge, Scott’s body fat had gone from just over 20 percent to a staggering 6 percent. Now, Scott wants to pass what he has learned to his students. “I teach in a low-income, low-performing school district... my students and athletes deal with atrocities I’m thankful to have never known,” writes Scott. “Now I can share my story with them, that dreams come true through faith, hard work, sacrifice and dedication.”

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