I've lost 80 pounds over the past two years...

It's been quite a journey.  I weighed 175 back in 1997, the year I achieved a number one ranking in USTA Texas mens 30 and over doubles,  But by the end of 1998 my weight was in the 190's and by 1999 I was in the 200's and stayed 200 plus for the next eleven years.   I was 226 pounds on my wedding day in 2003.

At my heaviest I weighed in the 240's.   By 2010, I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure.  The medications prescribed to me were expensive and had side effects that were worse than the conditions they were treating.

My wife researched natural remedies and we adjusted our diet to a vegan nutrition plan and the results were immediate.  Within ten days my blood pressure and blood sugar numbers were at normal levels and my weight slowly started diminishing.  By October 2012 my weight dropped below 200 pounds for the first time in thirteen years.  By October 2013 my weight had dropped to the low 160's.

Although my weight is back to 'normal', I still have to watch my nutrition.  When I stray too far from a plant based diet I can tell a huge difference in the way I feel.

My regained health is an amazing miracle.  I used to wear double X clothing and now I am wearing medium and large sizes.  

Camo Sunday

 Pastor Mike Hoggard has 'Bib Overall Sundays' at Bethel Church in Festus Missouri where (just for fun), everyone wears bib overalls to church on a designated day.  My son Elijah decided that we needed to have a 'Texas Version' of bib overall Sunday and he decided we would have 'Camo Sunday' yesterday.

 Elijah was totally camouflaged, but I only own one pair of camo shorts and they are a little too big for me these days but I was happy to get in the proper uniform of the day.  Elijah loaned me one of his camo caps to round out my ensemble.

We enjoyed church at our house this past Sunday, streaming Pastor Mike's Sunday School and Morning service to our television.   I made a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy.   Connor was home and we had a complete family in attendance.

In church, Pastor Mike taught on the reign of King Hezekiah.   Here are some of my notes from his sermon:

Hezekiah: He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. 2 Kings 18:5-6

 I wish America had a leader like Hezakiah.   At least I can lead my own family in that manner!  2 Kings 18:5-6 is an inspiring verse!  

The Lord provided an AMAZING day for us yesterday.     PRAISE GOD!

Coach Sam's Tip from the life of Hezekiah:  Cleave to the Lord today.  Depart not from following HIM.  Keep His Commandments!

Dragons, Unicorns, Satyrs, Leviathan... Do you believe they were / are real?

I have long been interested in the mystery creatures mentioned in the bible and also those same creatures as mentioned in mythological tales.

Pastor Mike Hoggard just published a study of Dragons, Fiery Serpents, Leviathan, Unicorns, Satyrs: all of whom are mentioned throughout the King James Bible.  He makes a very compelling presentation that these creatures DID in fact physically exist in history.  Furthermore, he shows us that there are spiritual ramifications associated with these beasts that may be affecting our lives today.   I am sure I will be blogging on this topic for awhile...

Here is a link to Pastor Mikes first study on this topic:

http://pastormikehoggard.com/2013/01/27/mystery-creatures-of-the-bible/

It's a fairly long video, (1 hour 15 mins)  but if this topic interests you at all you will not be able to stop watching it.   And then wait until I post part 2 of his study where he discusses dragons and their spiritual applications.  You will be TOTALLY amazed.

Many modern bible translations do not mention unicorns, satyrs, and the like...  That is a great point for discussion in another blog post.

I hope you will take time to view Pastor Mike's video teaching on mystery creatures of the bible and that we might enjoy a stimulating discussion afterwards. 

~Coach Sam

Funny Story about Billy Graham...

A tennis coach friend of mine shared this humorous story about Billy Graham...

Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.

'You know' he said, 'I am 87 years old and I have never
Driven a limousine. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?'

The driver said, 'No problem. Have at it.'

Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway. A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap.

The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo then got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure. The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor. 'I know we are supposed to enforce the law.... but I also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person.'

The supervisor asked, 'Is it the governor?'

The young trooper said, 'No, he's more important than that.'

The supervisor said, 'Oh, so it's the president.'

The young trooper said, 'No, he's even more Important than that.'

After a moment,the supervisor finally asked, 'Well then, who is it?'

The young trooper said, 'I think it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!'

Watching What I Eat

I came across this photo on Facebook and it inspired today's post about how changing to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle totally turned my health around.  I went from a 230+ pound diabetic, high blood pressure situation to a 170-180 pound super charged athlete that has a second chance at life.

A little over two years ago I was on expensive meds that made me feel worse than the condition they were supposed to be treating.  My doctor said I could drop dead of a heart attack at any moment.  My body was always hurting due to trying to maintain an active lifestyle carrying around 75 pounds more than God intended me to have.

I would still like to shed a few more pounds, but in two years and 60 + pounds I have gone from buying XXL clothing to a lowly 'L' and sometimes I even fit into a 'M'.   I feel great and am playing the best tennis of my life in my late forties.   Praise God.

I will chronicle more of this journey in the next few weeks and months.  But for now, let me just say that by maintaining a healthy plant based nutrition plan combined with an active life style, I completely reversed my diabetes and high blood pressure.  

Being married to a loving dedicated spouse like my precious Monica sure hasn't hurt my chances of success and survival, either! (She is an amazing cook, too!)

To God be the Glory!   ~Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...  James 1:17

10 and Under Tennis ~ Coach's Notes

Elijah would have played his first BIG tennis tournament in Houston this weekend but he had been sick all week and had to miss it.   I volunteered to help umpire and monitor some of the matches.  There was some amazing tennis talent in the 10 and under groups.    Many of the children were 7 years old like Elijah.

I asked one young competitor how old he was and he told me: "...7, but I have been playing tennis since I was 2..."    He was pretty good for seven years old.  

Over all, the10 and under tournament went very well.  There were no incidents involving parents that I observed.  And only one match I officiated ended up with a little boy crying because he lost.    That is my biggest concern with Elijah and other young people who compete 'seriously' in sports at a very young age. 

Elijah is an amazing kid.  He's already developed pretty good tennis strokes at his tender age, but I have concerns about how well he will 'compete' and interact with other kids on the field of competition.  I have never tried to be too 'pushy' a tennis parent. And I never emphasize winning but always stress the most important thing is to give 100 % effort and the winning will take care of itself.

My son is very naturally competitive, and I want him to develop a healthy respect for competition, especially displaying a keen respect for those he is competing against.

Tennis can be a great vehicle for teaching many life skills: especially how to interact with others.  It can teach the importance of honesty and integrity with regard to keeping score and making line calls.  It teaches problem solving.

I am looking forward to Elijah's next opportunity to play!

 

Watching Some Westerns Today....

 It's a wet day and looks to be a complete washout for the day.  I have a lot of work to do at home but I plan to take a break this afternoon at some point and watch a few episodes of 'The Virginian', with Elijah.   The Virginian starred James Drury and was one of my favorite television shows growing up as a kid.

I love that my son Elijah enjoys many of the same tv shows that I enjoyed as a young person because there is absolutely nothing I would want him to watch on television in this day and age.

I recently discovered that James Drury lives in the Houston area and makes many local appearances.  I would love to have him come to Columbia Lakes for an event some time.

To me, his character, 'the Virginian'  is a fantastic role model for young boys and men.  He his hard working, honest, and true.  He epitomizes the true cowboy way:

If it's not true, don't say it.
If it's not yours, don't take it.
If it's not right, don't do it.


If the world followed those three simple guidelines we would be living in a much different world than we do now.

 I long deeply for a different world and am greatly looking forward to this world passing away and the coming of a New Heaven and a New Earth.  I am looking forward to hear the sounding of a trumpet and to see my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ riding on the clouds, shining like the sun.

Until then, I will try to fill my head with good and wholesome things.   Whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honorable, whatsoever is right, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is of good repute: If there is any excellence, or anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  Phil 4:8

Starting the New Year well under 200 pounds...!

Wow...  I did not make one single post in 2012.  That is disappointing.  I have really let Facebook dominate my life.   Well, 2013 will be a different story.   I want to get back to my blogging this year.

Here's to the new year:  Good bye 2012...  Hello 2013...!

We have had the wettest coldest winter I can remember in a long time.  Maybe it seems colder because I have lost so much weight and I have very little natural insulation left.   Over the past 2 years I have lost nearly 60 pounds.   I weighed in for the new year at 185.2 pounds.

It is an awesome thing to start the year under 200 pounds.  My target weight is 165 so I have about 20 pounds to go.

I'll get there...!   See you on the courts.   ~coach sam

Bells of Saint Mary's

I finished teaching tennis camp in League City at 11:30 AM yesterday morning.  Then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon with Monica and Elijah that included lunch, a little shopping, then dessert.

Afterwards we went back home and had one of the most relaxing evenings in a long time just hanging out enjoying a cozy fire in the fireplace and watching one of my favorite childhood movies:  The Bells of St Mary's.

It was Monica and Elijah's first time to watch 'Bells' and they loved it.  For me, movies like this one bring back fond memories of the much simpler time of my youth.  I loved Bing Crosby.  He had such a beautiful voice.  And all the movie stars of that era seemed to be able to sing and dance so wonderfully.  The movies of that time period had a moral, and the story endings usually made you feel just glowing and inspired afterwards.  Although this era of great movie making has surely passed I never tire of watching classic movies that influenced my imagination and stirred my heart as a child.

It is no wonder I developed such a love for music at a tender young age watching movies like Bells of St Mary's and numerous others such as:  'A Song is Born' with Danny Kaye and the jazz legends of his day.  Danny Kaye is another amazingly talented actor whom I never tire of watching.

And so starts my 48 hours 'off'.   Sometime today or tonight I am probably going to watch 'White Christmas' again for the 100+ time.  I do not have a single tennis activity scheduled until Monday, December 26 and I am very much looking forward to just resting my body and hanging out and relaxing with my precious family and reflecting on the Christmas season

God has blessed my family tremendously this month in many ways.   Today as I reflect over the month, the year, and my life, I Thank and Praise the Lord for what HE has done and continues to do! I especially thank him for sending His son, Jesus to be born as a tiny little baby who would grow up and take away the sins of the world.  Jesus is THE TRUE MEANING for the CHRISTMAS SEASON...!

Looking forward to celebrating a great big birthday party tomorrow...!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS...!

The Virginian

James Drury is 'The Virginian'.  This tv show ran from 1963 to 1977.  



This is one of my family's favorite shows.  We watch at least one or two episodes every evening on Netflicks...!  Elijah really likes Westerns.  That suits me just fine.  We love watching television from the 50's and 60's....  It's nice to watch shows that are 'clean' and have morals. 

Today is a 'rain day'.  It is actually the first day this year where it has rained pretty much all day.  We are having a 'Virginian' marathon today...!

NBA LOCKOUT... Is anyone even noticing...?

I loved basketball when I was a child.  I knew as a 5'5" white kid I would never make it big in the sport but I enjoyed playing with my friends, and even after a very mean junior high basketball coach made it totally not fun and I gravitated towards tennis, I still always enjoyed watching the NBA on television.

I was a great Houston Rockets fan growing up.  I also loved Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics teams of the 80's and 90's.  When the rockets won their world championships in the mid 1990's I could not have been more pleased...!

But I haven't watched an NBA game in years.  I became disgusted with the poor sportsmanship, greed, OK, yes... and to a lesser extent -the tattoos.  So, I have boycotted NBA Basketball since the close of the 20th century and I have not looked back.  And you know what?  I have had a good life with no regrets.

Please don't get me wrong, I can definitely appreciate when someone achieves excellence in their sport.  But some of the top players make 20+ million dollars a season.  To me, that is just absurd.  The average salary of an NBA player is 6 million dollars.   And things are so bad, they think they are being taken advantage of by the owners so they are refusing to play until they owners share more revenue with them...?   Sorry, no sympathy in this corner.

And just to be fair: I think the top professional tennis players are paid way too much, too...!  And so are other professional athletes salaries.  And while I am on the 'bandwagon', I think that other (more important) jobs like SCHOOL TEACHERS are way underpaid.  I believe the average teacher's salary should be MUCH higher considering what is at stake here...!

Let's look at it from this perspective:  Which people group has a greater impact on our children and the future of society and our world:  school teachers, or NBA players...?

Ladies and Gentlemen:  I rest my case.

So no tears are being shed by me for the NBA revenue squabbles.  I hope more people will become disgusted by the avarice (greed) of the world and turn to the ONE SOURCE of true satisfaction:  A personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...!

The Power of the Tummy

This photo was taken March 9, 2009.  I found it while browsing an old photo album.  It reminded me that Elijah and I used to go fishing a lot.   It was very easy to fish at Columbia Lakes back when we first moved there.But over the years the owners have not taken care of the lakes and lagoons and now it is impossible to fish because of all the overgrown vegetation.

In this photo we were fishing at Shy pond in Lake Jackson on a Saturday afternoon after I had completed my lessons.  I had just laid down for a second to rest my eyes and was fast asleep.    Elijah crawled up on my tummy wearing my hat when Monica snapped the picture above.

But my tummy has 'special' powers and it wasn't long before Elijah was unconscious as well.  We did not catch any fish that day but we did have a very good father ~ son time that I will not forget.

Seeing that photo makes me want to plan another fishing trip again, soon...!

The Rebelution: Life Changes for Coach Sam



Coach Sam and Elijah at The Bayou Club

 I have joined a group of people who are rebelling against low expectations...!  I heartily reccommend the book: 'Do Hard Things' by Alex and Brett Harris.   It is an amazing, life changing book.  I am going to begin ordering copies of this book and make it mandatory reading for all my students...!

Please check out Alex and Brett Harris's website:  http://www.therebelution.com/about/rebelution.htm



One of the 'Hard Things' I have done was get serious with my weight loss regimen.  The photo was above was taken back in 2009.   I have since then lost close to 50 lbs...  More on that journey soon...!   

Another 'Hard Thing' I have done is to get back into blogging.  Blogging used to be one of my main focuses before I contracted an 'addiction' to facebook.   Although I am not giving up facebook, I am greatly limiting my time on FB and trying to use it more as a 'tool' to witness to others about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   Friends, I sure could use some prayer in this endeavor...!

Going forward I will try to update this page at least once a week...  Blessings to all...!

~Coach Sam

Come on, People...! Show some Respect

The big news around this area is that some kids in Sweeny, Texas are refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the Sweeny ISD School Board has changed it's policies under pressures from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Here is a news link reporting the story details...

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8088920

Honestly, this turns my stomach.... If America starts turning out more kids like this we have absolutely no hope at all to survive as a country. I am twice as disappointed in the parents of these children. And I am triple disappointed in the elected school board officials who did not take a stronger stand on this issue.

I am definitely praying for this situation...

~coach sam

Role Models

Role Models: Are You One…?

The word ‘role’ is usually associated with theater arts. When you think of the word ‘role’ you usually think of a character in a movie, play or drama. An actor or actress will play the ‘role’ of a certain character. If they played their role particularly well, we will remember their performance.

The ‘role’ is a description or example of the character it portrays. Now, most stories are about some sort of conflict or problem, and how that conflict or problem is resolved. A basic conflict theme often portrayed is ‘Good versus Evil’.

A perfect example of this theme occurs in the movie: ‘Star Wars’. In this epic motion picture the character that exemplified ‘Good’ was Luke Skywalker. The example of ‘Bad’ was Darth Vader.

In real life we have people who are role models that exemplify ‘good’, or ‘bad’. Honestly, I have come to learn that life is really a struggle of the good versus bad theme played out over and over again. Have you ever noticed any recurring themes in your life?

I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of teachers and coaches in our lives and how these ‘powerful’ roles can affect us in a positive or negative way. For myself, I think God allowed me to discern good and bad fairly early in life. Praise God that I did have many ‘Good’ directions to turn to. But I have often thought to myself, what if ‘this’ or ‘that’ had or had not happened in my life, what kind person would I have become? What different set of choices might I have made and who would I be today…?

The fact is, any number of scenarios could have played out. But the bible says that God has a plan for us, and it is a plan for ‘GOOD’. In Jeremiah 1:5 God says: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’

Of course, God was speaking to Jeremiah in this passage, but this scripture tells us that our lives are no accident. Things don’t happen by chance. There is a God who is in control of what happens. Jeremiah 29:11 explains: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Friends, we have hope and a future. It is a GOOD future! You may not think of yourself as a role model. But your life, your words and your actions touch countless others around you in ways you may not be aware. I challenge you today to be a role model for ‘GOOD’. Do not under estimate the awesome power of an encouraging word or an act of unselfish kindness or generosity. One good word or deed has the power to transform a life.

~Coach Sam Chadwell, April 26, 2011

Catching up with Coach Sam

Here is a not so flattering photo of me at my 2010 Alumni Tournament. I definitely appear to be very focused on what was going on at that moment. It was actually a very good and fun tournament except for the fact that I sustained a foot injury on the very first point of my first match in the tournament...!

I still look over weight in that picture, but I have been losing weight steadily since switching to a vegan diet... I hope to get in really good shape over the Christmas break and play some tournaments in the spring.

Over all, life is good.

I enjoy coaching and living 'out in the country' at Columbia Lakes. I am going to try to keep up with my blogging and spend less time on facebook in the new year...!

That's the 'Coach Sam Update'... Check back soon... Will try to update every weekend...!

Tennis, Anyone...?

Here is a picture of my brother and I this past June at 'Coach Sam's Alumni Tournament' for current and former students as well as anyone who played high school tennis in Brazoria, Wharton, or Matagorda counties over the years.

John and I made it to the finals of the men's doubles division but had to retire in the deciding match because I was cramping up in the heat. I weighed about 236 pounds in that photo. I was actually playing fairly well but carrying that much extra weight is too great a liability, especially in the heat of a Texas summer.

Fast forward to October 27, 2010. My wife and I radically changed our diets nearly two months ago after she did some research and discovered that many people have had amazing results curing their diabetes and high blood pressure with a vegan diet.

We gave it a try and have been simply astonished with the results. In just two weeks my blood sugar levels and heart rate had significantly lowered. After 3 weeks I had lost 12 pounds and had virtually no signs of diabetes whatsoever. I am now closing in on 2 months and weighed in at 217 last night, a loss of close to 19 pounds...!

I feel better than I have in years. ...And, we have been eating like royalty around here, too! If anyone following my progress would like to sample some of our recipes we'll be glad to share...!

So right now I am looking forward to another round of the Alumni Tournament series I started in June. I think I will be more of a threat with the shedding of 20 pounds...

The next Alumni Tournament will be November 19-20 at the Columbia Lakes Tennis Center in West Columbia, Texas. The deadline is November 12. You can register online at http://chadwelltennis.com/

See you on the courts...!

Beautiful Face...!

My wife has the most beautiful face in the world...! But not only that, she is beautiful on the inside, too. I am very blessed...!

To be continued...!

Back at Columbia Lakes...!

I left Columbia Lakes in November of 2008 and now I am returning after a fifteen month absence...! I am very much looking forward to getting started again.

My focus right away is to get some programming in here that really caters to the local community, especially familes. I have many fond memories growing up in Bay City and playing tennis just about every day with my mom and younger brother...

I really want to see families grow closer through quality time spent together engaged in activities at the Columbia Lakes Tennis Center. There's so much potential here. I have many new fun programs and events already in the planning stages...

Stay tuned for more details soon. Go to http://chadwelltennis.com/

Christmas 2009

Yay... It's almost Christmas 2009. Christmas Eve has been an enjoyable, relaxing day. I've been preparing some delicious stuffed pork loin rolls all afternoon. Elijah has been helping me. We have also decided to watch all the Star Wars movies this weekend. -That's a nice Chirstmas tradition.... We're watching NEW HOPE right now...

Monica's been busy but has not had a stressful day. Everything is going pretty well for this Christmas holiday.

Church is coming up at 5 PM and then we are going to visit some friends this evening. Looking forward to it...

More later.....