Growing up I was always mezmerized by the wrestlers on TV, maybe it was their over masculine bodies and huge muscles or maybe it was that it seemed to be what attracted the ladies . Naturally I wanted to be like them, so much so that I joined the sport of wrestling in high school. Much to my dismay I realized this was not the same wrestling I watched nightly on TV. Not knowing how to quit as my father would have been dissapointed in me (he beleives in finishing everything you start), so I continued to wrestle. It was then when my never ending battle with my weight and image began. I didnt realize wrestling had weight classes, It was a sport I had zero knowlegde of. My first year wrestling I competed in the 140 lb weight class, the upper class men always talked about "cutting weight" to make a lower weight class but I never understood it, until I saw the boys in my weight class. I was an ant compared to the behemoths in my weight class. Wrestling was fairly unknown within my high school, my first year I went varsity due to the lack of a team. I completed that year and won zero matches, I literally lost every match I ever wrestled that year. I sucked, at least thats what I beleived, even then I couldnt quit as bad as I wanted to, I knew then I would have to make some changes, I was no longer going to be the smallest guy in my weight class.
The following pre season thanks to my first major growthspurt I was walking around at 170 lbs ( I was a late bloomer). The weight class below me was 160 lbs, the year before I wrestled 140. in my mind the wrestlers at 160 were to big for me and 140 was just physically impossible. I decided to "cut down" to 152 this was my worst mistake. In order to make the weight class I participated in unhealthy and downright idiotic practices, I wore sauna suits, starved myself, restricted my fluids, I even spit in a model hoping to excrete all my water weight. After weigh ins I would gorge on all the food and fluids I could find, every monday after a tournament I was easily 12 lbs over my weight class and repeated the "cutting" process once again. I coninued this cycle throughout high school and eventually graduating at 200 lbs (I wrestled 160 that year). Every year I would be completely dead at the end of every season and absolutely hate my life during it, I didnt know any better, I thought it was natural and healthy. Finally in college I began to learn about the proper way to lose weight and maintain a strong body. This didnt help, mentally I was still afraid of the bigger weight classes. I continued the process but as I became older it got harder and harder, eventualy I didnt complete my sophmore or junior year season. The weight cut was just to big for me and drained me mentally of my will to continue. That was it for me, I decided I was going to practice what I was taught in the classroom. I was going to eat correctly lift weights hard and never cut weight again in my life. Flash forward to my senior year in college, I went from the 184lb weight class to the 285 lb heavyweight division. I weighed 215 lbs and promised myself I would not cut down to the weight class below (197). I looked the best I have ever looked in my life, physically I felt amazing. I no longer suffered from a worn down broken mind as I had the previous years, wrestling was fun again. using the techniques and programs I learned (and impliment in programs) and eating correctly I put on 18 lbs of solid muscle within the year.
184 Lbs (left) - 215 lbs (right)
(Top) 184 lbs - (Bottom) 215 lbs
I wish i could say thats how the story ended, unfortunately after wrestling I continued my eating habits without the 2 hour wrestling practices every day. I eventually became extremely out of shape and borderline obese. It wasnt until my good friend Jeremy took a picture of me sat me down and told me "I looked disgusting." to some this would have hurt, I knew he meant it in a caring way and wanted me to do something about, he even joined me in a friendly weight loss competition in which I won (he claims he let me win). This time around I practiced a healthy weight loss journey, I did no extreme weight loss practices and was able to safely and naturally drop 25 lbs in 45 days.
256 lbs (left) - 226 lbs (right)
I maintained 226 for quite a while, that is until I received the best news of my life. My Fiance became pregnat and I unknowingly joined her in putting on the baby weight. As a trainer for the past few years I knew better and where all the snacking would eventually lead to, naturally I packed on weight until I didnt recognize the man I saw in the mirror anymore. All my years of jumping back and forth in my weight caught up to me, I was 263 lbs at my heaviest. I was not only upset with myself, I became depressed. I was the "fat trainer" in the gym, all my years of study taught me what not to do and what to do to maintain a fit physique. I ignored all my teachings and was the guy who needed a trainer, not the trainer. This was my final straw, after my son Logan was born I fully commited to not just dropping the weight but keeping it off this time. I trained and cleaned my eating habits stricter then I have ever in my life. Practicing the same cardio, diet and training regimine I implement within my clients programs I was able to drop 61 lbs in 4 months while building muscle and obtaining a physique I could be proud of. I have always believed in practicing what you preach, so within my weight loss I did not enlist the use of any supplement sor any special products, this was done 100% through my training program and diet... well with the help of my Fiance cooking my meals. :)
263 lbs (left) - 203 lbs (right)
I do not tell you my story to brag, rather to show you that I am just like you. I go through my ups and downs. My weight has always been an issue in my life (hopefully not anymore). I am human just like you, I have struggled, I know what it is like being skinny, I know what its like being overweight, I know what its like being in a simialr position as yourself! I will never preach something that I myself have not tried or experienced, my programs work because I have seen them work, not just on my clients but on myself. We cannot change our genetics, we can however make the appropriate changes and manipulate our body into what we want it to be!