Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I live in Columbus, Ohio with my wife and two very large puppies, a Saint Bernard and a Great Dane. Love going to concerts, hanging with friends, and in general, being social. Very happy to be getting back to being out with friends again in 2021!
What did your life look like before Stronger U?
Prior to Stronger U if yo-yo dieting was a sport, then I would be an Olympian. I have tried most fad diets, and like most people, I would take the weight off just to have it come right back again. I have had countless gym memberships over the years that typically resulted in a few months of activity followed by months and months of donating money to the gym to satisfy my year commitment. Overall, I was not active enough and spent most of my life in a calorie surplus.
What does your life look like now?
After Stronger U I now understand the role that food plays and how it needs to work with my training and not against it. I now understand that food shouldn’t be looked at as the thing that exercise must make up for, but instead, it’s the fuel source for the training that gets me to where I want to be. I have gone through multiple bulks and cuts using the knowledge gained through Stronger U and am finally in control of my weight not a victim of it.
Where did you hear about Stronger U?
Peloton user group on Facebook.
Why do you think Stronger U worked so well for you compared to other programs or diets?
Having a live coach that provided education along the journey. Additionally, Mike and the Facebook community were amazing. It really is a perfect storm and all three pieces were critical.
What was something you regularly ate while on Stronger U that people wouldn’t expect you to eat on a diet?
Ice Cream. I had a Yasso Bar or a Coffee Brownie Ice Cream sandwich from Trader Joes nearly every single night while in my cut.
Did Stronger U have any impact on your training?
Prior to Stronger U, I hadn’t trained for anything since I attended high school. I now train regularly on both the Peloton and Tonal and am looking forward to participating in events once things return to normal.
How much weight did you lose with Stronger U?
90 pounds
How many inches did you lose off your waist?
So I was really bad about measuring my waist but I dropped from a size 48 men’s pants to a size 32.
Did you have any favorite non-scale victories to share?
So many! I had someone online tell me that my progress photo was fake. I took my shirts into get tailored and the look on the guy’s face when he said, I’m going to have to take a lot off this was priceless. I fit better on airplanes, on roller-coasters, go-carts, my car, and so many other things.
Has Stronger U improved your overall quality of life?
I have energy! Doing things like cleaning out the basement or moving things up and down stairs no longer make me out of breath. And of course, the occasional sideways glance in a mirror when passing by and thinking.. wow man.
Has Stronger U improved your overall health (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc)?
This was actually one of my triggers to join. I had the dreaded conversation with my doctor about blood pressure and was told that I need to figure it out or go on meds. My blood work numbers have always been bad to the point where I would just not get it done. Now, my blood pressure is perfect, my resting heart rate is in the low 50’s, and my blood work is right in line. Doctor checkups are way more fun now.
If someone is thinking about joining Stronger U, what advice would you give them before beginning their journey?
Be honest with yourself and be honest with your coach. You will struggle if that foundation of honesty is not in place. Also, don’t wait to add resistance training to your routine, it’s a critical piece of the puzzle.
Would you like to give a shoutout to your coach, SU staff member, or community member?
Matt Dustin, Mike Doehla, and the entire Facebook community, I seriously couldn’t have done this without them.
