Since joining the fitness center in July 2019, I’ve lost 100 pounds and cut my body fat percentage significantly. I feel great and have found working out to be a nice outlet for managing the stresses of everyday life. I’m also enjoying a new wardrobe (which is essentially old clothes that I haven’t been able to fit into for some time).

One of the biggest lifestyle changes for me was committing to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Some days this was limited to a walk with our dog, doing yoga in our basement, or riding an exercise bike at home. I went to the fitness center 2 – 3 times weekly, and would adjust the days and times based on my work and family demands. This flexibility significantly helped with my mindset and consistency.

I was very cautious about certain exercises or equipment initially because I wanted to avoid injury. It had been more than 20 years since I worked out consistently and I spend most of my time these days sitting behind a desk or in a conference room. I have different health issues and aches & pains than I did back then too. It was important to listen to my body, ask questions, and check-in with Blake if something wasn’t feeling quite right.

Leaving the gym last week, I remember thinking how good I felt. I’m in my mid-40’s and probably in the best shape of my life. I get a lot of questions from friends and colleagues about how I’ve been able to achieve these results. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned along this journey in order to help others and that feels really good. At the same time, I encourage people to be willing to adapt their routines or diet so that the program works for them. What worked for me may not work exactly the same for another person for a variety of reasons.

Just as important as the physical fitness aspect is the diet. I have become much more mindful about eating a healthier diet, planning ahead, and tracking everything I eat using a free app. My wife and I have enjoyed experimenting with new, healthy recipes. When we have “cheat meals”, we often are able to make better choices that still fit within our dietary goals.

The best part about this fitness journey is that it’s been a family effort. My wife, Jennifer, is also a member and has made excellent progress herself. Our 12-year old daughter, Emily, goes to TPC classes regularly and keeps active with other activities. We can often be found together at the pool during the family swim times on the weekends.

I enjoy setting small goals, then seeing if I can break them. Some examples might be how many calories I can burn on the elliptical machine in 20 minutes, or how much weight I can lift on a certain exercise, or how many seconds I can hold a plank. These goals keep things fun and keep me motivated to make progress.
This almost became like a game to me. My initial goal was to lose 50 pounds. So when I hit that mark, I wanted to try for 20 more. Then, when I hit that goal, I wanted to lose another 10 pounds. Now, I’m right where I want to be. It’s a little strange having to eat more to try to stop losing weight!

I have really enjoyed being a member at the Center. Blake Heinz designed an excellent program for me, which was the main workout program I followed during this journey. I felt like he listened to me about my needs and objectives. Blake would check in with me periodically and we would adjust the program as needed. The fitness center staff are very friendly and well trained. The other members are also very friendly and courteous. I never feel intimidated there. The facilities are very clean, which is also very important to me.

I’m looking forward to the 1-year anniversary of starting this journey. If I’ve successfully maintained my weight loss and am still moving consistently, I may buy myself a nice present.

Read Rob’s 2 Year Update HERE.