Finalists / Will M.

Will M.

83.75% change in body fat percent

*Results not typical

WILL F

60 Days Equals a Lifetime of Health and Happiness

I had always thought of myself as someone who was a healthy eater. I ate salads, chicken breasts, sweet potatoes. You know, things that are good for you. But I also had a weakness. And that weakness was sweets.

It didn’t matter what the sweet was. The bigger, the better. The one thing, though, is that I could control my sweet weakness. I didn’t eat sweets every night, but when I did I went all out. At least I thought I could control it.

March 2015 and my wife and I found out we were expecting our second child. We were ecstatic. Finally, another child and someone who could supply companionship to our first born.

I had not eaten sweets in almost 4 months and all of a sudden I found myself purposefully walking down the ice cream aisle studying and hanging out by the pies, cheesecakes and other sweets. It was almost like I was having “sympathy sweet pains.” I was my wife’s surrogate sugar eater. Eating the stuff my wife wanted to eat but did not like. I had lost control. Furthermore, I had even lost my motivation to work out.

Upon joining Life Time, my wife and I had a goal…lose weight and get in shape. The problem is I wasn’t happy. I would come to the gym and go through the motions. I was a shell of the person I used to be. I was a fat, unmotivated, unhappy slob. I wanted to punch myself.

I happened to be at Life Time Fitness in Cary, NC, one weekend when I saw an advertisement about Personal Training for Golf. I called PT Kris Rifenburg.
On day one, I sat down and met with Kris. The first thing Kris did was ask me about me about my diet. He explained how diet can affect your swing, posture and overall golf game. I lied and said I was a healthy eater. I was ashamed to admit my bad eating habits.

As my family and I sat at dinner, I found myself diving deep into another outrageous, herculean sized dessert. After the dinner was over I felt bloated, sluggish and unhappy. I kept complaining. My wife had heard enough. She looked at me and said: “You have nobody to blame but yourself. I am tired of hearing you complain. If you don’t like the way you look, then do something about it!”

I grabbed my phone and texted Kris, informing him of my decision to take part in the 60-Day Challenge. When we sat down, Kris asked me what my goal was. Get back in shape and try to alleviate some of the back pain I had been experiencing. Kris assured me he could make it happen. I told him that I am a competitor and I am in it to win it! If he wasn’t ready for the challenge then find me another coach. Kris said he was all in and wouldn’t be helping me out if he did not believe me in.

I stepped on the scale and was shocked. The scale read 19.2% body fat and I weighed 196 pounds! We set a goal to reduce my body fat from 19% to 6% and came up with a workout and diet plan.

The 60-Day Challenge got underway and Kris was there coaching me up, showing me proper lifting techniques, and most importantly helping me with my diet. As we approached the halfway point of the Challenge, I was feeling good. My motivation to work out had returned. I found myself at the gym every day, sometimes twice a day.

With 2 weeks left, I checked my body fat % and the unthinkable had happened. I had hit the mythical 6%. I did a double check to make sure what I was seeing was correct. I had accomplished my goal! Like any good competitor I wanted more. Even though the Challenge was winding down, the Challenge was not over. I wanted to Challenge myself. Why stop at 6%.

Now is judgment day. As I step on the scale I can’t help but be nervous. I know that the hours and days I put into the transformation have been worth it, and when I read the final numbers it will all be affirmation for a job well done.

I began as a 196-pound dough boy with 19.2% body fat. I now weigh 171 pounds with a body fat % of 3.12%.
I appreciate all the hard work that was done by Kris Rifenburg. I owe this newfound health all to Life Time Fitness and PT Kris Rifenburg. If it was not for the dedication and hard work of Kris, I do not think I could have accomplished these results.