ABOUT SEVEN YEARS ago, TJ Cormier, 28, decided he needed to make a change. He realised he’d gained a significant amount of weight since playing high school sports, but didn’t realise how much until he stepped on a scale – and it couldn’t read his weight. At first, he didn’t know where to start, but he soon connected with a personal trainer who helped him via online coaching. TJ ended up losing 90 kg and gained a lifelong friend in his trainer. Today, he maintains the healthy habits he learned in the process. Here’s how he did it, in his own words.
AROUND THE HOLIDAY season in 2018, something prompted me to weigh myself. It had been a while. I hopped on a scale in my apartment, which was rated to 350 pounds (160 kg), and it read “error.”
That made me more curious about my weight. So I bought another scale that was rated for 450 to 500 pounds (204 – 225 kg). When I stepped on that scale, I saw that I was at 410 pounds (185 kg).
My heart sank. I’ve always been a bigger guy, but I’d never seen a 4 as the first digit of my weight. I still felt the same as when I played high school sports, and I was a big kid, weighing 290 (131 kg) during my freshman year. I assumed I was still around the same size.
So, I started researching weight loss online. I started looking up crazy stuff like how to lose 100 pounds (45 kg) in 90 days, and trying to find any secret. I tried reducing the amount I ate, but I didn’t notice any change in my weight.
Then, I saw a newspaper article about Michael Soares, who was starting the fitness platform New Human. He’s also a Seaport Sweat fitness instructor in Boston and from a town near where I’m from, too. I emailed Mike about my weight loss goals, and he sent me some workouts to try. I started doing them, and they killed me, but I felt better. Then, we started working together through his online coaching platform. It just clicked for me.
After 18 months, I lost 200 pounds (90 kg). And, Mike and I became friends= – we were groomsmen in each other’s weddings. Here are four ways his approach helped me lose weight:
I never felt tied down
MIKE’S APPROACH WORKED for me because it was never about elimination. I didn’t have to give up cake or pizza. The approach helped me learn that all that stuff is fine in moderation. But you have to eat things that make you feel good. Instead of restricting foods, we worked on adding nutrient-dense foods to my meals and building better habits.
The hardest part was always getting to the gym. When I did, I felt better, moved better, thought more clearly, and performed better at work. But, rather than focusing on hitting the gym seven days a week, Mike taught me to find other ways to feel good. Maybe I’d go walk around the grocery store or find a new recipe to make.
Then, the next day, I’d pick back up at the gym. I didn’t feel like any part of my life was ever really tied down.
I overcame anxiety
WHEN I STARTED my fitness journey, I had a lot of anxiety. When there were a lot of people at the gym, a few times, I got stressed out and left. I just always hated the feeling of being the biggest guy.
Going to a group fitness class scared me even more. I always felt like people were looking at me. At Mike’s classes, sometimes I was surrounded by 100 people, and I knew I wasn’t the fastest or strongest. But he pushed me to show up, and I started coming around. I started feeling a sense of community.
Over time, it really brought fitness full circle from being intimidated to even step into a gym to getting my footing, to being comfortable with being in a gym, and then to being comfortable working out around with upwards of 500 people in a given space.
I still work out
NOW, I TRY to work out between three and five times a week, depending on my schedule. The biggest thing that sustains me is remaining surrounded by the fitness community.
I ended up managing a gym. I also got certified as a trainer, and I’ve trained about 15 people. I work with Mike, helping him with some of his New Human events.
Overall, I maintain the habits and lessons that Mike taught me by remaining in the fitness community.
I also still maintain a daily habits checklist that I started using from the beginning. I check boxes for things like drinking a cold glass of water in the morning, going to the gym, sleeping well, and getting outside for some sunshine and fresh air.
I just got started
FOR ANYBODY WHO’S struggling to lose weight, it really is as simple as just starting. Google three bodyweight exercises to do at home; reach out to a trainer. Just hold yourself accountable.
Do it for yourself, but keep in mind that it’s not just you. It takes a village to get it done. If I’d gone into my fitness journey by myself, based on what my online searches showed, I probably would still be treading water, rather than going out seeking the accountability buddy in Mike and other people in my life. Thankfully, my wife and my parents were very supportive.
Really, it’s just finding someone to help you share that accountability. Not relying on them; just having someone there to remind you that you’re on the right path and what you’re doing is worth it.
This article originally appeared on Men’s Health US.
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