Success Story #10

Name: B. Quitugua
Improvement: 10+ lbs of Fat Loss
Time: 3 months
Program: 2017 Total Transformation Challenge - Summer Challenge

What was your biggest challenge / obstacle?
Everything. I could leave it at that and it would summarize all my challenges and obstacles. It was my knee injury from being in military service. It was my work schedule. It was the available of healthy choices that were CHEAP. It was the time I had to make to make obtain those health choices and find the time to make them at home or pick them up from somewhere. It was the temptation to avoid eating fast food or purchasing that one dollar candy bar. It was also the time I had to make to go to the gym and ensure I had time for everything other aspect of my life. Everything in life was a challenge and obstacle for my fitness goals but NONE of them were actual roadblocks or detours.

What motivated you stay on the course?
Coming from a military background you’d probably think, “It’s probably easy for him because he’s used to it” or “He’s military, he has strength and willpower to do this.” The truth is, yes. Those ideas are part of it. Don’t quit when you’re reaching that extra repetition on the bench press or just beat your feet a little harder so you can finish a run faster. But, although a part of it, the JUST DO IT attitude was only a small part of my motivation. The main motivation was and still is as I continue forward is my “Why”. Why I did what I did. Why I chose to avoid the sweets and push for the extra mile. I wanted to fit and strong. To grow old and still be able to keep up with people half my age. And most importantly I enjoy it. The challenge to make the healthy food choice or the feeling of my shirt soaked because I had one of the toughest workouts in my life but I completed it. To have pride in what you do creates pride in oneself. After a hard day in the gym, I have pride knowing that I did my best to surpass my best and I make myself my only competition. Am I going to squat 400lbs? Not yet. But I can squat 200lbs and today I’m going to squat 220. That’s the drive and pride. And if I don’t get there that day I know I’ll get it next time. But let’s get real now. When you start becoming fit and healthy people start to notice. “Hey, Brian, your uniform is fitting great pal!” “Did you lose weight?” “Since when did you eat like that?” You get pride from that as well and then when you look at yourself in the mirror after weeks of hard work, you flex, you smile, and you realize that it’s all worth it and you’ve done what is definitely no easy feat and you just keep propelling forward. Maybe I didn’t say straight forward for what motivates me and why but when you put it all together you see that it isn’t simple. Learn to love yourself, what you do, and what you want to be.

Did your diet change? If so, How? Please be detailed.
Yes and it wasn’t the first time I tried this change nor will it be the last. I didn’t completely cut the sweets or limit my carbs. I enjoyed myself. Once a week I would have a cheat meal or a cheat snack. Just one. Just to get my sweet tooth or pizza fix and if it’s pizza I’d eat the whole pie (I know right? Not even kidding). But during the rest of the week, especially in the first few weeks, every day I would eat almost the same thing. Breakfast was oatmeal to start my day, I’d then exercise and have a healthy snack afterwards with protein and some complex carbs. For lunch it was plain baby spinach and grilled chicken breast with a measured amount of salad dressing and dinner was a lean meat with vegetables, no side of carbs. After the first few weeks I started to include more simple carbs like fruit or fruit juice to fuel my workouts and also my provided myself with a little more variety of what to eat for other meals. Biggest dietary change was eating smaller meals and eating more snacks. The result was eating something every 2-3 hours on the dot. Whenever I would eat, I also never ate till I felt full. This boosted my metabolism.
 
What advice could you give to others that want the same results?
Stay disciplined, push through the grit, and stay strong when that sonic’s drive in milkshake is calling your name. Research, research, research. Your own dietary bible is your own knowledge. Most importantly, never… NEVER EVER make a diet or exercise plan miserable for yourself. If you keep it enjoyable, you will always be happy and more willing to push through the tougher parts of you journey.

How is this experience going to affect you going forward?
This experience is only another check in the box and leaves me hungry (no pun intended) for more. Fitness and healthy eating habits have become an integral part of my life and is definitely the lifestyle I choose to lead.