Meet David — he has lost and kept off 22% of his weight! Out of the 50 pounds he has shed, only 5 consisted of skeletal muscle mass!
In 2017, while in high school, I joined Enara to learn healthy eating and exercise habits to set myself up for success in college. Confident that I had learned the skills I needed, I left Enara in 2019 while a sophomore at Stanford; I felt that I knew what I needed to know and that I had the tools I required to stay healthy. To celebrate that milestone, I got a tailored suit, went out to a nice dinner, and skipped the gym that day. Well, fast forward 3 years, and that suit no longer fit, I was eating out way too often, and I hadn’t ever really returned to the gym in a consistent manner. Even though I had the tools, being healthy was just the “norm” for me for so long that I got complacent…until it wasn’t the norm anymore. Before I could even notice, I had joined the COVID-30 club and was nearly 40 lbs heavier than I was when I first started back in 2017. Like many of you, the weight had kind of crept up on me. For some odd reason, the clothes I used to wear every day were much tighter, that pair of jeans no longer fit, and walking up the stairs was leaving me pretty winded! I tried out a couple different diets, I would go on runs every so often, and fell down some pretty unhealthy holes like very restrictive fasting.
Eventually, my solution was to return to Enara. I was actually fortunate enough to return to the very same incredible Nutrition Specialist I had seen at Enara nearly 5 years earlier (Go Danielle!!). At first, I felt really defeated and ashamed to be back; when I had left Enara years earlier, my hopes were so high. Now, at 23 years old, I was back. However, Danielle, Britain, Anthony and the whole Enara team did a great job motivating me when I first started. I stuck with a Stepwise program, plus a 5-day a week gym regiment and a 10k/day steps goal (currently on a 3-month streak). I stayed as consistent as possible. I found that although some days I felt especially motivated, oftentimes I also didn’t; instead of relying on the existence of motivation and then the eventual battle with its absence, I prioritized discipline over motivation. Whether I was motivated or not, it was just something that I had to do — like getting out of bed in the morning. When I looked at dieting and exercise through this lens, I relied a lot less on — and was influenced a lot less by — the external factors that can so easily impact your motivation. I learned that you have to fall in love with the process, not with the results.
Now a little under a year into my second take at Enara, I am transitioning back to Active Maintenance. I am thinking constantly about the 2019 me. I’m much healthier now than the last time I left Enara, and I know a lot more about how to stay healthy than I did before. However, I know from unfortunate experience how easy and inconspicuous it can be to so easily lose the progress you’ve worked so hard for. So, I know it’s important not to lose discipline during this transition, and I’m so grateful for the support I have from Enara while I do so. Whether you’re still in your weight loss journey or working hard at maintaining your awesome results, I applaud you for just taking the step of being here, giving it your all, and putting in the effort to better yourself. Results aside, that alone is an accomplishment to be proud of! Whatever your goals, you can do it!
David’s Transformation
David has lost 22% of his starting weight!
David has lost 12.7% of his percent body fat. Out of the 50 lbs he has shed, only 5 lbs consisted of skeletal muscle mass!
PBF (Percent Body Fat) is the percentage of your body that is made up of fat. Everything else is usually referred to as “lean tissue.” This gives a more accurate representation of health, fitness and leanness.
David has reduced his triglycerides by 68%
- Fatty foods and carbohydrates that we eat are broken down into globs of fat called triglycerides.
- High levels of triglycerides can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and nerve damage.
- Excess glucose in the blood can be used to make triglycerides, which is why people with insulin sensitivity, pre-diabetes, or diabetes often also have elevated triglycerides.
Congratulations, David! We are so proud of you and the rest of our Enara Rockstars!
