Men’s Health
Blake Gauthier, 46, account Men’s health how an encounter with death convinced him that he needed to change his life, initiating a physical transformation.
I have always struggled with my weight due to a poor diet, lack of activity and a lifelong battle with depression. I would like to eat and drink my feelings. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were just a phone call away, and as I grew older, I moved further away from society until alcohol was delivered. He ate and drank because he was depressed, and the more he ate and drank, the more depressed he became. I was in a cycle of self-sabotage that seemed unfathomable.
I had no idea about proper nutrition and ordered pizzas and drank soft drinks while sitting on the couch playing video games hour after hour. I had tried to lose weight before and had already lost more than 150 pounds, but I ended up putting it back because I started renovating my house and I didn’t have a kitchen in operation for a period of time, so I bought food regularly for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I continued to gain weight, until in my heaviest moment, I weighed 530 pounds.
Everything changed in January 2018 when, while walking down the street, I fell to the floor from a heart attack. I had technically died. The paramedics resuscitated me and rushed me to the hospital, where I found out I had a blood clot. I also tore my ACL, LCL and MCL when I fell.
I thought to myself, ‘I’m just over 44 years old. I shouldn’t be lying here on an operating table with my arms tied in a crucifix position. ‘The position seemed appropriate when the surgeon cut my wrist to start the angioplasty. They already brought me back once on my way here. It scared me a lot! While lying on the table, I never thought I would be where I am now.
Needless to say, I had to change everything in my life. As soon as I managed to get up, I started making changes. It all started with the goal of just being able to walk to the fence at the back of my yard and back, and each day I would try to increase the distance I walked. I have incorporated more and more physical activity into my daily routine, as well as completely reforming my diet.
Now I am literally half the man I used to be, weighing 120 pounds, but I am more than twice the man I was in so many important ways. I currently train with weights on a 6-day cycle on 1 day off, while I also do cardio 6 times a week. I eat 7 meals a day, which are rich in lean proteins and moderate in complex carbohydrates, including lots of vegetables and water. I had lost 70 kilos on my own before contacting Josh Demelo, my trainer for the past 18 months, who helped me lose about 35 kilos more, in addition to increasing lean muscle mass.
In addition to my weight loss and muscle gains, there were many other benefits to my transformation. On the one hand, I have much more energy; I can accompany my 16 year old daughter. It also boosted my self-esteem. I’ve always had very little confidence, but being in shape and feeling good inside helped a lot. My family and friends gave me extremely encouraging feedback during my weight loss, and I even inspired many of my friends on their own fitness journeys.
If you want to lose weight and get in shape, my advice is simple: set small goals. Start by saying that you will lose 2 pounds on a certain date and, after reaching that goal, set a new one or lose 5 more. By setting smaller goals and reaching them, it helps to keep you motivated and the right track.
I’m sharing my story because, if I can, so can you. Whatever the change, whatever your goal. Make your choice and be the change. Commit to it and live it, it will be difficult … but believe in yourself.
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