Sometimes in life we think we have everything figured out, yet life just keeps going on as if we were driving behind the wheel of the world. This is how most of us live our lives until we are hit with something in our life that puts our natural way of living in an upside down spiral. This is the moment I like to call “Fight or Flight.” You need to Fight back for your life and Fly like you were born to do.
This is the transformation story of my brother, Ben Laudenbach: I remember a few months prior to Ben starting his new healthy lifestyle, he was not in the shape he used to be. I remember him having a ton of energy before, a lite sense of humor, and was always happy. He would pretend that he was okay and he would never say that he needed help, but I truly believed that he wanted help. I remember thinking he needed to start taking care of himself, eating better, and getting sleep. I knew I had to do something to get Ben to focus on his own life and make some positive changes.
To be honest, I saw him so much that it never occurred to me how much he really changed until I saw Ben’s before and after transformation pictures that I really let my jaw drop. I knew there was a gain, but when it’s family or close friends—talking about weight can be really TOUGH. The hard part is people really need to want to change and stay on track with what they want or they gradually just drop off after a period of time.
We got a call in early 2012 from Ben and he said we needed to come over. I knew this wasn’t going to be a good conversation. When we got there, his eyes were so red and he was so sad. I immediately got on my BIG SISTER hat and got the details–he and his girlfriend had broken up. They were together for quite some time and this, like most break-ups, was heartbreaking. It’s never easy to watch the person that you care about so much be so sad and upset. Rusty and I took action on what we call our “TAKE CARE PLAN.” We got him scheduled with daily calls, texts, workout plans, and a get off crap diet and on an eat clean lifestyle. Well, he followed it every day. He was determined to feel better, make a life change, and be in a new body that he felt comfortable in. Ben could start to see his own body and mental health change for the better. What started as going for a 30-45 minute walk turned into a 30-45 minute run mixed in with strength training workouts. Within a couple of months of staying active and following the program, he was dropping inches and weight every time I saw him, which was at least once a week. He looked different, but definitely a “good” different.
The best part about this transformation is not just the numbers! Ben really has a new positive outlook on life and has made some great changes.
Timeline on weight
February 2012-211 LBS. starting weight, 5’8. 40’
May 2012 -160 LBS. 5’8 32 inches -50lbs. loss.
He achieved his goal in a little over 2.5 months. I completely stopped eating bad food. Instead, I went to Subway if he was having a craving for fast food. He cut out regular soda for diet soda, and he cut out candy. This was not an easy thing to do! (The place he works at gives away candy ALL THE TIME!) It took a little while, but he also shaved off another 10 lbs., reaching 160 lbs. Altogether, I lost more than 50 lbs. I was determined to lose weight as quickly as I could. However, the weight really started to come off in the second and third month. You just have to push through it. I had to eat better, incorporate strength training and cardio. But it worked because as of today my weight has stayed the same.
What was his motivation: When I started was when I saw the ‘before’ pictures of New Year’s Eve 2011. I hated the way I looked, I hated the way I felt, but the real breaking point was going to the doctor’s office. I was told to step on the scale and weighed in at 211 lbs. That was the most that I’d ever weighed in my life. I was depressed, didn’t realize how unhappy I was at the time, and unmotivated to do anything. It affected work and most of all my relationships. Not long after that, I was going through a bad breakup with someone I had been with for years. My motivation is to never feel that way again.
What is your advice to others:
Eat breakfast—I never ate breakfast, but that is the key. I never thought it would make a difference but it does. I just do it.
Eating close to 3-4 hours as possible.
Workout–Even if it is the last thing you want to do. It is a huge stress reliever and gives you the energy you need to get through the day. I can’t believe how much energy I have after the workouts, even if the workouts leave me sweaty and exhausted during it. The feeling after workouts is much better than not getting one in – period.
Last but not least— You have to want the change. Everyone can do it. But you have to really want to change your body. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifestyle change. As much as it is about working out, it’s also about eating healthy. You can do it.
Check out the rest of his story at: http://daynadetersfitness.com/testimonies/ben-laudenbach/
1 comment. Leave new
Really fabulous story:)