Back In Business

Varsity can be a journey, a time for growth and one heck of a jol, all in one go. For Jonathan, like a lot of students, hitting the clubs was more appealing than hitting the books. Soon his Project X lifestyle led to XXL-sized clothing.

• Location: Johannesburg
• Occupation: Senior Business Development
• Age: 29
• Height: 1.79m
• Weight Before: 128kg
• Weight After: 85kg
• Time To Goal: 6 Years

“Not taking care of my physical and mental health took a toll on me. And by the time I was 24, I realised that a huge change was needed to achieve my life goals.”

Jono had his moment of clarity years later, after attempting to tie his shoelaces and gasping for air afterwards. “I couldn’t fit into my favourite clothes without making them look like compression gear!” says the 29-year-old.

He couldn’t make the change by himself, so he found someone to show him the ropes.

“I knew if I could find a coach to guide and motivate me, I would be unstoppable. I found a gent named Nick Robert from ECT Fit, and decided to take on his training methods and meal plans. “

With a new-found attitude, the former party animal spent six days a week in the gym becoming more acquainted with weights and cardio.

In the last six years, Jono has deflated his belly and escalated his confidence. His bar-hopping was traded in for barbells, impacting his personal and work life.

“I sell more, I interact more – and most important of all, I’m happy! Before starting my fitness journey, I would hardly leave the house because I thought so little of myself. Today I can go to the beach, take my shirt off, and smile for photos. Now when I look at myself, I can be proud, and I know that I’m happy. This was the best lifestyle choice I have made.”

^{This article was originally published on www.mh.co.za.}

^{Image credit: iStock/Supplied}

Thaaqib Daniels