“My wife has definitely noticed a change in my appearance. She’s been a big fan of the improvements. When you get dressed in the morning, you feel so much better in your clothes.”
Andrew is now in the best shape of his life at 41 after completing his 17-week transformation.
Like many men in midlife, he noticed his weight creeping up, his cholesterol levels were worryingly high, and the fitness he’d always enjoyed was fading away.
With a new baby on the way, he wanted to feel energised again before his life changed direction.
Ultimate Performance helped him transform all that in four months…
Here, Andrew talks about how his diet changed, what he learned about weight training, and why U.P. is so different from commercial gyms he’s trained in all his life…
What originally motivated you to start your transformation journey?
I was motivated to get started at U.P. because I moved from New York City down here to Bethesda, and my day-to-day life had become a lot more sedentary. I wasn’t walking or as active as I used to be, and I started to notice that I was putting on more weight. I was getting a little bit more tired, just moving around, so I wanted to start a program that could help me turn that around.
I think anytime you start a new program, you’re going to be a little bit nervous about what it entails, but I was also pretty excited because I had reached a point where I was ready to make a change.
The ‘results wall’ with the before and after photos is really what got me in the door and motivated me. I kind of recognised myself in a lot of the before pictures. I felt like if U.P. were able to make those drastic transformations for those people, they might be able to do it for me too.
How much did your life change from day one when you started your program?
The first couple of weeks were eye-opening for sure. It was obviously a big change from what I was doing day to day, but I enjoyed it because I started to see some real changes happen. I think I responded well to the structure that U.P. provided. I had the motivation. I just needed someone to tell me what to do. Having all of the tools that U.P. provided really helped me get off to a strong start.
What was it about the training and nutrition that was so effective in helping you get in shape?
I think the training methods here at U.P. completely changed the way that I think about training. I think previously my mindset was about lifting as much weight as I possibly could and not really focusing on form or timing or any of the things that I learned while I was here. That’s one of the things that I’m going to take with me. It’s a completely new way of training both here with my trainer and on my own.
The diet has probably been the biggest part of my transformation. Just how I approach food. I used to think that I could out-train a bad diet, but what I’ve realised is that I’d say 80% of my transformation was a result of following the macros that I got and just sticking to the nutrition plan that we came up with. Adding the weight training on top of that really took my results to the next level. But I think that having that nutrition plan and now understanding the relationship between what I put into my body and what I can get out of my body has been a real game changer for me.
What are the benefits you’ve seen in your life as a result of training with U.P.?
Physically, I’m in the best shape of my life. I also think that that’s had a big impact on my health in general. I previously had pretty high cholesterol, and those numbers have come down significantly. My energy levels are better. I’m able to spend more time with my family, be more physical, and not be as tired as I used to be. I don’t just look good, I feel good. I think with most people, as you get older, you start to carry more weight. I had a lot of weight around my midsection and love handles, and I felt kind of puffy and bloated all the time. By working out and getting a handle on the nutrition, my body fat percentage has gone down significantly. I don’t feel as bloated as I used to anymore. I have a more lean, athletic appearance which I’m, proud of.
My wife has definitely noticed a change in my physical appearance too. She’s been a big fan of the improvements there, and I think just when you get dressed in the morning, and your clothes fit better, you just feel better. We’re expecting our second child over the summer. It’s going to be great to have more energy and just be in better shape chasing two little kids around now. So yeah, the whole experience has exceeded all my expectations.
Has your transformation had an impact on you as a parent or family life too?
The great thing about my training here at U.P. has been that the positive health effects haven’t just impacted me, but it’s impacted my family as well. We’ve all kind of improved our nutrition and eating. My wife and my daughter have also enjoyed the change in our diet and are seeing some real positive health results as a result of that as well. Nutrition is a big part of this, and learning about macros and understanding how they impact my body has been invaluable. Honestly, I’ve never been in this kind of shape before. That’s the most amazing thing, that at 41 years old, I’m probably in the best shape of my entire life.
How does the program you’ve completed here compare to anything you’ve done in the past?
I don’t think there’s much competition between other gyms and U.P. It’s on a completely different level. I’ve trained at commercial gyms before and you don’t get the same level of attention. You don’t get the same level of support. You don’t get the knowledge that the U.P. trainers have. It’s just a completely different type of workout environment and it’s an incredibly holistic program. It’s not just about lifting weights and getting strong. It’s nutrition, it’s wellbeing, it’s mental health, it’s all of those things combined. When you look at what you’re getting for the investment, I believe it’s worth every penny. I’ve had an amazing trainer. It’s a great group of people to be around.
What advice would you give to anyone else in your position who wants to make a change to their life?
If you are serious about getting your physical fitness under control, there’s no better place to come than U.P. If you look at somebody who’s gone through a major transformation, the easiest response is ”That’s impossible”. But I’m sitting here to say that it’s 100% possible if you’re willing to put in the work. And for me, the motivator was looking at those transformations and knowing that if those people could do it, I could do it as well. I would say to anybody who’s doubtful or feels like it takes a superhuman effort to make that change, it doesn’t. You just have to want it. These guys are the best in the business. They know what they’re talking about. If you trust them and give it your all, you will get amazing results.
Andrew still has to pinch himself that he’s in the shape of his life at 41. With the same support and expertise he received at Ultimate Performance, you could achieve similar results.CTA
- We show you the best, we don't show you the worst.
- We show you people who follow the plans, not those who are all talk.
- We show you those who inspire even us with their commitment to their results.
- You cannot get results exactly like these. You are unique and that means you can only get your own best possible results.
- Your results are a function of time spent following the plan; your genetic response to the right exercise and diet program; how hard you train; how consistently you come to the gym; how disciplined you are with your diet; & your starting point.
- Oftentimes the lower your starting point (poor fitness, terrible body composition) the better your results.
- We cannot do the work for you and the results you see here are a testament to the work ethic of our clients.
-
Our reputation is that we are the best trainers in the world for helping you to unlock your potential, & we can lead you to the door, give you the key, even turn the handle and push the door open, but we cannot walk through it for you.
In the end the result is down to you.
Like these results? Send us your details in the form below to receive information about our programs
