Client of the Month: Rivelino
Rivelino’s incredible 9kg weight-loss transformation is proof of how life-changing a focussed diet and training program can be.
Work stress, long hours in the office and a poor diet had taken their toll on his fitness over the years.
Where he was once in good shape, Rivelino says his busy lifestyle meant he had ‘let himself go’ and he constantly felt tired and low on energy.
Starting a transformation at U.P. Amsterdam was his chance to completely kick-start his health and make lasting changes to his lifestyle.
In a matter of weeks, Rivelino’s personalised training and diet plan had made a huge impact.
He lost 9kg, halved his body fat and finally built the muscular physique that he thought he would never be able to achieve.
But it has been gaining the knowledge about nutrition and how to train with purpose and passion that he has enjoyed most about his transformation.
What were your motivations for starting a transformation journey with U.P.?
I’ve always been quite fit, but never muscular. Since I started working full time, I think I’d let myself go and after a while I didn’t like it anymore.
So, I saw this as an opportunity to start over, because on my own I didn’t get the results I wanted.
How were you feeling both physically and mentally before starting with U.P.?
Before starting with U.P., I started to feel the stress and wear from my job getting to me, I felt low on energy and exhausted most of the time.
I also had trouble getting enough sleep, so mentally I was sometimes very drained.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP WITH THE WORLD'S LEADING PERSONAL TRAINERS
What was your diet and lifestyle like before you started your transformation with U.P.?
I basically didn’t have a structured diet before my transformation with U.P. because of the lack of breaks during working hours, so I ate very little or too much.
And when I ate, I ate everything that was in sight.
How did your diet and lifestyle change when you started your transformation with U.P.?
My diet and lifestyle changed completely, but especially my diet.
The first thing I learned is that what you put into your body, you become.
So, my education about nutrition, macronutrients, supplements and the composition of certain foods improved enormously.
At first, I had to get used to tracking all the calories in the MyFitnessPal app, but now it’s become like second nature to me.
I have started preparing my own meals in advance now so that if I have hunger or cravings, I always have something healthy nearby.
What effect did this have on your health, performance, lifestyle and energy levels?
The first thing I noticed was my weight loss, accompanied by my drastic increase in stamina and energy.
This gave me a boost to try even harder because I saw that my goals were achievable and helped my confidence to grow more and more.
What had been the biggest mistake you were making on your diet before and how did you change it at U.P.?
The biggest mistake with my diet before joining U.P. was the lack of information about food and the tracking of my daily calorie intake.
This was hard for me in the beginning because I had to get used to doing this every time I ate or drank something, and I had to fill this in the app.
But this was the best way for me to be held accountable and to see what worked for me.
What was the one most important lifestyle change you made and how did it help achieve your transformation?
The biggest lifestyle change I made was to go back to the kitchen and prepare my own food instead of ordering takeaways.
Furthermore, I reduced the amount of alcohol I drank, going out, and just having the structure to know when to eat certain kinds of foods, and how much, according to the given amount of calories allowed that day.
How did you find the training and did it fit around your busy lifestyle?
Training was not always the way I wanted it to be, because sometimes you feel stronger or better than other times, but every time I felt that it was worthwhile.
My trainer, Ryan, always pushed me to my maximum even if I wasn’t feeling my best, so after every training session I felt like I accomplished something.
If I was not able to train due to work or travel they were always able to arrange something else for me.
What were the most important things you learned during your journey and what really worked for you in helping you make your transformation?
The most important things that worked for me were sticking to the food plan and realising that correct technique is fundamental.
Furthermore, it is the discipline to just go on even if you don’t feel like training which was essential in achieving this transformation.
How has doing this transformation changed you and do you think it will benefit you going forward?
I think that the transformation not only changed me physically, but also mentally.
The goal of mine was to become stronger and I achieved that, but in the process I also got kind of addicted to the training and the lifestyle.
That used to be different when I was just training by myself. I don’t have to drag myself to the gym now because I really want to be there.
I think this change in behaviour will definitely help me get to the next phase.
