Weight Loss Success Stories: Workout Buddy  

Finding a good workout buddy can be harder than lifting the weights themselves. So we at MensHealth.com wanted to help by bringing together our virtual workout buddies in our online forums to focus on one goal -- getting leaner by Labor Day.

This was never about who fared the best. There were to be no winners nor losers. The goal was for readers to share their experiences and know they could rely on others to deliver a swift kick in the rear if they slacked off.

So on July 14 we kicked off the Leaner by Labor Day Club, using the Men's Health e-mail newsletter to encourage guys to come on board. Readers who needed workout and nutrition motivation signed up and tracked their progress in a thread in our Belly-Off forum.

Throughout the seven weeks, four men -- coined "Team Lean" -- stood out from the rest in their consistent willingness to help each other and check in on a daily basis. Again, these aren't the winners. They're examples of success, stories we can all learn from.

Team Lean features Pick E. Guy (Vincent Caster), Pedalin' Dad (David C.), MiddleAgeDad (Tod Adkins), and Kevnik (Kevin Brandon). These men built a fitness community by cheering each other on and recognizing accomplishments. They've even decided to keep their informal group together through Thanksgiving. You still have time to join what's now called Thinner Through Thanksgiving, where these men will continue to be a presence, encouraging you to reach your goals. Look below to read about Kevin Brandon, and look to the related links on the right to read about Pick E. Guy, Pedalin' Dad and MiddleAgeDad.

Kevin Brandon's Success Story

Kevin Brandon

Forum Name: Kevnik

Profession: Middle school teacher

Hometown: Los Angeles

Starting Weight: 253 at 32% body fat (July 10)

Ending Weight: 240 at 28% body fat

Age: 47

Goal: To find a support group and lose 2 pounds per week

 

Kevin Brandon logged onto the MensHealth.com Leaner by Labor Day forum looking for a support system. What he found was a group of people to cheer him on as he moves toward his long-term weight loss goal -- to lose 60 pounds of fat.

Brandon's virtual workout buddies--including Team Lean standouts Pick E Guy, MiddleAgeDad, and Pedalin' Dad--applauded his hard work, but if Brandon slacked off, they ganged up on him to get him back on track.

When Brandon took two days off and gave in to cheat meals of cookies and cake, Tod Adkins (MiddleAgeDad) didn't let him off easy. "Kevnik - Hang in there, I am sure you will drag your lazy oss out there tomorrow and hit it hard!" wrote Adkins to Brandon.

Because of Team Lean's help, Brandon succeeded. He dropped 13 pounds in less than 9 weeks. And this is only the beginning.

"It's very encouraging to know that when I log into the forum in the morning, I will be held accountable and lauded for my efforts or lack thereof," says Brandon of Team Lean.

He realizes this support group helped him come close to reaching his initial goal of losing two pounds per week. He set the bar high, but came up shy at 1.4 pounds down per week. Overall, he lost 9.5 pounds of pure fat.

Health is his primary reason for wanting to lose weight. He has high cholesterol and pre-hypertension. Neither is severe, but he'd like to avoid medication if possible. "Reducing the chances of heart disease or attack and stroke are key," he says. "Looking good in a bathing suit is a motivating side-effect."

Kevin is a teacher and a student (he teaches sixth-grade English and ancient history, and this semester he's beginning a master's program), so his workouts and food choices focus on convenience and speed. He uses the Homegrown Muscle plan from Men's Health for his weight routine, which he does three times a week. He combined these workouts with five days of cardio training using the elliptical machine, recumbent bike, or treadmill. He also joined the 52-Day Challenge--another online fitness and nutrition support group in the Men's Health Belly-Off forum. Click here for more information on this program.

For quick meals, Brandon buys mahi mahi and salmon filets in bulk from Costco, then individually wraps and freezes them. He cooks and freezes steel-cut oatmeal and brown rice in one-cup lumps--so they're ready when he's ready to eat. He also drinks protein smoothies, and eats a lot of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

"I'll be living on the indoor grill and blender," he says.

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