As the fall season wraps its vibrant hues around us, my thoughts inevitably turn to Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays as a season that encourages gratitude and abundance. And it is this season of gratitude that I find myself deeply grateful to have had the privilege of working with my clients to coach and guide them on their own fitness journeys. During this time, I want to highlight and share a loyal customer’s journey that has not only changed his life, but has turned out to be an extremely enjoyable experience for both of us.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Finding the right fitness and nutrition is not one size fits all. It’s all about figuring out what works best for your body and your goals. Ultimately, it’s all about cracking the code specific to what your body needs and then developing the desire from within to execute the code. Which leads me to share a heartwarming story of a man who transformed his journey from developing gourmet foods to a slim and trim “fitness connoisseur”. A man who decided to combine his gourmet kitchen talents with decadent workouts that turned out to be life-changing. Meet my client David Ortiz, aka Financial Chef, whose incredible transformation story is sure to leave you inspired and hungry for your own fitness success.
THE STORY OF DAVID’S TRANSFORMATION
David has had a lifelong fitness journey, with weight ups and downs and various attempts at different diets and exercise programs.
“My fitness journey has spanned my entire life. I was always the chubby kid, coming from a family of chefs and using food as comfort. I was always on a yo-yo journey ‘trying’ to get fit’.
At the age of 48, David’s weight peaked at 285kg, which led to him finally having gastric sleeve surgery. After the surgery, the weight dropped to 185 kg! He was thrilled with the weight of his new body but lacked muscle. Unfortunately, surgery was not the final solution. His weight finally went up again to 240 kg! He had returned to this yo-yo state that made him wonder what to do about his health.
David’s weight continued to fluctuate up and down on the scale for years, leaving him feeling exhausted, depressed and beyond frustrated. With the support of his beautiful wife, Gilda, they continued to try different diet and exercise trends, hoping they would stick. Diets included keto, vegan, paleo, vegetarian, pescatarian, Mediterranean, along with the most popular and trendy workout programs… all failed to produce lasting results.
Fast forward to the changing times of the pandemic. There were unknown moments we all endured and for many it gave new meaning to being ‘home bound’! During this time, David’s true fitness journey changed his life for the better.
“Before the pandemic, my wife and I discovered Pilates and enjoyed taking classes together five days a week. We wanted to continue our Pilates training, but personal lessons were put on hold. I saw an infomercial for Total Gym and it immediately reminded me of how good it felt to exercise.
Excited, we purchased Total Gym Fit in hopes that this would address the lack of in-person classes. I also found Total Gym TV which helped me get new workouts with different trainers. I went through several of the videos, which I really enjoyed. This is where I found Maria Sollon. Maria resonated with my wife and me. We were curious to see if Maria could train us privately at Total Gym. We found her through her website and right after Labor Day 2021 we started working together three days a week.
Maria shared her philosophy, which was very different from what I thought, so I initially resisted many of her ideas. However, as we continued to work together, I saw continuous improvement. Online training helped keep my wife and I accountable as she could train us from anywhere! Since she was accountable to keep our scheduled workouts at all times, we were also accountable.
We spent two years working together and I became completely consumed and obsessed with Total Gym. I stopped even thinking about dieting because of what Maria taught me. It showed me how to find the balance between strength training, cardio sessions and being able to enjoy life. With this balance, my mindset and goals changed. Now I understood that it was not really about reaching a destination, but about the journey and making it a part of my life. Then everything changed.”
MARY’S JOURNEY WITH DAVID
When I met David, I recognized him as an ambitious and passionate individual who had a specific goal to lose weight and gain muscle. One of my initial challenges was to get David to commit to a more comprehensive fitness routine that included a wider range of muscle building exercises. What started out with a goal of building muscle, David quickly realized that his training style had to change or his weight would just go back to where it was. As a result, David’s goal was transformed into something much more profound. David has been involved in our training sessions surrounding muscle growth and toning, weight management and injury prevention. Not only did he master every move in Total Gym, but he also achieved the goal of this more holistic mindset.
What I loved about working with David was that he was fully committed to working with me and making a change both mentally and physically. I give him 100% credit for his transformation because only he is in control to make a change. And I know that when he sets his mind to something, he doesn’t quit until he accomplishes the mission!
While we were working together, we were revamping his training style. When I look back, it’s clear that his inspiration motivated me and my motivation inspired him. It was the perfect synergy!
His daily routine now includes Total Gym workouts, cycling, refreshing pool sessions and water exercises. He learned the critical importance of core strength and cultivating the smaller muscles around the joints. His transformation was also accelerated by his new dietary choices, because as we all know, nutrition is an important part of the equation. David’s commitment to patience and experimentation paid off as he discovered what worked best for him, maintaining consistency throughout the journey.
This is not just a weight loss story. It is a journey breaking barriers. David began this path at a stubborn 240 pounds, and today, he proudly stands at 181.5 pounds and holding on. His newfound physique is a testament to his inner strength, resilience and commitment through a positive mindset.
BELIEVE IN YOUR STRENGTH
In the quest to find the perfect recipe for success in the fitness world, sometimes all it takes is one person’s inspirational journey to light the way for others. I had the honor and pleasure of working with David Ortiz, the Financial Chef, whose incredible transformation and commitment serves as an example of motivation for anyone striving to achieve their fitness goals.
Always believe in your inner strength and let it fuel you to realize your deepest desires.
In love, gratitude and honor,
MARY
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