Nearing 300 pounds with emerging health issues at the prime age of 29, Keith Sears knew a lifestyle change was necessary when walking through the doors of Anytime Fitness of Sault Ste. Marie three years ago.
But Sears never dreamt he would lose 70 pounds in just seven months.
“My blood pressure was a little high,” said Sears. “My energy levels weren't great. My sleep was terrible. I had the typical aches and pains... all the stuff that goes with being that heavy.”
“Keith struggled with weight his whole life,” Anytime Fitness Regional Manager Travis Green added. “He has a family history of obesity. He signed up for membership and within his first 30 days, gained five pounds. So, what did he do? He talked to me and signed up for personal training.”
The weight dropped from there. Sears began losing an average of 10 pounds per month.
“It was hard at first,” he said, busting out some pull-ups without even breaking a sweat. “I had those jitters everybody gets. I was nervous and worried about being judged, but I never got any of that here.”
Green and his coworkers welcomed Sears warmly, prepared to work him into a healthy sweat.
“I just did the workouts Travis gave me, which was nothing crazy,” he said. “A lot of it was just stuff to get me up and moving.”
Like so many, diet was a difficult lifestyle change for Sears at first. Again, Green was there to offer education and support.
"I didn't have much knowledge in that regard,” Sears admitted. “I would stop at the bakery on the way to and from work. I'd have a doughnut or whatever, and get deli food all the time.”
Once Sears made the conscious decision to comply with Green’s recommended diet, he was hooked.
“Instead of eating fried chicken, I switched over to home-baked chicken and salads,” said Sears. “I started making my own food instead of buying boxed stuff."
In addition to proper diet, Sears stuck to the personalized workout routine Green had created for him.
“Keith has been coming in five days a week consistently for three years now,” said Green. “That sounds like a lot, but he went from doing circuit training stuff to weightlifting. Now, he does weightlifting three days per week and circuit training two days per week. When you build muscle, your body increases its metabolism. This helps enable weight loss.”
With this came newly found confidence.
“He's more effective right at work, which has enabled a lot of things in his personal life,” Green said. “He has been promoted three times.”
Spears also takes advantage of virtual coaching.
“He does virtual coaching with me,” Green said. “I program workouts for him to do. He follows those and does group training here as well.”
Spears even serves as a gym ambassador for the gym.
“He gets a free membership to the gym now,” Green explained. “He’s earned an industry membership. So, he doesn't have to pay and gets 24/7 access at the 4,000 locations across the world.”
Three years later, Sears is 32-years-old and no longer fears for his health.
“My energy levels have gone up,” he said with a smile.
