First of all, I will say that I have been HEAVY all of my life.  Well, scratch that – I have been heavy since I learned to feed myself.  I would hide food, eat at my friend’s house then come home and have a second dinner with my family, and I’d lie about what I had eaten — to anyone who would listen.  I remember in 8th grade we all had to go to the nurse’s office to be weighed.  After weighing me, the nurse handed me my weight sheet and some bozo classmate snatched it from me.  He screamed at the top of his lungs that I weighed 180 pounds — more than anyone else in the whole school.  That was devastating — so I went home and ate an entire Kentucky Butter Cake.  I would isolate myself from everyone, and I ended up with very few friends.  I didn’t believe that I am worth the time and energy it takes to be my friend.  Food never chose someone else over me, food never betrayed me, and food just made me feel so good.

My whole life changed on February 16, 2010  when I took control of my life and had RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery.  I was 28 years old, 5′10″ tall, and I weighed 324 pounds. 

It has now been about 5 and ahalf months since my surgery, and I have lost 94 pounds.  This journey has not been easy at all.  I have landed myself in the hospital several times due to dehydration, and my brain is having a hard time adjusting to all of the new attention that I receive.  I have also had to learn to eat more nutritious foods and to exercise at least five times per week.  However, the one thing that has made this journey much easier to handle has been my love of the Designer Whey protein shakes.  Without my daily Designer Whey shakes, I would be lost.  These smooth and delicious shakes satisfy me and provide me with all of the protein I need — and I need A LOT of protein everyday!

I have attached my before and “mid-way” pictures.  The pictures on the left were taken the morning of my gastric bypass surgery (324 pounds), and the ones on the right were taken today (230 pounds). I look forward to continuing my journey with the help of Designer Whey …..my absolute favorite protein shakes!

Thanks!
Melinda Andrews

At Elite Fitness in Huntersville, North Carolina, we support three different charities. We participated in two events this year for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, for which we raised over half a million bucks. Thank you. One for the Dove House Women’s shelter, and two for the Greg Biffle Foundation for the welfare of animals. The latter proved to be a bit of a challenge. It’s not as easy to get people to donate money for animals, when human based charities are in serious need.

So here was my idea: “Benches for Pooches”. We challenged our members to go out and get pledges, per pound, for their best bench press. We would all come in on a Saturday morning and do our best bench press. Then go back and collect for the new no-kill animal shelter in our town. My rescue dog Mocha was the official spokes-dog of the event.

People went nuts. Forty members signed up. Dewalt, Subway, Europa, and Designer Whey all contributed product and prizes. We awarded all weight classes, best over all bench and most money raised. The local Great Dane rescue brought down two dogs who sat on either side of the front door.

At least half of us did a career best bench press. We gave everyone a month to get in shape for the contest, and it made for some great inter-gym competition and trash talking.  Our top lady benched 225 pounds, and our top male lifter benched 585!

So here is the end result: It made for great morale around the gym. It got members excited about working out. And we actually had two people join after the gym after the contest. They were crazy dog lovers too!

So here’s our advice: Pick a charity, set a goal and challenge you friends. We promise you’ll feel great afterwards.

Starting in the Summer of 2008, with the help of my wonderful wife (who also dieted with me and lost 60 lbs!), I stopped smoking and began a diet and exercise program that would finally rid me of the moniker of “the fat kid”. I started off with a sensible eating plan, generally sticking to the same foods on a daily basis. Wheaties and a Banana for breakfast, yogurt for a snack, turkey sandwich and apples for lunch, chicken breast and brown rice for dinner and another snack after an hour of walking. After I began noticing the weight dropping off, I added light weight training into my regimen, and this is where Designer Whey enters the story. I initially started using Designer Whey on the recommendation of my older brother, who had recently lost a good bit of weight with the help of Designer Whey and a weight training program. I purchased a container of the Chocolate flavor, skeptical of how good a protein powder could really taste, and was shocked to find it to be just as good as my brother had made it out to be! The taste alone was enough to get me to continue using it, but the results it helps me achieve are even better! From that day forward, I have always ended my workouts with 2 delicious scoops of Designer Whey mixed into 12 ounces of milk.

Two years have passed since I decided that I was going to make a change, and I am currently at 187 lbs. I have now shifted my weight training program towards the goal of adding muscle, and Designer Whey is a prime ingredient in helping me do so. I am currently one month into my new workout routine and have achieved noticeable muscle gain. I would recommend Designer Whey to anyone, whether your goal is to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or to increase muscle mass, Designer Whey protein powder is a wonderful choice to help you meet, and exceed, all of your expectations!  

Ryan M. McCallister

One of my favorite accidental discoveries this summer has been my Lemonade popsicles.  You guys have to remember I am from Arizona, so as you can only imagine I love me some popsicles!  I had mixed up a new Lemonade 2Go pack in my bottle water and stuck the unfinished bottle into a hotel fridge which must have been set wrong because when I went to grab it, it was slushy, which was the bomb!  Since that time I have taken all the flavors and made little popsicles and they are fabulous!! I either make it in little Dixie cups or even a ice cube tray sometimes.  You should try it – especially if you have kids.

So I was thinking…and you guys need to let me know… maybe we should do a poll or something to get together for a race of some sort.  I’m up for almost anything from a triathlon, cycling, or running.  My idea is that we all pick a race somewhere in the States and train together through the blog here and have a huge presence at one of the races, what do you think?  Send in your ideas and let’s figure something out.

If you’re in need of shedding a few pounds AND looking to learn a little self-defense, Krav Maga might just be the ideal workout for you. The following are a few advantages that you can experience from Krav Maga training:

1.  It’s a Great Way to Get in Shape. FAST. Krav Maga is one of the most physically demanding forms of self defense in the world. As you train you’ll start losing weight while building up muscle. You’ll build up stamina, strength, as well as flexibility and endurance. Most Krav Maga trainers report that a one-hour class can burn up to 1,000 or more!

2. You’ll Be Able to Defend Yourself and Others. Krav Maga will teach you how protect yourself in almost any dangerous situation. Learning how to keep yourself safe in actual day to day situations is important, and Krav Maga can help you learn these techniques.

3. Build Self-Confidence. Having self confidence is important in everything you do. Krav Maga helps you work on your “reactions” and the more you learn and train, the more you will build up your self-confidence.

4. Improved Self-Awareness.  When you are learning Krav Maga you will learn how to be aware of your situation at any time. This is an important technique to learn because self defense on your part will actually begin with you being aware of your surroundings.

5. Stress Relief. Taking Krav Maga is great for relieving stress, since you’ll learn how to deal with stress and how to function even when you are under great amounts of stress. The physical activity will release endorphins, help to clear your head and reduce overall stress.

6. It’s Fun.  Many people who train in Krav Maga say that it’s a really fun way to get in and stay in shape. You’ll enjoy getting to meet new people who are on the cutting edge of fitness as well as learning invaluable ways to protect yourself.

Next, a matter of relaxing by the TV. I do it A LOT! To be completely honest, I probably watch way to much TV to be healthy, but I really enjoying keeping up with all of my favorite TV shows, even if they are re-runs during the summer. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get a good workout in. My best friend Jessi is always telling me to add a workout to my couch potato time, and I’ve finally taken her advice. I do 20 push-ups during the commercial break, which takes me 20-30 seconds. It may not sound like a lot, but with the average 30-minute TV show having 3 commercial breaks, 1 every 7-8 minutes or so, watching TV for a couple of hours will also bring in well over 100 push-ups in a night, with plenty of rest in between. The first couple of sets go by pretty easy, but once I’m at that 4th or 5th set, they get a lot harder, and that’s when you’re getting your benefits. All put together, those push-ups will work the majority of your upper-body muscles, burning calories while sitting on your bum, and if you’re watching TV at night like me, it’ll burn calories while you sleep too, using calories to rebuild the muscle tissue. How about that, losing weight while you sleep! Nobel Prize, please!

Another thing to think about is that diet. I struggle probably more than anyone with overeating, because I’ve been doing it for years. I can out-eat almost anyone (except Joey Chestnut, the world-record setting Nathan’s Hot Dog eating champion), and I’ve been known to put down an entire large meat-lovers pizza by myself, in one sitting. Now, it doesn’t take an expert to tell me that that is neither healthy nor good for my weight loss plan. However, I’ve done it, and there’s nothing that can be done about it now. But that doesn’t mean I should keep doing it! That goes with everything bad for you, like eating a bucket of ice cream or tons of cookies. That little bit of cheating on your diet will take you several steps backwards in your weight loss goals, and you’ll only feel guilt and shame afterwords. Instead, you have to find something to snack on in between meals, and your meals need to be sensibly sized and portioned in order to keep up your weight loss. In the long run you’ll be a lot happier that you had a turkey sandwich instead of a whole pizza.

Finally, just to put everyone in a positive mood and the right frame of mind, as of today I am down 30 pounds from when I started my diet and exercise plan! I’ve had my share of downfalls, pitfalls and stumbling blocks, as well as a few “I quits” in there, but overall I’ve kept at it and have continued to lose weight in the long run, and that’s the important part. I am much, much lighter than I was in January. I may not be where I wanted to be as part of my original plan, but I’m still headed in the right direction, and that’s what really matters! So, even if you didn’t lose your 20 pounds in 21 days (which was my goal over my summer break from school, which I didn’t meet), having lost weight over that time period is still a success, so take pride in that and keep going. Eventually, you’ll reach that goal, and when you do, you’ll be more proud of yourself then you thought possible. Keep it up everyone!

Sometimes making a difference isn’t just about looking good. It is about doing good. Designer Whey’s new eco-friendly design now uses 25% less packaging. And because the new packaging is smaller and the walls are thinner, it requires less energy to make – resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.  

So let’s all do our part to reduce, reuse and recycle. Designer Whey…good for you, good for the planet.

A: I used to watch WWF wrestling on TV all the time. I used to get all pumped up when Hulk Hogan would say ”train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins “. I  always dreamed of inspiring others and having that same effect on people all over the world. I started competing in fitness competitions back in 1996. I entered my first show, the Mr. Fitness contest and came in 3^rd place out of 30 guys. I went back the next year and won the competition. After that I started competing as a natural bodybuilder. The first show I entered was in 1998, the NPC New York State Natural, where I took first place. I live to inspire others, I feel that’s my gift in life. I have a “never give up” attitude in life. I feel we’re all here for a reason and I’m glad I found mine.

Q: What are the most important things you’ve learned since you started working out,  about yourself, about your training, nutrition?

A: I turn 40 years old at the end of this year and I’ve been training now for almost 25 years. WOW! That’s a long time! The most important thing I’ve learned is that we’re all different so what may work for someone else may not work for you. It depends upon your body structure, your shape, your metabolism, etc. I always tell my clients to have a balance in their training and nutrition. You should never lift too heavy or too light, your cardio should never be too extreme or too moderate and your diet should never be too strict or too sloppy. The bottom line is that it all comes down to balance and harmony. That’s the key to success in any field.

Q: As a Personal Trainer, what’s the single most important thing you tell your clients about nutrition?

A: Diet is so important when it comes down to looking good and feeling good. Too many people eat the wrong things and expect to have a six pack. I hear this everyday: “Tony, how do I get abs?” The truth about getting abs is simple, you have to get your body fat down so you can see your abs. We all have abdominal muscles. Yes, the more you work them the more dominant they will become but you’re not going to see them if they’re covered with body fat. I recommend a diet of 5 meals a day. In this diet, I also recommend that you have a Designer Whey Protein Shake 2x daily.  You also have to keep your calories low. I said it many times, just because something is good to eat doesn’t mean you should eat a truck load of it!  Portion size and moderation is key. A great diet would go something like this:

Breakfast: 3 egg whites 1 yolk, ½ cup of oats mixed with ½ cup of strawberries, 1 slice of toast with natural peanut butter

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Lunch: Grilled chicken on salad with balsamic dressing

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Dinner: 1 cup of pasta or a sweet potato with mixed steamed vegetables

Q: What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about exercise and diet?

A: There’s so much misleading information out there it could make your head spin. I found that the best advice comes from your own inner voice. Your body will always tell you what it needs, not what you think you needs. The body and mind must work in harmony together so this means creating a balance in ones self. Don’t get caught up reading magazine after magazine or searching the internet high and low. The truth about diet and exercise is that it’s hard work! You have to train on a daily basis. Your body eats everyday and will store calories as fat everyday unless you burn them off.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone who needs to lose a significant amount of weight?

A: Have patience.  You didn’t get out of shape overnight so why would you expect to get in shape overnight? You have to understand that you alone can get you into shape. Yes it’s great to have a motivator or a trainer to help you, but what happens when that trainer is gone? You have to be the one that keeps the fire burning, you’re the one who has to “Get Serious”.  My whole life I said to myself “I want to be the best, I want to be known as a Super Hero” when it comes to inspiring others to get into shape and live a healthier life. Our society is filled with too much food!  Everywhere you look there’s junk food and fast food. What does that says about us? We have to be the ones who take back our lives. We have to be the ones who say enough is enough!

Q: It’s easy for some people to stray from their fitness goals. What advice do you have to stay on track?

A: I always say “You can’t fly like an eagle if you hang around the chickens”. Try to surround yourself with dream builders, not dream breakers! Your environment is crucial to achieving your goals in life. Join a gym and make friends with people who are in shape. Keep on your plan. This doesn’t mean eating good and working out for 4 days in a row and then taking off for 4 days and then starting over. It has to be day in and day out. Just like when you get up in the morning and get dressed. The same goes for working out and dieting. Everyday must be the same, day in and day out.

If you need help please contact me.  I’m a never ending ball of motivation. You can also visit me on facebook where I post “Tony’s Tip of the Day” and much more inspirational messages and photos.

- Anthony Catanzaro

To learn more about Tony, please visit his website at www.anthonycatanzaro.com