The Journey Of A Lifetime: A Seventy Five-Kg Weight Loss Transformation
Some people go their whole lives without ever really embracing change. But others know that change is inevitable so set aside the fear and take life by the balls.
Cue my brother-in-law Shane. Shane has always had a big heart, big personality, and a big build to match. That was until he took on that scary thing that we all avoid at times 'change'.
Here is an interview with Shane Gillard on food, life, exercise and his 75-kg weight loss journey.
SHANE, YOU HAVE GONE ON AN AMAZING WEIGHT LOSS AND HEALTH JOURNEY - WHERE WERE YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS JOURNEY AND WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
When I started my journey I was not in a good place. The weeks leading up to the moment of change were quite bad. I had just left my job as a bakery manager, my fiance and I were almost broke and I had no idea what I was doing. I tried to deal with my issues the same way I had dealt with all my other issues since I was a teenager, I drank, ate and made excuses. All of those years of using those methods to hide my problems had taken a toll mentally and physically. I weighed close to 190kg, had zero self-confidence and I was at rock bottom. I felt like I had nothing to live for until I woke up and realised I had my beautiful family to look after. So I took the plunge and made the changes I needed to make so I could support the ones I love. My beautiful wife to be and daughter mean the world to me and I would do anything for them. Now I truly feel like I am doing everything I can for them.
From there I started rebuilding from the ground up. I faced my demons, cut ties with a select few people and made changes to my lifestyle. I starting eating properly, stopped drinking alcohol all the time and signed up for a gym with the last few dollars I had. Fast forward to almost 2 years later I have turned everything around. I’ve lost 75kg, started a bricklaying apprenticeship and my fiance and I are expecting twins very soon. Over the last two years, I have worked on my mental health through advice, books and facing my demons. Having over 10-years of issues built up and repressed has been hard to riffle through and face. I’ll be honest I haven’t faced all of them but I have sorted through and resolved a lot of them. With my mental health sorted out I have also looked at my physical shape. My fitness was at a level that was less than pathetic. I started slow and built my way up to where I am now. I ran over 40km last week and I’m training for my first half marathon.
WHAT MADE YOU FINALLY PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND BEGIN TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES?
I was always in denial that my size was stopping me from being a normal functioning human being. But it pushed me to wake up when I saw it how it was affecting my life and those around me. I went for a suit fitting for a wedding where I was a groomsman. They didn’t have anything even close to my size. That night as usual, instead of trying to face the issue I attempted to mask it once more. At 2 am I found myself completely shitfaced, standing in front of the medicine cupboard looking for anything that might help mask the pain. I found nothing. The next few hours were not my proudest moments however, they happened for a reason. I decided to have a quick shower and brush of my teeth so it would hide the smell of alcohol on my breath. In that shower, my mind was racing with thoughts of having no money, no job, no direction and seemingly no future.
I had built up to the point that it was all too much. I never actually contemplated finishing my story there and letting my demons win, however, it was an option that was looming over me. Something snapped that night. I thought that if killing myself wasn’t an option then why am I killing myself slowly? I told asked myself something that I will never forget that night. I asked myself if you can’t even look after yourself how are you going to look after your family? I never want any of my loved ones to go through the emptiness I felt that night. I made the decision then and there that I was going to make sure my daughter and main motivator would never have to experience anything like it. “If I can’t do it for me then do it for them” become my motto and I have lived by it ever since. In every hard moment and difficult choice, I come back to that one line.
YOU HAVE TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT IN THE PAST, WHAT MADE THIS TIME DIFFERENTLY?
The major difference in this journey compared to others is that I was mentally prepared for it and I found the motivation I needed. My beautiful wife to be, my daughter and the twins were what started this whole journey and why I will continue to strive to be the best person I can be. My first few attempts were to keep people off my back and stop them from worrying about me. Then the next few were to try and fit into the social norms to attract the opposite sex. I was never doing it for the right reasons and I never addressed why I was so big in the first place. Then we come to now. I have found a legitimate reason to stay motivated to keep going and to push the boundaries.
DO YOU THINK FOOD OR EXERCISE IS MORE IMPORTANT?
The biggest part of change (and I have touched on this earlier) is mindset. Mindset is everything. You have to be willing to change, give up and miss out so you can achieve your goals. Mindset is a hard. Some people can work it out on their own and others need like-minded people to help them and steer them in the right direction. I would recommend looking in your local area for a support group that is right for you or even reach out to like-minded friends or family members
WHAT TYPE OF FOODS AND EXERCISE ARE YOU ENJOYING AT THE MOMENT?
At the moment my favourite meal is steamed chicken with chilli and lemon marinade and roasted sweet potato. It's so fresh and the flavours work well together. As for exercise, I’m in love with running at the moment. I’ve run on average 25 km a week for the last 10 weeks but I smashed out 40 km last week (hell yeah).
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BE PREPARED?
“Preparation is key to success”
Throughout my journey, there have been a multitude of battles that I wouldn't have made it through if I wasn't prepared. I had no excuse to not eat properly because I prep my meals in advance. And my changes in mindset have helped me not be disappointed when it comes to not so high weigh-in days or when I have friends stop talking to me because "I have changed". If I wasn't prepared to lose a few friends through bettering myself, I might have stopped my journey right then and there. There will be people who talk. Let them talk then prove them wrong with results.
HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MINDSET TO GO ON THIS JOURNEY?
I’ve had to change my mindset on so many occasions over my journey and I am sure I will continue to do so. Every turn of my journey has had a different challenge and has needed a different plan of attack. I believe changing your mindset but with an ultimate goal is the key to keeping consistent and motivated.
IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO YOUR PAST SELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“Wake up it’s not as hard as you think.”
However, I think I needed my rock bottom to snap out of denial and realise I was slowing killing myself. That is what jump started me into making long-lasting change.
What did you think of Shane's journey? Please leave Shane and I a comment in the area below, and let us know your biggest takeaways.
To get in contact with Shane you can reach him on Instagram at @runningmytitsoff or email him at losinganother25@gmail.com.
