Nathan: Hi, I’m Nathan from the DVCC and I’m here with Bryan today. I’m just going to be asking him a few questions to get an insight into how he’s got such great results, and speak about any difficulties he might have had because I’m sure there are literally thousands of people who will be listening to this interview and will find it very beneficial.
So Bryan, if you could please introduce yourself, and how long have you been at the DVCC?
Bryan: My name’s Bryan Young and I am 68 years old; I joined the middle of January, the second or third week in January.
Nathan: Ok, awesome. And what results have you achieved in that time Bryan?
Bryan: Weight *loss, I think it’s 24lbs; I have *gained 7-8lbs in muscle.
Nathan: Which is a very good amount of muscle to gain and an amazing amount of weight to *lose; very well done for that. What were your struggles with weight *loss before the DVCC?
Bryan: I tried at home; I’ve bought the equipment. I’ve always been conscious of my weight, and the older you get and when you go for medicals - blood pressure - so you do try your best but you need that motivation; you need to go somewhere. You can’t do it at home; it’s so easy to keep putting it off and putting it off.
Nathan: Understandable; you mentioned blood pressure – I believe you have recently had that checked and it’s been good?
Bryan: I have and it is great; the doctors are over the moon with me.
Nathan: Which is awesome; so that’s another great result. So you’ve been trying to *lose weight before at home; was that mainly through exercise or was there a little bit of dieting there as well?
Bryan: Not so much dieting; I’ve bought a cross trainer and I’ve bought a running machine, and I’ve got a barn outside so I suppose I’ve got the area to do it. But again it’s motivation - you don’t do it; I had the equipment there… I did *lose a *stone several years ago and then I think I’m great and then you go on holiday and then you don’t… when you come back you don’t continue with it.
Nathan: Ok, so you hadn’t done any dieting before at all?
Bryan: Not really, no. You cut down on little bits and pieces. I run a busy business, I was on the road and it’s quite easy to stop at a service station and grab something, chocolate really, for energy - long distance driving, but it’s … not really ideal.
Nathan: Ok – I can understand that. And you said you were doing a little bit of training before; was that more like cardio vascular work or was it…
Bryan: Not weights.
Nathan: Not weighted work – but you had done weighted work in the past?
Bryan: Many years ago, yes, in my forties I used to regularly go to the gym; really from my mid-twenties all the way through to my forties. And where I used to live was opposite a gym; it was a physical education college and I joined that to help the students. I used to go in as a client and they worked with you. So I think I did that until I was about 45, maybe 48; and then, I was about 92 kilos then.
Nathan: Ok. You’re a very busy guy; I know you spend a lot of time with your work. So how have you managed to fit exercise in around that?
Bryan: In the mornings. I come Mondays now to do an early session from 6 to 7am in a group; personal training from 7.30 to 8.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and back with a group on Fridays, 6 to 7.
Nathan: Which is awesome. And you started off just 1:1 training, but do you find the group training very beneficial?
Bryan: Yes I needed the confidence; I think with my weight and the age I was, I think I just needed to gain confidence that I wouldn’t let the other group down by joining the group. I think personal training is quite good to give you that confidence; you start to get weight *loss, so it makes you feel good, it makes you do more.
Nathan: Which is awesome, and you’re doing very well with the group sessions I hear as well, which is good. What does your lifestyle look like now compared to before the DVCC?
Bryan: I must say I am very conscious of what I eat now; far, far more. I’ve stuck to the diet, religiously stuck to the diet. I’ve never really done diets before. My wife, is an extremely good cook, it has always been meat and veg, but when I was explained the diet, I thought that suits me, that diet; what walks and, if I remember, swims or flies you can have, with lots of green.
And actually I’ve stuck to that. Very, very rarely do we have now potatoes; my wife doesn’t need to diet; she can eat as many buns as she wants, she’s never put on a pound. But being fair about that, she’s worked with us. And my daughter, belongs to the gym also, she’s had a massive weight *loss – and we’ve put it down to diet and exercise; it’s as simple as that, there’s no magic formula.
Nathan: So it’s a great combination; I remember when you first came in you said that you didn’t really used to eat breakfast very often and you didn’t really eat much in the morning; you used to just have a bigger meal in the evening.
Bryan: I did, yes, and that was my problem. I run several businesses and you fly around all day, no breakfast, go out the door, think you’re doing good, come home and binge – and then go to bed. And that’s not good. But now I’ve stuck to my omelette every morning; I have that – and never missed; I’ve never missed since January.
Nathan: Good; and you’ve been very, very dedicated which is part of the reason why you’ve got such amazing results. So how has the DVCC helped you?
Bryan: Well, everyone laughs but I do see it as a partnership, you know; you come with your problems or your, sort of, ambitions, targets; you come there, you tell the guys what you want, they’ll give you a program, so you use their premises, you use their professional advice – to me that’s a partnership.
And you’ve got to look at it… I would never not turn up because I feel I’m letting them down, not only myself, letting these guys down. They are here all ready for you; it’s up to you to actually support them.
Nathan: Which is awesome; it’s a two way street, you’re definitely right – you can’t just turn up and expect to get results, you need to put the effort in as well, which I’m glad that you understand that. Do you have any specific tips with nutrition or exercise that you could share with anyone listening who may be trying to *lose weight at the moment?
Bryan: Just stick at it, you know? I’ve had my lows; I have come several times and my weight *loss has been … plateau I think you call it; that’s when you need the support. You’ll be working hard… Just stick with it, stick with it and it will happen; just by turning up and having a talk and just giving up on it, and even through the exercise you’ve got to really push yourself. Try to do either the time or the number; just force yourself – then you’ll get results.
Nathan: Yes, I read an article recently that was saying part of the battle for a lot of people is actually just getting to where they are going to train; and when you do actually get there and train, you never regret the workouts that you do.
Bryan: No, it’s motivation – you’ve got to have that motivation.
Nathan: Which is awesome and I’m glad you’ve got that motivation. Have you got any final words today Bryan?
Bryan: No, I would just like to say thank you guys; you have given me a new start in my time of life and the beauty of it, they won’t let me off for my age…
Nathan: Age is only numbers!
Bryan: Only numbers, just a lot more of than most!
Nathan: Good from you Bryan! It was lovely to speak to you today and I’m glad we’ve been able to help you so much. This is Nathan from the DVCC and if you’ve been listening to this podcast, I hope you’ve enjoyed it and it’s been helpful. Have a great day.
