Kirk M Weight Loss Success Story

My weight loss journey started about a year before I came to Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. I was tired of feeling and looking the way I did, and I did not like what I was seeing in the mirror every day. I started swimming for my exercise since at that time going to the gym to participate in high impact exercises was not realistic for me. I joined LA Fitness in South Gilbert and had to relearn how to swim in a more efficient way to aid in my weight loss. I was eating healthy, reading food labels and exercising, but I was still gaining weight. I couldn’t figure it out so I made an appointment with my primary care doctor. I found out I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and was given medications to treat the symptoms. I didn’t just want to treat these conditions, I wanted to fix them!

Kirk Before & After “I started investigating different weight loss centers and a friend at work knew someone who had gone to Scottsdale Weight Loss Center, so I called. I met with the patient coordinator and realized I could not do this on my own. The simple fact was that I needed medical help in a structured weight loss program.”

I started using Optifast as well as Metformin in February 2016. I have done other diets, but the ease of using Optifast four meals a day with a whole food meal combined with the Metformin, which for me was my “magic” pill, allowed me to see immediate results. When I started with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center I was 275 pounds with 40% body fat and by the end of my 22 weeks I had lost 50 pounds. Every week I was losing weight. Seeing that continual weight-loss was a key for me to stick with the program.

At 225 pounds I was ready to expand my fitness plan. I was already swimming and added spin cycle to my cardio routine at LA Fitness. I then added weight training to build muscle and increase my core strength by joining a gym called TI Fitness in Gilbert.

I read on MyFitnessPal about a man who lost weight and entered the world of male physique competitions. Now, I’m the type of guy that if I don’t have a goal I will lose motivation. From his story, I found inspiration to enter men’s physique competitions.

In August 2017, I started an 11-month fitness plan to reduce my body fat and increase my muscularity. I tracked every day in an electronic journal called Day One my frustrations and successes, which I am publishing into an eBook. During this time my testosterone naturally increased from 627 to 713, a change of 13%, and my pant waist went from size 36 to 32.

I entered two men’s physique competitions in July 2018 weighing 186 pounds with 15% body fat and won 3rd and 4th place trophies. At 55 years old I am in the best shape of my life.

I have grown a lot the last 2+ years, including finding a passion to inspire others. I have directly affected several individuals to start their own fitness journey with my Instagram postings. I am working towards becoming a certified personal trainer and creating a website to reach a wider audience to empower them to make healthy life decisions.

My advice to anyone looking to lose weight and get fit is to trust the process. It will be slow going and, yes, I wanted to quit at times. But I didn’t quit because I want to live a long, happy life and I knew if I followed my plan I would attain my goals. It is okay to be selfish about yourself, to make life decisions that are best for you that may not be best for others in your life. You have to make the decision that the most important person is yourself and seek out a team of experts, from physicians to counselors to trainers, to support you with this process. You cannot make a better you by yourself.

And don’t think you cannot still enjoy food and beverage while losing weight. I am a foodie and enjoy craft beer to this day. You just have to learn the rules of moderation and balance having fun with your quest to make you a better you.

*Medical weight loss program results vary between individuals depending on initial weight, existing medical conditions and adherence to prescribed treatments. Speak to our weight loss specialists about the results you can expect.

More Weight Loss Success Stories

It’s hard enough staring down the big 60 without the sudden realization your body was breaking down under stress from an excessive lifestyle. In the last few years I had seen my doctor for high blood pressure, suddenly waking from sleep with sweats/rapid breathing, severe/recurrent acid reflux, frequent headaches, and constant stuffed sinuses. Beyond the physical issues was a declining self image caused by 44″ pants that were too tight and having to see what I looked like getting out of the shower. I knew I was in denial as I hadn’t been on the home scale in years.

In August 2008 I was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes and placed on more medicine. I was now taking pills for blood pressure, diabetes, and acid reflux every day. The diabetes really scared me as my father died in his late 70’s from heart failure brought on my complications from adult diabetes. During that fateful visit my doctor said either lose weight or be on pills the rest of your life.and by the way that life will be 10 years or more shorter. Even with that it took a few weeks to call SWLC and make my initial appointment, but I did and it has given me a new life.

Steve's 62 lb Weight Loss Success Story “Here I am 6 months later and I have lost the weight I needed to, and I only take a baby aspirin for daily medicine. My blood pressure and sugar levels have receded to normal ranges. My wife loves that I do not snore anymore, as I sleep through the night with clear sinuses. My acid reflux has not recurred in 4 months. In addition I am walking every day and able to do strenuous activities again. The only disappointment is that my golf game has declined, because I am swinging around a belly that is no longer there.”

Losing weight was a daily challenge, but the structured program with weekly classes really helped. What I really came to appreciate was the non judgmental nature of the program. They help you find the plans, tactics, and motivations that work for you. They also make it very clear keeping the weight off will be by far my biggest challenge, and that I have not heard the last of the habits that caused my weight gain. I hope 5 years from now I can still say I am controlling my weight. The foundation I built at SWLC gives me every chance for that to happen.

*Medical weight loss program results vary between individuals depending on initial weight, existing medical conditions and adherence to prescribed treatments. Speak to our weight loss specialists about the results you can expect.