Great Fitness Success Story: Shezad Mehdi
Shezad’s Fitness Story in His Own Words
October 15, 2007. I walked into the doctor’s office to get the results of a routine blood test. You see, I hadn’t been to the doctor is quite some time and my significant other convinced (forced) me to go get a routine checkup. She was concerned that I might be subject to some health risks due to my weight. I had put on some extra pounds over the years, but I didn’t feel like I was having any trouble. I do however have a family history of heart disease and diabetes, so it was always a concern in the back of my mind, so I begrudgingly agreed. That day literally changed my life.
As you may have guessed, the results weren’t too good. As a matter of fact, they were quite serious. I had high cholesterol, high sugar and dangerously high blood pressure. Basically, every health fear that I ever had, came to life in a matter of minutes. I was on the road to heart disease and diabetes. My blood pressure was so high, that my doctor had to prescribe me some meds to keep the blood pressure under control. In this day and age, it might seem quite common to be prescribed blood pressure medicine, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but I couldn’t believe MY health had gotten so bad that I had to be on prescription drugs. You see, I was only 27 at the time. The doctor looked me in the eye and told me I had two choices; either make a lifestyle change, or pretty much die young. Right then and there, I made a promise to myself that I would make that change.
I immediately changed my eating habits. No more McDonalds, Wendy’s, or Burger King. I knew a change in my diet would help, but I needed to get into the gym. The funny thing is for the past six months, I already had a gym membership, at one of those massive gyms you see on every corner these days, but I had probably gone a whole two times. I knew there was no way I could go to the gym on my own on a consistent basis, for one, I had no idea what I was doing in the gym and two, the place was quite intimidating. I needed help. That night, I sat on my computer and searched for personal trainers in the South Florida area. I was pretty excited to see the abundance of trainers available, and wrote down a few names and numbers, and called them all the next day. I figured I wouldn’t get anyone on the phone, but I left messages with all of them. Call it fate, luck or whatever, but only one of them called me back. Doug Jackson.
Doug was pretty cool on the phone, and asked me what I was looking for. I told him my story and he invited me in for a face to face chat, and to check out the facilities of the gym he was training out of (BB3 Results Driven Training Facility). From his website, I could see all his accomplishments and credentials, but I was still apprehensive about the whole thing. When I met Doug, he took me into his office and explained the different training options I had. He made me comfortable about going to the gym. The atmosphere at the gym was wonderful. Only a handful of people in at a time, made my intimidation of going to the gym more manageable. Seeing my two problems of going to the gym solved, I signed up.
My first day at the gym, I was all hyped up to get to work, but to my surprise, I barely broke a sweat. Instead of doing an intense workout, Doug took the time to sit with me and outline my goals and what I wanted to accomplish. In my mind I was thinking, ok this is easy, I want to lose weight, but Doug, wouldn’t take that as an answer. We spent about 30 minutes, writing down several detailed goals I wanted to meet, and the dates I wanted to accomplish them by. What I really liked about Doug was that he was straight with me. He made it clear that as hard as I worked in the gym, I would have to work equally as hard outside the gym. I could do all the exercises in the world, but if my eating habits weren’t good, I wouldn’t meet my goals by the dates I had set. He helped me start a food journal, recommended an eating “strategy” and gave me client access to his website (which has tons of useful information). I have heard of so many people whose personal trainers basically count their reps, but Doug was so much more. After that point, we never looked back.
To make a long story short here is what transpired in my time with Doug Jackson:
• Increased metabolism by eating more, but eating healthier.
• Averaging a 2.5lb weight loss a week.
• Lost approximately 50 lbs of fat and gained 10 lbs of muscle in 5 months.
• Reached my target weight before my target date.
• No longer have a need for blood pressure medicine. Cholesterol and sugar are at normal levels.
• Renewed confidence
• Complete shock of friends and family who haven’t seen me in awhile.
• 6 garbage bags full of clothing donated to the Salvation Army.
• High credit card balance due to the need of buying a new wardrobe. (Which I don’t mind at all)
• Being asked for workout tips from co-workers.
• Changing my weight loss program to a muscle building program. (I put on about 8lbs of muscle in a month!)
• Becoming addicted to the gym.
I think anyone out there would be content with those accomplishments listed, but I feel the most important thing that Doug Jackson has done for me, is given me the confidence to continue working out on my own. He even encouraged it! I was thinking to myself, why would any personal trainer in their right mind want to encourage his/her clients to begin working out on their own (and lose out on their $), but that’s the type of person Doug Jackson is. He knows his clients won’t be with him forever. As in my case, I am moving back to my home city of Chicago. And because Doug has instilled that confidence in me, I know when I move, I will continue on my path, and not revert back to what I used to be, because if I did, Doug would take it as his personal failure.
At the risk of sounding like a cliché Doug Jackson has really been a savior, and I would recommend anyone, at any fitness level, who is serious about getting results, to pay him a visit and finally make that change in their lives.
THANK YOU DOUG!
Shezad Mehdi
