Body By Groom

At 450 pounds, Jeff Groom could barely tie his shoes. His high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, edema and heart issues were all contributing to a dangerous outlook for his health. Without making some major changes, Jeff was facing a life of limitations and significantly less time with those he loved. And his health was not the only thing affected. The weight threw a shadow of hopelessness on every aspect of Jeff’s life, including his interactions with friends, colleagues and family.   

The decision to change one’s life is often the outcome of millions of setbacks, and then one ultimate shove. For Jeff, that shove came at the beginning of January. He began his journey when he finally faced the negative impacts on his life from an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Jeff knew he had to make a change, and could no longer endure the turmoil he was cultivating in his own life. He felt like he was slowly killing himself. One January morning, Jeff called a meeting among those he loved most, apologized for his mistakes and vowed to change his life, not only for himself but for them. 

“I had everything I could want but happiness,” Jeff says. And with that goal in mind he decided to get serious about losing weight. He had been working with Fadi Malouf, whom he had met through a friend, for about two years. When he decided to make a real change Jeff knew he would not only need Fadi’s expertise, but also his support. Jeff went through numerous trainers in the past and he knew he was not an easy client. This is why he needed someone who was more than just a trainer, someone who would push him, coach him and care for him like family.   

“I’ll pay you but I’ll fight you. I’m better at not doing what you tell me,” Jeff frankly told Fadi at the beginning. And Fadi accepted the challenge wholeheartedly. 

The first steps Jeff took in his journey were cutting out alcohol, cutting back his red meat consumption, increasing plants and lean protein in his diet, and working out. He began to enjoy lifting weights and becoming more active. Fadi pushed him in the gym and provided him with nutrition counseling to help Jeff fuel his body correctly. He also helped Jeff sort through the mental part of weight loss as his life coach.

With such a significant amount of weight to lose, Jeff decided to undergo bariatric surgery a couple months into his journey. This helped him immensely, but he still had a lot of work to do. 

“What people don’t often realize is that obesity is not the problem, it’s the solution to a deeper issue,” Fadi says, “Once I help clients identify the underlying issues and work through them, they can find the happiness they lost and care for themselves enough to lose the weight and be healthy long-term.”

Jeff recalls a difficult time at the beginning of his journey when he fell off the wagon and felt lost. He called Fadi in the middle of the night and told him he was struggling. Fadi dropped everything and went to be with Jeff and help him through his difficult time. Even though Fadi pushed him and they were usually sarcastic, this time Jeff needed the support of a friend. 

In 9 months Jeff has lost over 200 pounds. His outlook on life has completely changed. He found the happiness that was lost from his life before and for the first time in a long time, he is excited about the future. His friends and family have also noticed a change in his attitude. Jeff discovered when you care for yourself and foster self love, you in turn care for those around you more. 

For the future, Jeff is focusing on work and growing his business. In many ways he is promoting a healthier business, just like he did for himself- restructuring and not working with dishonest people. He is putting his family and company first. 

Jeff’s nutrition and fitness regimen now consist of portion control and working out when he can squeeze it in. Jeff attributes much of his success to working with Fadi. The program he followed was unique from what he experienced with dozens of trainers in the past. Jeff says he still eats things he enjoys, but it’s not about eating large amounts of food, but more about taste. Changing his overall relationship with food has led him to his success with weight loss.

Fadi could not be more proud of Jeff. Playing a role in someone completely changing their life has given him a huge sense of purpose.

“Personally, Jeff has been one of my most rewarding clients to work with. I’ve seen him transform entirely and he is so much happier now,” Fadi says. “I know we will be life-long friends.”

Jeff believes anyone who wants to lose weight and get healthier should give Fadi a shot. 

“The main thing about Fadi is he truly cares about the individual, not about the dollar amount. It’s a relationship and he really cares about people and their health.” 

Day 1 A lot of frustration

Day 1 A lot of frustration

Chicken Salad

This morning I was awaken early by my phone ringing. On the other end was a very WIDE awake Fadi. His voice sounding very enthusiastic for me to get up and start my day. I on the other hand wasn’t ready to get out of my sleeper. I had stayed up till the wee hours of the morning researching different websites for Trucker Exercises and what kind of FREE downloads were available for my iPhone to help monitor my activity level throughout the day. The APP I downloaded to my phone was “Pacer”. I based my decision on reading the reviews and the ease of use.

I knew that I needed to do cardio first thing before I ate breakfast. So I got my dog Trip out of the truck and began walking at a brisk pace around the perimeter of the TA truck stop in Barstow, CA. We walked for a total of 45min and covered just over 2 miles of real estate.

Fadi had told me to make sure I drank plenty of water throughout the day I only consumed 3 – 16oz bottles.

I only ate 1 meal today and that was a Spinach salad with 1 grilled Chicken breast. I put my Lite Ranch salad dressing into a soup bowl and lightly dipped eat bite. Salad dressing can be the culprit to making a salad not so healthy. With this in mind I dip instead of smother. I also ordered a piece of grilled white fish with lemon pepper to eat later today.

Daily Steps

I was asked to measure my waist and thighs. This was quite the eye opener when I saw what my measurement were:

Waist 34.5″
Thighs 25″

Those measurement sound like a mans. Now I have a number to go with the reason I hate mirrors. At least living in a truck elevates me having to look at myself.

My intention today were to unhook my tractor from my trailer and find the nearest Walmart or Stater Brothers to buy grocery’s and some fitness bands. Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to do that but I will tomorrow. I learned that my truck has a head gasket going bad and I was trying to weigh out my options. Bottom line is my truck may not make it back to Georgia. I had to cancel an oversize load and now had to start looking for something lighter to put on my trailer. This has put me under a lot of frustration and stress.

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Today I Found Hope

Today I Found Hope

I found hope

Today I found hope. I am a Truck Driver that does long haul. There are pros and cons to driving a truck. The pros are seeing our beautiful country and getting paid to do it. Meeting new people and knowing that what I delivered is needed by them. I have hauled many different commodities, from cattle to military vehicles, bridge forms, JetA fuel to fill helicopters that fight wild fires burning in the mid-west. The cons are being gone from home for weeks sometimes months, missing my family, friends and my horses. Another downside is the lack of keeping in shape. I have gained weight and my journey starts today in loosing the unwanted pounds with that I have gained from holding a steering wheel over the last 4 years. My goal is to loose 20lbs over the next 10 weeks. I realize that I will have challenges but without the challenges given to us how will we become stronger.

Today I will start making changes with the help of my friend Fadi and his associates.

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Building Muscle with Static Contractions

Building Muscle with Static Contractions

Performing weight training exercises that involve static contractions is a great way to create the most muscle mass and strength through the smallest amount of movement and time. Static training involves taking a weight and holding it in a fixed position for several seconds. Today’s workout will focus on incorporating this technique.

Warm Up: 5 minutes of cardio

Focus: Chest, Arms, Legs, Core

Time: 45 minutes

Set

4 repetitions 

Incline Chest Press

  • Equipment Bench; free weights
  • Reps: 30 seconds of reps; 30 seconds holding (for a total of two minutes)
  • Weight: Start with a manageable weight for the first set; increase weight by 5-10 lbs. after each set
  • Tips & Tricks: Hold the static contraction in the open position, where elbows are in line with the shoulders

Squats

  • Equipment:  Dumbbell
  • Time: 30 seconds of reps; 30 seconds holding (for a total of two minutes)
  • Weight: 15 lbs
  • Tips & Tricks: Hold the dumbbell to your chest as you squat down to a seated position and rise up; hold the static contraction in the seated position, with knees over ankles

Lateral Pulldown  

  • Equipment Seated Pulley Machine
  • Reps: 30 seconds of reps; 30 seconds holding (for a total of two minutes)
  • Weight: Start with a manageable weight for the first set; increase weight by 5-10 lbs. after each set
  • Tips & Tricks: Hold the static contraction and focus on isolating your lateral back muscles as you pull down

One Arm Row with Double Hold

  • Equipment:  Dumbbells
  • Time: 30 seconds of reps; 30 seconds holding (for a total of two minutes)
  • Weight: Start with a manageable weight for the first set; increase weight by 5-10 lbs. after each set
  • Tips & Tricks: Position yourself in a split squat with one leg bent and row with the opposite arm; on the static contraction, place feet together and hold the contraction with both arms at the same time

Cable Flies

  • Equipment: Pulley Machine
  • Reps: 30 seconds of reps; 30 seconds holding (for a total of two minutes)
  • Weight: Start at 30 lbs. or more; increase weight by 5-10 lbs. after each set
  • Tips & Tricks: Focus on the chest muscles and keeping the arms straight as you slowly pull them apart and together; hold the static contraction with your hands about two feet apart

 

 

 

 

 

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