Gym Technik member Gavin Campbell of Toronto recently logged his 1,027th workout in three years. Say that with me again, “one thousand twenty-seventh workout.” Subtract 100 plus pounds from Gavin’s frame, and you have a transformed body! Gavin credits technology and dedication, along with a new motorcycle, for helping him stay motivated to achieve a healthier lifestyle. A self-proclaimed technophile, Gavin pairs his iPhone with Gym Technik, Withings Wi-Fi Scale and Calorie Counter by FatSecret to help him track his progress. Gym Technik lets him plan and track his workouts on his iPhone, Withings his weight and Calorie Counter his daily caloric intake. Keep reading to learn how Gavin did it.
GT: When did you start your weight loss journey?
Gavin: My ‘get my ass in shape’ moment was in September 2008… I got Gym Technik and started hitting the gym. After that, it was a slow progression. I cut out pop and other junk food that I ate regularly. It took me a few months to phase it out.
GT: What was your goal when you started? Did you make successive goals?
Gavin: My “ultimate” goal was to lose 100 lbs, but, of course, that seemed so far away. I was 340+ at my heaviest, and I just started to set smaller goals. One deal I made with my family was that if I dropped 50 lbs I could buy a motorcycle. Of course, they never thought I would do it and agreed to it. But when the day came, I don’t think they were happy about the deal. After that, it was all 10 lbs at a time, and I wasn’t upset if I didn’t make it when I wanted. I just kept working at it.
GT: You’ve lost over 100 lbs. Ultimately, where will you be satisfied?
Gavin: My final goal is to lose my stomach. I like my size and muscle right now, but I still have a bit of a stomach. You always hear how it is the hardest to get rid of, and I am finding that out right now. I have tried making a number of adjustments and am still looking for that combination of things to help me along. I am trying not to lose the muscle I have built up. It’s a hard task to lose fat and build muscle at the same time. I don’t dwell too much though on my weight anymore. I realize as I build the muscle I will get heavier. I focus more on eating properly and doing a balance of both weight training and cardio.
GT: Has your partner joined you in the pursuit? How has she supported you?
Gavin: I have gotten a lot of support from family and friends along the way. My girlfriend has never gotten in my way when it came to going to the gym. However, I have always scheduled my sessions either early in the morning or right after work. On weekends, I usually go before anybody else is awake.
GT: Do you have a plan to maintain?
Gavin: When I first started I spent many hours at the gym. I would do cardio in the mornings and weights and boxing in the evenings. I have streamlined my workouts to spend less time at the gym. I work out 1 body part a day. I do about 5 exercises for that part. I also try to keep my rest periods short (about 1 minute), focusing on exercises that don’t require a lot of prep work or cause me to wait because the machines are in use. With these tweaks I am usually able to complete my weight routine in 30 minutes. I add another 30 minutes of cardio, making my entire workout about an hour long.
Again, congratulations to Gavin. Follow him on Twitter @gavin_campbell.
How has technology helped you stay motivated and reach your goals? Leave your response in the comments.
Posted in News and Updates
Tags: members, technology
