Stories about weight loss are frequently neatly packaged, emphasising the happy conclusion while downplaying the difficult journey there. But Adam Buckholtz’s story shows how even a fitness expert can have severe problems with their own physical well-being in an unvarnished and honest manner. His tale is not just about losing weight; it’s also about conquering the hardest obstacles in life on a mental, physical, and emotional level. Adam’s story, which includes his time as a powerlifter and competitive athlete, fatherhood, overcoming life-threatening injuries, and accepting his own mortality, will speak to anybody who has experienced hardship.
Before the Journey: A Satisfied and Unrealised Potential Life
Adam has struggled with his weight all of his life. Being the son of a physical education teacher and coach, he had many hurdles and high expectations growing up. He was not naturally athletic, but his strength and willpower allowed him to succeed at wrestling. However, despite his early athletic endeavours, the weight continued to accumulate throughout his adult life. Adam experienced multiple injuries by the time he was in his late 20s and early 30s, including two ACL reconstructions, an MCL reconstruction, a damaged shoulder that eventually needed replacement, and a herniated disc. His regular trips to the orthopaedic department became into a pattern. His father’s death from cardiovascular illness when he was 26 years old drastically altered his life and inspired him to seek a career in fitness. But even with his education and dedication to functional exercise, he was still struggling with his weight, reaching 327 pounds.
He would think to himself, “How did I get here?” Adam had gotten comfortable and was slipping into the same pitfalls that he warned his clients to avoid. As a recent parent and husband, he rationalised his lifestyle decisions by arguing that prioritising family came at the expense of his own well-being. His weight increase was a reflection of his father’s bad lifestyle, and it required a wake-up call for him to understand that he needed to change for the sake of his family as well as himself.
The Choosing Moment: Taking Stock of Reality
Adam’s realisation that he could no longer approach his clients authentically served as the impetus for his transformation. Given that he was having difficulties, how could he advocate for fitness? The man who had triumphed via powerlifting was now having difficulty walking pain-free. When he fell on his back while changing his son’s nappy, it was the tipping point. It was a time of awakening, dread, and vulnerability. “I am not the man I want to be,” he said, seeing that his situation could not continue. This was the moment when he made the decision to take back control of his health.
The First Steps: Minor Victories and Early Losses
It was important to start small. Adam lost thirty-five pounds in three months by starting with easy walks while pushing his son in a pram. Then he added interval training, which was a routine he frequently suggested to his customers. He reached his goal weight of 240 pounds by February 2014 and had a sense of accomplishment. However, you are often humbled by life in unexpected ways. Adam passed out at a Billy Joel show, and he was taken to the hospital right away. He was now dealing with Type 2 diabetes after being diagnosed with walking pneumonia and having a blood glucose level of 300. The diagnosis marked yet another turning point in Adam’s path and mirrored his father’s problems.
Adam changed his diet and adopted a Paleo lifestyle because he was determined not to suffer the same fate. He dove into study and surrounded himself with like-minded people, like the CrossFit and running communities, to help him achieve his goals. Even nevertheless, life continued to provide him with obstacles, which tried his willpower.
Mid-Journey Challenges: The Unwavering Battle Against Regression
After the birth of his second child in 2016, Adam’s weight returned to 250 pounds. This was a misstep, not a fall. His new habits were put to the test by the stresses of work and life, as well as the restless nights that come with being a parent. This was a critical learning phase where I realised the significance of consistency and identified tendencies of self-sabotage. In July 2018, another turning point came. His blood tests showed issues, despite him feeling in great health. His haemoglobin A1C returned to a dangerous level, which meant he needed to review his diet and lifestyle again. Adam realized his “healthy” diet of mostly vegetables and limited carbs might not be effective. He reconsidered his approach. He realized a universal diet plan wouldn’t work since genetics influence how each body reacts to different foods.
A Novel Strategy: Combining Traditional Knowledge with Contemporary Science
Adam started on an elimination diet, concentrating on primal eating, which emphasises meat, fats, and few plant-based meals, in an effort to address the underlying cause of his metabolic problems. Based on his genetic heritage, this strategy acknowledged that his body would function best on a diet akin to that of his forefathers in Northern Europe. His new regimen, called RX4LIFE, was a customised dietary plan that blended aspects of the Paleo, Keto, and Carnivore diets. His dedication was fruitful. Adam saw dramatic drops in his triglycerides from 179 to 50, his haemoglobin A1C from 8.92 to 5.6, and his resting heart rate from 179 to 52 in just eight months. His weight dropped to 209 pounds, and his general health, vitality, and mental clarity all much improved.
Primal Movement’s Power: A Revolution in Strength Training
Adam’s improvement went beyond just a diet; it also involved a dramatic shift in his outlook on exercise. He shifted his emphasis from conventional strength and aerobic training to primal motions, such as long-distance walking, including sprints, and bodyweight workouts like push-ups and squats. This new type of training combined short bursts of high intensity with long-duration, moderate-intensity exercises, mimicking the survival methods of early humans. By including unpredictability into his workouts, his method, called Variable Intermittent Exercise Training (VIET), prevented the body from adapting and growing complacent.
VIET combined dynamic, rotational, and explosive movements to activate stabilizer muscles and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries often associated with traditional training methods. To add some randomisation to his training, Adam devised a “deck of cards” approach. Each card represented a distinct exercise that was completed in a specific order after being shuffled. This unpredictability kept his body and mind active, producing better outcomes.
Mental toughness: The Underappreciated Weight Loss Hero
Adam’s journey was profoundly psychological as well as physical. He discovered that hardship and stress were common human experiences that may fortify us. Adam took up the motto “Discipline equals freedom,” borrowed from Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and developed an unwavering disciplined mindset. Every obstacle he faced became an opportunity, and every setback became a teaching moment. His mental toughness built his journey, helping him overcome obstacles and avoid the traps of complacency.
