Losing nearly 60聽pounds feels good, for sure, but聽feeling in control is even better, says Troy Wilson.
Wilson has been exercising six days a week 鈥� four of those days he exercises twice a day 鈥� since the sa国际传媒 Health Challenge began in mid-January.
Standing six-foot-two inches tall and weighing 362聽pounds at the beginning, he is down to about 303.
鈥淚f I only lost 10 pounds and felt this good that would be the best,鈥� Wilson said.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 not as much about the 60 pounds as feeling, mentally, unbelievably positive,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淔eeling mentally stronger, that for me is most important.鈥�
A large man with an even bigger personality, Wilson has until now hidden his insecurities about his weight gain behind self-deprecating fat jokes.
But being first to the punch line did not erase his sense of shame. Once a high-level competitive athlete, he didn鈥檛 care so much about his looks but felt embarrassed about losing control of the pounds.
At times he felt depressed, uncertain, unhappy with himself. But not today.
鈥淭he endorphins are now exploding out of my body every day,鈥� Wilson said. He聽reflected on his three-month journey as we sat in the sunshine outside what has become his second home of sorts 鈥� Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre.
Wilson did not get here without hard work. He has dropped pounds before, but not like this.
鈥淚鈥檝e never worked this hard, or with this focus and dedication.鈥�
Wilson attends his friend Cassius Segikwiye鈥檚 gym Merge Combat and Fitness where Monday through Thursday 鈥� with a class of mostly women 鈥� he starts his day with a punishing hour-long boxing and exercise class at 6 a.m.
On those same days, he聽works out in the afternoon at Crystal Pool from 2聽to 3:15 p.m. On Fridays he does cardio work. He takes Saturdays off, and on Sundays he has his last of two weekly sessions with his trainer.
鈥淣inety-nine per cent of聽my success goes to Jonathan Carpenter. He is very knowledgeable 鈥� He sets realistic goals but still pushes you.鈥�
Wilson also credits his best friend, Rene Johnson, and her children whom he raises as his own, and his friends, colleagues and staff for supporting his journey.
His success, he said, is being 鈥減art of a team.鈥�
But while good wishes buoy him, they are not always enough to get him out the door.
To entrench his early morning workout habit, Wilson employs tricks. He leaves his smartphone in the kitchen, so when its alarm sounds he has to get out of bed to shut it off.
After that, he hits the automatic ignition key for his truck, knowing the only way to shut it off is to go outside. By that time, he鈥檚聽halfway to his 6 a.m. workout.
Another key component in his success is Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I could have had this weight loss anywhere else,鈥� Wilson said. As we talked, every 10聽minutes or so someone coming or going greeted Wilson or gave him encouragement.
The gym doesn鈥檛 have the 鈥渇ancy weights鈥� of other gyms and there are no patrons parading around in聽designer workout wear 鈥� just the way he likes it, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hot box in here,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it really has聽a family atmosphere. Everyone knows your name.鈥�
In addition to a strict workout schedule, Wilson has his diet down to a science: Generally, it鈥檚 five egg whites and a smoothie early in the morning; fruit or cereal at 10:15 a.m.; homemade soup at 12:45 p.m.; a聽protein shake or light snack after his workout at聽3:30 p.m.; and chicken or fish and veggies for dinner about 8 p.m.
Wilson works full time from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. each day for the Greater Victoria school board, where at George Jay Elementary School he helps autistic children.
Before the Health Challenge, Wilson would head straight from his first job as an education assistant to his second as owner and operator of Status barbershop in downtown Victoria.
That might have been good for business, but it was bad for his health.
Wilson learned to delegate more and work less, to聽allow time for an afternoon workout at Crystal Pool.
鈥淚 made myself my No. 1 priority,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚n my profession all I do is give. In the beginning it felt very selfish, but I got past that. I felt I deserved it. Now my goal is to work smarter, not harder.鈥�
For some, the Challenge is over in 10 days, Wilson said. 鈥淏ut not for me.鈥� He has already bought his gym membership.
His immediate goal is to reach 299 pounds. His long-term goal is to reach 250.
Already Wilson, 37, said he has noticed a dramatic improvement in his energy and outlook, the quality of the time he spends with his family and his optimism about finding love in the future.
鈥淚 feel in control and I鈥檓 going to be looking,鈥� he said with a grin.
For anyone looking back,聽Wilson won鈥檛 be hard to find, and it will have nothing to do with his weight.
