Every month we are honored to recognize a personal training client who has made the transition to a much healthier and fit lifestyle. In March 2011, we recognized Javier Caldera.

Some of the perks that came with Javier’s incredible weight loss are that he’s now in a smaller pant size and his doctor has backed him off of prescription medication.

How’s that for motivation?

 

Here is the transcript of Javier’s Success Story interview:

Javier Caldera
I’m from Puerto Rico originally and I’ve been in Dallas for about six years. I had achieved everything in my life, everything I’ve wanted—school, med school, residency—I’ve done everything. The only thing I hadn’t achieved was to lose weight. I was at the point where my doctor wanted me to go see a psychiatrist to get pills for anxiety, for losing weight, and I said, “No, I’m not doing that.”

So it was a point where I needed to do something and thankfully, a friend of mine referred me to you. I had tried all the diets out there. I went to some of the gyms around here and paid for the personal trainers, but I never went, because they would only have available [times] at 5:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. I would not go. I’d just stay at home and say, “Oh, it’s too cold. It’s too…” and I would never go.

At the beginning, I was like, well, I’ll give it a try, we’ll see. I met with you and said, “See if you can deliver because no one has delivered yet.” When it comes to time, because of the work I do, my schedule, I work during the day, afternoon, night, middle of the day…and I travel a lot. [I said], “See what you can do.” It was impressive.

The most active [I had been] before I started with you was in 2008, I walked  health marathon. Since then I was like, “Okay, did it. I’m done.” I just started gaining more and more weight. Once I started with you guys, I’ve been exercising at least two to three times a week.

Every time I think I’m dominating something, Erick comes up with something new that makes me get tired again! He has forced me to do cardio. He comes and says, “Did you get on the treadmill?” “No.” “Well, l you should get on the treadmill.” So I’ve been doing that up to the point that I’m training to do a 5K run.

The other day, for the first time in my life, I was able to run for five minutes in a row. So it’s been impressive, all the exercise I’ve done. My wife says, “It’s incredible, they just come,” and it’s worth it. It’s better than doing surgery. [I have lost] 57 pounds.

Hut Allred
How has your pant size changed?

Javier Caldera
I was a 42 when I started and the other day I bought some 34’s.

Hut Allred
Great, and shirts?

Javier Caldera
Shirts, I was up to 2XL in t-shirts. Now I’m XL and some even in large.

Hut Allred
You’re in the medical field?

Javier Caldera
Yes, I’m an emergency medicine physician so I have to be running, walking and have energy, which I didn’t have before.

Hut Allred
Do you feel like you have more energy to do that now?

Javier Caldera
Oh yes. Now I’m just great. It’s great—my doctor backed off on wanting to give me medicines for stuff. I said, “I’m not a quitter. I know I can do this and I don’t need pills.” He’s thinking of taking me off of my blood pressure pills and stuff, so it’s good.

Erick has just been incredible. At some point last year, there was a day where there was a big snow—12 inches. I was like, “There’s no way he’s coming.” Next thing I hear, “Beep, beep!” He’s there. He says he’s going to be here; every time he’s here.

Hut Allred
So having that accountability, that consistency and flexibility with your schedule was really the missing component of you achieving your goals.

Javier Caldera
Yes, that flexibility is great. I just come home with my schedule and say, “I’m off this day. This day I work at 7:00 a.m. We can do early or after. This day I work at 3:00 p.m.” He just makes it work.

Hut Allred
Did it help that we were coming to your house?

Javier Caldera
Otherwise, it would not have worked. Coming to my house made a big difference.

Hut Allred
So what are your goals now? You’ve lost 57 pounds so far. You started at 267? You’re around 211 now. What are your goals?

Javier Caldera
I still want to break 200, so my goal is 199 for now. If I can keep going, I’ll keep going and run instead of walk a 5K.

Hut Allred
Run it?

Javier Caldera
Yes.

Hut Allred
Great! You’ve done a great job, and this is a process, it’s a transition, it’s a lifestyle. It sounds like you’ve established those lifestyle habits. We look forward to seeing you through to 199. Good job.

Javier Caldera
Thank you.

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