Jeff’s Body Transformation Story

(Lost 35 inches & 16% body fat!)

I had been an above-average athlete and skinny as a rail in high school: six-foot-two, 165 pounds. However, by the time I had reached 35, my daily doses of fast food and a sedentary lifestyle had railroaded me into the 245-pound range.

The fact that I was comfortably in the middle of what would endure to be a nine-year relationship only hastened my drastic weight gain. One of the results, aside from having to buy larger-sized clothes, was that I slouched all the time. I didn’t want to stick out my chest—lest my man-breasts be subject to the proverbial “purple-nurple” of public scrutiny.

Last May, I bought my girlfriend an engagement ring. She refused my proposal and we split up for good in June. It occurred to me that at least part of the reason our relationship dissolved (as I had always treated her very well in every area of our relationship) was that she had lost interest in me physically. Of course, there were other catalysts besides me being overweight, but the fact was I was nine years older and 50 pounds heavier than I had been during my last venture into single life.

By this time I had changed my eating habits (primarily by abstaining from fast food) and weighed about 230 pounds; nonetheless, she was gone and my negative body-image remained.

One of my best friends, Lisa, had been attending Von James’ Extreme Burn for a few months and had experienced some great results. It was hard to believe that someone as attractive as Lisa could have improved herself, but the proof was right there: she was leaner, toned, and exhibited an exceedingly positive attitude. I had given her all the excuses I could think of—”it’s too early,” “I have work to do around the bed,” “I’m too out of shape to keep up”—yet she persisted. I finally relented.

BEFORE	AFTER

That was last June. I came in weighing 228 with 28.8 percent body-fat. I owe my results to a combination of camaraderie with new friends I’ve met in our classes; Von’s tireless encouragement, positive reinforcement, and dietary expertise; and my own tenacity: today I weigh 189 pounds and am at 12.7-percent body-fat. I have gone from busting out of size-38-waist pants to fitting easily into 33′s.

Clothes shopping is now something I look forward to. I neither slouch nor contemplate buying the Cosmo Kramer ‘man-zier.’ At the colleges where I teach, former students don’t recognize me. The most gratifying outcome of my involvement in Extreme Burn is that, possibly for the first time in my life, I feel sexy. My friends’ girlfriends approach me at parties and ask me to get their boyfriends involved in “whatever it is” I’m doing.

I can’t express enough how grateful I am to Von James for helping me make this phenomenal transformation. I certainly needed to supply the willingness and perseverance, but Von has actually made exercise fun. Furthermore, he has taught me how to modify my diet to optimize weight loss and overall health. If you’ve worked with him, you already know that he constantly challenges us with the utmost positivity. The fact that he never degrades us is why most of us hesitate to call his program a “boot camp.”

Although I’m thrilled with what I’ve accomplished, I’m confident my ideal body is waiting for me in the future (probably at the top of a horse trail in Griffith Park). Right now I’m recovering from minor surgery, but in early May I’ll be back out there every morning with all of you having a blast and feeling the Extreeeeeeeeme Burn!

Best Wishes on YOUR Journey,

Jeff S.