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Brijesh battled back from COVID-19 and turned around an epic transformation just 90 days later. We talked to him about his advice to others participating in our current TrifectaME 90 Day Challenge.
Meet Brijesh
Brijesh is a businessman and designer launching his own collection of athletic apparel. When Brijesh began his career, he found out that grinding doesn’t burn calories and within four years was at a turning point. After spending a month sick with COVID-19, Brijesh bounced back with the TrifectaME 90 Day Challenge to take back his health and fitness.
Today he’s healthy, hustling and the Runner Up Champion of our Spring TrifectaME Challenge.
"I fell off for like four years. Back until 2016 I used to work out, eat right. I was always around 145, 150 pounds.
"When I started working I didn't train as much, my eating habits got worse and I reached 180 by the end of March of this year."
Starting from Scratch
Over thirty pounds above my target weight, I was ready for a change. Then when the Coronavirus pandemic hit the whole world changed. I myself was infected.
"I was pretty sick all of April and that made me lose like ten pounds, obviously not good weight loss. I had no appetite, couldn’t work out and I felt like everything I lost was muscle. It was a rough month. Then I saw your challenge."
I was always a skilled trainer and knew I could pick it back up easily. When it came to my nutrition though, I needed professionals.
"I was looking for a meal prep service and I hear about you guys all the time, all the athletes use Trifecta Nutrition and I see you all over Instagram.
"I saw the challenge and the grand prize was free food for a year. So I said I might as well do it!"
Challenge Accepted
I signed up for the challenge and began using the Trifecta app. By accepting a commitment for 90 days, I began practicing habits that would last me well beyond the challenge.
"The app was perfect. It holds you accountable every single day. I'd never counted calories on an app, so logging my food kept me on track. It made a big difference.
"I would watch what I ate because you have to plug everything in."
"In the beginning, some days were 4,500 to 5,000 calories and some days I would drop to 1200 or below. I was surprised. Towards the end I was able to keep it just under 1,200 calories. I didn't think I was able to do that because I’m used to eating a lot."
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By logging my macros after each meal I was able to see how my meals were stacking up and that portions weren’t telling the whole story.
“Just seeing my macros on the chart every day and trying to hit the target made a big difference. I found myself trying to eat more protein sources and fats rather than just carbing up all the time.
Making it Fun
Whether it's diets, workouts, or mobile apps, we're more likely to stick to something that's fun. By gamifying small tasks to keep me on track, I was encouraged to follow through. Our points system also allowed me to compete with my friends, motivating each other to keep pushing.
"I’d never used an app like that. I tried apps in the past like MyFitnessPal but I didn't like them. This one is fun. With the point system, logging food, wanting to win, just staying on track, and keeping a streak going, it was fun.
"I had fun with it so I stuck with it."
"I had a few of my friends doing it with me, a little friendly competition. Having them there, eating clean, working out, it pushes you.
Lessons Learned
What’s the hardest part?
"The weekend, for sure."
"Obviously you've got to live life. You've got family, friends are visiting, going out. If you're not in control your diet, then it's hard."
For me, discipline is about balance. Factoring inappropriate leisure days and treat meals meant I wasn’t playing catchup for them the rest of the week.
"Instead of trying to stay strict seven days a week, I changed it to work hard Monday to Friday and then Saturday just let loose, be with your family, sit back and relax, take a day off.
"But then Sunday, try to plan for the upcoming week."
The Power of Routine
Are you participating in our current TrifectaME challenge? Brijesh says to stick to a routine and let the app support your journey.
"Stick with the app. You're held accountable for everything you plugin. There's your water intake, your calories, your picture, how you’re feeling, how you sleep, all those things. That keeps you on track.
"Every morning I woke up, the first thing on my mind is: let's plug everything in, even if you ate something bad, you plug it in you'll see how bad it was, how many cars that had or how high calories were for that item.
"Just opening that up every day, seeing a workout, logging all my food, it becomes a routine and routine turns into a lifestyle."
"You'll have a better idea of like what you're eating so you make healthier choices."
Keeping the Momentum
I killed it in the challenge but am not falling back to my old ways. The habits and choices I have made over the past 90 days aren't going anywhere.
"Before this challenge, if I missed one day, I’d say, “Oh it’s ok, I’ll just let the whole week go to waste. I'll just pick up next week and start again on Monday."
"Next week turned into next month and next month...I wasted four years like that."
"I look at it as eating healthy is my lifestyle now. When you do something for 90 days straight, that turns into a lifestyle. Eating healthy just becomes a habit."
Trifecta can help you turn healthy habits into a lifestyle.
