by Ellington Darden, Ph.D.
Ted Tucker was referred to me by Keelan Parham. Keelan is one of my best Intensive-Coaching trainees and Ted helps run Keelan's caricature business in several of the resorts and theme parks here in Orlando.
"He's a wiz at management," Keelan said about Ted in mid-January 2010. "But he's developed some bad eating habits and doesn't know how to exercise in the right way. He must weigh at least 250 pounds. He's seen the transformation that I went through while working with you and he's decided to give it a try."
"A try," I replied to Keelan. "At his body weight, he probably won't make it through more than three exercises . . . before he's outside TRYING his management skill on my St. Augustine."
Keelan smiled, but assured me that Ted had the detailed discipline to do what was required.
January 28, 2010: Ted Tucker, age 38, came by my private gym on a Thursday afternoon to be weighed, measured, photographed, and trained.
At 6' 4 1/2" he tipped the scales at 257 1/2 pounds. His percent body fat was 30.5 and his waist measured 45 3/4 inches.
Keelan was on-target about Ted's attention to detail in his workout. Ted had studied several of my books and had a good grasp of proper form. His routine, which included eight exercises, required only one, brief, recovery walk outside and he never lost his "cookies." In fact, he finished his last two exercises with fine efforts.
After his workout, we agreed that he would train at my private gym once a week for ten weeks. I told him that I expected him to lose 37 pounds of fat by following my descending-calorie diet, which is similar to what is detailed in A Flat Stomach ASAP, combined with my superhydration schedule.
As Ted departed, we shook hands on our agreement.
Four days later I was told that when Ted left my place, he drove over to Keelan's home. His plan was to clean up a bit, greet his wife — and, along with the Parhams — go out to dinner.
But sometimes, plans don't go as planned . . . right?
Feeling the cumulative effects of his first workout, Ted arrived looking pale, stumbled through to Keelan's home office, and quickly made his way to the comfort station. He then kick-started Phase One of his weight-loss schedule by relieving himself — first at one end, and then the other — repeatedly.
Keelan noted that the group delayed their evening meal for more than an hour, while Ted continued with Phase One. Finally, the group shared some sushi rolls and relaxed by watching reruns of "The Biggest Loser."
After an hour or so, Ted was rehydrated and recovered sufficiently to drive to his home for some needed rest and sleep. The next day, he was a little sore, but felt fine.
Ted's systemic responses (vomiting and diarrhea) to my initial high-intensity session, which we laugh about now, never occurred again.
April 29, 2010: Today is Ted's 10th workout. Plus, I'm taking his measurements and photographs.
Ted's workout strength, compared to his initial session, is up 40-50% in six of his eight exercises. I calculate he's added 4 pounds of muscle.
His body weight has dropped from 257.5 to 219.5, for a reduction of 38 pounds. And his percent body fat has gone from 30.5 to 17.2, which translates to a loss of 41.38 pounds of fat. You can definitely see the differences by comparing his before-and-after pictures.
Three months, ten Intensive-Coaching workouts, and a
minus 41.38 pounds of fat!
Overall, Ted lost 1-3/8 inches off his neck, 3-3/8 inches off his chest, 6-5/8 inches off his waist, 3-7/8 inches off his hips, and 5 inches off his thighs.
Not bad for a guy who simply wanted "to give it a try." I didn't know then, but certainly know now . . . a try in Ted Tucker's mind is a 100-percent commitment and 100-percent effort.
Congratulations, Ted, on your commitment, your effort, and your results. You are now one of my "Biggest Losers."
Furthermore, I believe you can drop another 10-12 pounds, which will put you at what I consider . . . your ideal level of body fat.
Let's make it happen.
