Kayla P.
CA – Murrieta
“As a young child, I was always aware that I was bigger than all my peers. As I grew up, I settled into an identity of being a bigger individual – it was my way of protecting my feelings against the bullying and fat shaming I often experienced.
Throughout my young adulthood, my lifestyle choices were unhealthy and I could feel myself declining quickly. I always wanted to change, but I struggled to start. In 2020, I was at my highest weight of 350 pounds. After reflecting on my life, I knew that I was the only person able to make the change for myself. First, I gave up drinking soda, then walking more, and soon enough I picked up roller skating as a hobby.
In May of 2022 I decided to join EōS, as I wanted to get stronger to assist my roller skating. I was very nervous to start, but I was lucky to be paired with Coach Stephanie. She has taught me everything I need to know in the gym and challenges me to do my best every session. Very quickly my roller skating hobby transitioned into a gym hobby – as I started to enjoy my time lifting more each day.
With diet and exercise alone, I have lost close to 200 pounds, and have gone from a size 26/28 in jeans to a size 4/6. But, the best part of my transformation has been how liberated I feel living in my new body. I can tie my shoes easily, run up stairs without losing my breath, and fit in regular size clothing- things that had been a challenge before. I pride myself on how much my mobility has improved, and how heavy I can lift now. I feel stronger, healthier, and more confident than I ever have before.
I am grateful to have joined EōS, for it has changed my life for the better . I am in the best shape of my life, and getting stronger everyday.”
Jose M.
UT – Orem: E University Pkwy/S Main St
“In October of 2022 I went to the doctors and I was completely overweight. Weighing in at 521 pounds, my doc told me that I wouldn’t live to see my sons graduate high school. That was one of the scariest moments of my life. I vowed then to lose weight so I could see my boys graduate and long and healthy life. I started working with a trainer and he helped me completely change my life around.
In a little over a year I’ve not only lost 130+ pounds, I am no longer a diabetic, I no longer have high blood pressure and I am healthier than I’d ever been. I was starting to hit a plateau when I decided to get over my fear and go to the gym. And let me tell you, EōS has been the best place to train. I love going there and taking advantage of everything they have to offer. Thanks to EōS, I’m on track to run my first Spartan Race in July!”
Justin B.
AZ – Mesa: Gilbert/McKellips
“Growing up I was always the chubby kid. I was non-athletic, and had no interest in sports. In 2017 (a few months after my son was born), I decided I needed to lose some weight. I started to run a little bit, and lost some weight. It was great. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep the weight off. I wasn’t consistent. In the beginning of 2020 (the first picture), I was at my heaviest, 260lbs’s. I knew I needed to change. I started running. A lot. I ran every day for a year and got down to 180lbs’s. From that point on, my life has been changed forever. I fell in love with running and fitness, but something was missing.
In April of 2023 I joined EōS. I instantly realized that’s what I was missing. Strength training. I started going to the gym 4 days per week. That was a great compliment to my running (I averaged 60-100 miles / week this last summer). I did several races the last couple years, and most recently completed a 100 miler (24 hours hours, 29 minutes). I couldn’t have done this without the strength I gained at EōS. After my 100 miler I took 3 rest days, and then jumped in on a marathon training plan. I am now just a few weeks away from the Mesa Marathon where I will not only be going for a BIG PR, but also going for a BQ. I’m shooting for under 3 hours. Then, I start my training for Ironman AZ. There will also be several more ultras in my future. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought this was possible. I am running faster than I’ve ever ran, further than I’ve ever ran, biking like a pro, and am slowly starting to swim. It’s truly amazing what the human body is capable of when you provide it the right tools. When I lost all the weight in 2020 /2021 I was in good shape, but I wasn’t strong. Now, I’m around 175lbs’s and lean. I have built so much muscle, which has been a great compliment to my running and other endurance sports. I have EōS and the EōS community to thank for that.”
Waldo S.
TX – Spring: Louetta Rd/Stuebner Airline Rd
“My year started by gaining 40 pounds and having serious health issues due to my poor habits. After an ER visit I was 240 pounds, diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a fatty liver and hypertension. Leaving the hospital I was prescribed 5 different medications on top of having to inject myself with insulin every day. Being a 41yr old father of a 1yr old and a 3yr old having to take that many medications was devastating. I fell in a deep depression and I need to do something about it. I started making better eating decisions, but eventually my weight loss stalled, so I decided to join EōS. Immediately I really enjoyed the nice facility that had all the equipment I needed. I owe a lot of my weight loss to EōS. The staff is always friendly and very motivating. It is great to walk in to EōS and be remembered by the staff. Also seeing other fellow 4:30am gym goers also has helped me stay motivated. Although I may not have ever spoken to many of them, their consistency has helped me stay consistent as well.
I also have quite a great crew of friends and family that have also signed up. It’s been great to see them on their fitness journey and I feel humbled to have been a small part of their success as well. My kiddos have also noticed my transformation. My daughter frequently mentions to me how strong I am, and it melts me every time. The other day at the dinner table, my little girl mentioned she needed to eat to be big and strong. I asked her, “oh strong like the Ninja Turtles you love?” To which she replied, ” no strong like you dad.” I had to excuse myself and shed a small tear as I never realized the impact my fitness journey has had on my children. My greatest accomplishment has been being my daughter’s super hero!”
Amanda J.
AZ – Avondale: Dysart Rd
“Back in 2012, I made a New Years Resolution to get healthy. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mounting health issues due to being morbidly obese.
When I hit 350 pounds, I decided I needed to do something to get healthy as I was scared I would not be around to see my son grow up. I just quit all the junk food cold turkey and got cleaner and cleaner with my diet is time went on.
When I first started at the gym, I could barely walk on a treadmill and I eventually got to a point where I was running a 5k every morning on the treadmill with no issue. I was weight training and doing various types of other exercises. I lose 175 lbs.
It took me a long time to have my first son as I needed infertility treatment, which I later realized was from hormone imbalances due to my weight. I went on to get off blood pressure and cholesterol medicine and have three more sons. I had skin removal surgery as well in 2020. I am now working to lose 20 lbs that has kind of crept up with aging and work/life balance struggles and EōS has been helping me tackle that!”
