Chuck Calhoun

Ditching bad habits and adopting a new lifestyle has helped this JYM Army member lose over 100 pounds, and counting.

Written By Jim Stoppani, PhD

Updated September 28, 2023

Written by Chuck Calhoun

At the beginning of my journey, I really didn't know where to start or have a specific goal. I just knew that I needed to shed some pounds and get healthier. About a year later, my main goal was to get abs – that's something I've never had and still don't have, but I'm getting closer each and every day. I keep pushing harder and harder to get to my main goal.

It was back in 2010 when my wife and I talked about changing our lifestyle. We were having our last child. He was born premature, weighing only 3.3 pounds. It was a rough time at the beginning, but after almost a year, we did it: We started a journey that we won't forget.

One of the hardest things to do is break bad habits. First of all, I was a smoker for 12 years. But also, my wife and I were used to eating whatever we wanted: pizza, soda, burgers, ice cream. We didn't watch our calories. For us to make a change, we had to clean out our cabinets. We ate healthier foods and went from there, and I finally quit smoking. To get started, we exercised at home and ended up joining a gym. I was a little scared and excited at the same time. I really didn't have a plan; I just went in and did a few machines to get used to them. Then I purchased a book called LL Cool J’s Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle and I was hooked. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was my first introduction to Jim Stoppani, as he wrote the diet plan and all the recipes for LL Cool J's book. I loved going to the gym. I loved how I felt when I was done. I started meeting new people and making friends, and going to the gym got easier.

I've lost roughly 140 pounds to this point. I lost a bunch of weight and then started bulking and, of course, if it’s not done right, you gain some back. It's a lot of trial and error trying to figure your body out. I went from a XXXL shirt and a 42-inch waist to a size L shirt and 30/32-inch waist. I've been on this journey for about four years and I’m still going strong. It's been the best decision I've ever made.

The programs that I used to get where I am today are Drop Set Countdown, Shortcut to Size, Super-Man and Back and Fourth. I added 8-Week HIIT as my cardio a few days a week. Normally, I don't take rest days because I love to stay active. My favorite right now is Drop Set Countdown; I love the feeling of sore muscles and it's quick.

Nutrition is the hardest part to figure out. I used the MyFitnessPal calorie tracker for a while to get me on track. Then I found Jim’s Dieting 101 and decided to try it out. At first, it was hard to keep my carbs around my workout, but I gave it a few weeks and my body adapted quite well. I recommend this article to anyone looking to shed some pounds or just maintain.

Once I started dropping weight and training hard each day, I got interested in supplementation. This is where I got really confused – I had no idea what I was doing or what to take. I was running to my local GNC to get my supplements until a friend recommended getting them online. That's when I started reading articles about supplementation. I was all over the place with different companies until Jim Stoppani released his JYM product line. These are the only supplements I take now because I know they’re safe and effective because they contain only top-notch ingredients.

What has really kept me motivated is seeing the results. When I was down about 30 pounds, people complimented me on my weight loss. That was the fuel I needed to show people that I could do this. When someone drops a 100+ pounds, people say, “Holy cow, you’re a whole different person.” Now I try to motivate people to show them that they can do it too.

One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced is getting my skin to shrink. It seems like it takes forever for belly fat to get where it needs to be. It may never shrink, who knows? But I’ll keep pushing and working hard to get where I need to be.

When I see people I haven’t seen in a long time, they’re overwhelmed by my transformation. A lot of my friends and family are proud of what I’ve achieved. They look at me and see that they can experience the same results.

It can be a crazy lifestyle; it does take a lot of discipline and hard work to achieve your goals. Just stay focused and keep pushing hard every day. You will reach your goal. It may not be today or tomorrow, but it will happen soon.

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