Adam Brennan

Adam and his wife Kerry started working with Endurance Train a few years back when I had my warehouse in Boonton. Avid 5:30am Boot Campers plus additional work, they’re the type of client you love to work with. Beyond appreciative, always thoughtful, and you can set your clock by them, they’re both reliable as-can-be.

They’ve always been athletic and taken good care of themselves, but in the last year, they turned a corner, and have both completely changed their bodies. Adam is down 50 pounds (that’s not a mis-type), and feels like a rock star (a healthy rock star?). Some of his journey and story are here for us all to learn from.

1. Overall, what health markers do you know have improved and to what level for each of them? 

Since July, I have dropped 50lbs.  My endurance has  improved, and I have greatly reduced pain in my knees, feet and stiffness in my back.  Since 2017, I have had ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, a torn Lisfranc ligament and surgery, and a torn bicep.  All of these surgeries have been excuses to slack off on exercise and comfort eating.  Both have contributed to weight gain.  The weight loss and pushing myself to do bootcamp has resolved these issues.

2. What sparked your latest emphasis on being healthy and pushed you to really make it happen?

A few reality checks for a 50 year old - seeing peers struggle with health and not being able to keep up with things I like to do.  Following a terrible performance in a  July 4th Memorial Rugby match, I decided to change my diet and add to my overall fitness schedule.

3. What small changes have you made and what big changes have you made for all this to happen?

Some small changes lead to big changes.  A guilty pleasure of mine was coffee with artificial sweet creamers.  I decided to try intermittent fasting (16/8 schedule).  I switched to black coffee cold turkey and immediately noticed my desire for any sweets decreased.  This also eliminated my post dinner mindless snacking while watching TV.  My energy level increased so in addition to bootcamp I started walking every night and going to rugby conditioning twice a week.  I still adhere to the fasting schedule with some modifications allowing some flexibility when needed.  Bootcamp has been the constant for me, and keeps me accountable.

4. How has Boot Camp and exercise played a role in your success?

Bootcamp was the catalyst for me to start working myself back.  I started with you in September 2019, with a break in March to August 2020 while recovering from Lisfranc Surgery.  My overall flexibility improved greatly during this time, but I needed to make other changes - in diet and complimentary fitness.  Bootcamp has given me structure as well as diversity in my workouts - something I would never do on my own.

5. What’s on the horizon for you, just maintenance after this? 

While I will be starting to push away from some of the tackle rugby I have been playing (injuries have taken its toll), I will continue to play touch rugby to stay in the game.  I will still play in a few matches a year (Memorial matches to honor friends and any opportunity to take the pitch with my son).  My main goal is to maintain where I am today if not lose a few more pounds.

6. Any thoughts or recommendations to anyone who’s ‘thinking’ about making some changes in their daily health routine?

The decision I made in July was life changing.  All of my habits have improved and I am committed to doing some form of exercise everyday.  It all came down to committing to a schedule.  I am a results oriented person, and fortunately for me, I started feeling better within 2 weeks after changing my diet.  I also found my relationship with you pushed me to work harder.  A subtle comment, whether it be in a text or a comment during a workout, pushed me to work harder.  I went from sometimes just showing up for a workout to pushing harder - as an example, you calling me out on jump rope for conditioning made me change to burpees.