Name: Shawn Jurovich
Age: 47
Hometown: Savannah, GA, USA
Occupation: Chef
Start Weight: 405 pounds
End Weight: 225 pounds
I spent about 15 years partying heavily. Back in 2013, I was given a chance to clean up my act, so I tried to quit drinking cold turkey. I ended up having a seizure at work and woke up a month later after being put in a drug-induced coma. When I woke up, I had to learn to walk again. I spent 3 months in the hospital. (I have been sober for 10 years now.)
However, when I was in the hospital, I was also prescribed medicine that caused me to gain weight like crazy. I got sober, but then I traded out one addiction for another. I started using food as my new crutch. Things got so out of hand with my eating that I went from 150 pounds to eventually over 400 pounds. I ate a lot of frozen dinners, ice cream, and a gallon of milk every evening.
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I was miserable. I struggled to get out of bed physically and emotionally. I dealt with low self-esteem and insecurities from my weight, which prevented me from living a full life.
In November 2020, I was hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer that was brought on by stress, poor diet, poor physical health and taking too much ibuprofen to deal with the pain I was constantly in from carrying the extra weight. I lost 2 pints of blood and was rushed to the E.R. I almost didn’t make it.
While I was hospitalized for the ulcer, they told me if I didn’t make changes I would die. At that point, I knew that I really had more to live for and was ready to make the changes.
The First Step
In January of 2021, I joined a gym and just started walking on the treadmill, then biking, and finally incorporating weights. I learned it’s okay to start small. If you can get in a routine, that’s what will make you successful. It took time to get from where I was (size 56” pants to 34,” where I currently am).
Indoor cycling has been a huge part of my weight loss. My former pastry chef, Kaitlin Clifton, started riding shortly after I started working out, and we became gym buddies. Last year, she became an instructor and I started taking her classes. I fell in love with indoor cycling. Kaitlin really inspires me and makes working out motivational and fun, which is a great release from my high-stress job of helping run a kitchen.
I love the camaraderie of group fitness, not having to be the boss is nice; I know I just have to show up and I’m going to have a great ride. Riding at CycleBar Midtown Savannah has also been great for my mental health. I have so much more mental awareness and working out with so many different kinds of people has truly made me a more empathetic, understanding team player.
Right now I am riding at CycleBar four days out of the week. My goal is to get down to 200 pounds, and I’m currently 20 pounds from my end goal!
Nowadays, I mainly eat a lot of lean proteins, whole grains, and smaller, more frequent portions. The main things I try to limit are sodas and sugar.
Three Weight Loss Game Changers
These three things have helped make my weight loss journey a success:
1. Plan ahead.
I book my favorite bike early in the week and get my outfit ready the night before. If it’s not in sight, I might not make it.
2. Invite a friend!
Working out with a partner, friend or group of strangers makes the task less daunting. It’s a lot more fun and supportive when you have a group of people with the same goals.
3. Try new things.
Did I envision myself riding a stationary bike in a dark room, listening to a Beyoncé themed playlist in my future? No. But I’m glad I made it to that first class, and I got about 14 miles in on the bike that day.
It’s a hard journey and you may want to give up. Just keep pushing through. And surround yourself with positive-minded people. You will love and respect yourself every day for it!
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