Speaker: Chris Mikoy
What was life like before you joined Kettlebell Transformation?
Chris Mikoy: Life for me prior to KT was fine, it was spent uh doing all kinds of various programs uh running, then crossfit, then traditional gym, bench press squat deadlift. Um I was able to make very good gains in strength, very good progress, but it was always by putting on more bulk, putting on more weight. So over the years, it was constantly put on a few more pounds, five pounds, then 10 pounds, then I get to a plateau level, maybe drop a little bit and then put a few more back on. And I never was able to find the nutritional approach that enabled me to both get stronger as well as to slim down. Um to the extent that KT has enabled me to do. And I have to say quite frankly, that was substantial, even in the times where I was able to drop some weight, it was 10, maybe 15 pounds, but inevitably, it would get put back on in some form or another, mostly by blubber, uh always some good strength and so forth, um always felt pretty good, but um was never happy or satisfied with my physique. Um and wanted to be able to ultimately, you know, go outside for a run with my shirt off and not, you know, worry about it or be at the pool and not worry about it. So, um, it was, like I said, fine, but, um, much more bulky and, um, a lot more struggle with figuring out the right approach to fitness and excuse me, I should say nutrition.
What were the stats around your weight & health prior to joining KT?
Chris Mikoy: Prior to KT, my health was a little bit dicey, to be honest. And in March of 2023 I had a heart attack, uh, very minor heart attack, but, um, nonetheless, a significant health, um, event, um, when I ended up waiting and trying to do some, you know, rehab and so forth, uh, for a few months, um, but then put even more weight back on leading up to my January start with KT program in 2024. Um, I had, uh, ballooned up to just about 240 pounds and, um, while my cholesterol blood pressure were under control due due to medication, um, the, the KT program, you know, the discipline, the approach to nutrition, the guidance, the coaching really helped me lose significant weight. Um, I've gone from, you know, an XL golf polo shirt down to a medium now, um, down almost 40 pounds. Uh, my cardiologist has even reduced, uh, some of the medications I'm taking because of all of that. And, um, he's po, uh, poised to take me off, uh, one of them all together here in about a month, assuming everything keeps trending in the right direction. So, um, significant changes and, uh, while the, the strength and the, the overall fitness program is significant, uh, res result, uh, cause of that, it's also the nutrition, uh, I, it can't be overstated how much help the coaching as well as the program itself has provided for them.
What were your most pressing concerns surrounding your health prior to joining KT?
Chris Mikoy: My biggest concerns for my health prior to starting KT, obviously, as I mentioned in, uh another segment is the, the heart. Um I had a real scare, uh and got lucky that I was able to take care of that. But, um, you know, my weight for, for almost two decades now, I've talked about, you know, with friends and family about the need to drop weight, uh the desire to look better to, you know, feel better. Um And, you know, when I'm on, even before my, my health event having being on a heart or blood pressure medication as well as cholesterol medication, it was always a little source of embarrassment as well as the pot belly growing and growing. Um So, um I felt ok, I didn't even feel bad even just leading up to my, my health event. But, um, I always had that same kind of, um fatter than I need to be fatter than I want to be. So, um I wanted to be stronger and leaner and, um, just wasn't happy with how I looked or, or really even how I felt with, you know, heartburn and, and stuff like that. So, those were the events, um, and stuff I was worried about.
When making the decision to join KT, what were you most concerned about?
Chris Mikoy: Before I made the decision to join KT, the, the biggest concern was the, the cost, um you know, having the initial call with Grant talking to him what the program is and was sounded great. Um There was a little bit of uncertainty around, you know, looking at someone on Instagram and, and are they legitimate? Is the program gonna work? Is it gonna be real? Um Because there's, you know, quite a few things out there that, you know, claim to deliver results and um they just don't seem believable, but um the knowledge I had even started doing some of the things that grant had been posting on Instagram uh before I decided to join. Um And then after I had to talk with him, I was pretty much sold on the value of it even given the cost, you know, it's hard to put a price on what uh being truly healthy and strong um is. Um, and frankly, the, you know, I had to make sure that my wife was on board. I, you know, I didn't want to try to go on this kind of journey alone. Um So we ended up spending some time together, talking through what, you know, she could do. And at the same time as me, because I knew that if I was doing something and she was not that it would be nearly impossible to, you know, try to make those kinds of changes without it. So between the talks, you know, seeing the testimonials always helps as well. But, you know, talking with Grant and um really just taking a chance and seeing if it was legitimate. Fortunately, I was in a position, you know, financially to do that. And even more, fortunately, the program works, the program has worked beyond anything I ever thought it could. When I first talked to Grant, you know, he was telling me that, you know, when I started that, you know, around 240 he could see me getting down even though close to 180 I thought that was just unbelievable. Um And there's no way possible but after a few months of seeing the, the results, um I know that's now definitely a possibility if I wanna make it so.
What made you take the next step anyway despite the concerns you had?
Chris Mikoy: There were two major factors that caused me to go ahead and pull the trigger on the KT program. The first was my wife. Uh, we had a talk, a long talk that we both needed to make a change, both in our weight and our fitness and our overall approach to health. Um, she found the program that fit for her and seemed like it was gonna deliver results for her. And I knew that without her being on a similar or same kind of program, um, not dedicated and committed to doing the work that needed to get done, I couldn't do it alone. Uh, I couldn't come home and try to, you know, go alcohol free for the first two weeks when she's sitting there having wine. So the fact that she was committed, uh, was that and, and the second piece is that I was tired of trying different things and getting some good strength results, but still making no progress on weight, still having a big gut, still having extra, extra fat. A, um, muffin top that I just was, you know, frankly embarrassed of. And, um, so I decided that it was worth and I was fortunate enough to be in a position to make the financial investment in the program and in myself to uh get it done and see if it would work.
What's life like now after implementing the KT System?
Chris Mikoy: Life now that I'm in the program and on to the next phase of the program is fantastic. I feel better physically everywhere. I had minor shoulder tears and tweaks and issues that, um, have gone away completely. I am down almost 40 pounds in six months. I've actually walked of over 600 close to 700 miles in six months. Um, I'm able to go out in the Texas 100 degree heat and be fine with it. Um, I know what to eat and I love having a program that is there. Um, telling me exactly what I need to do every day. I know what my workouts are going to be. I know how to plan around them. I've been able to go on work trips and come back weighing the same or even down on a couple of occasions. Never would have thought that's the case. Um, I have a, a path in my mind where I can still get down another 15 to 20 pounds. Uh, without being, looking like I'm from Dallas Buyers Club. Uh, you know, because of the strength that's going on. But to, to find a program that combines strength with nutrition. So I'm losing weight while getting stronger is fantastic. Uh, I know some people who have done some other kinds of programs that are just basically calorie deficit programs and they're constantly searching and trying to maintain that level of, of calories that is well below. I mean, I'm able to eat, uh, sometimes I find it hard to even eat enough calories because I'm not hungry. So there's never a time when I'm in a position where I, I really want to eat, but I've already met my calorie count and I, I have to go to bed starving or something like that. So I'm never in a position where I'm hungry. Um, so overall, um, there's not enough words to say how happy I am with the program, with the coaching that goes on both with my specific coach that helps me through all the workouts and nutrition guidance. But also the, uh, the other coaches that are there for a couple of weekly calls to talk about how things are going and challenges you're having as well as a weekly workout with, uh, the team. Um, and then, you know, having again that, that app with the community to be able to see how other people are progressing. And, uh, you know, go to that to look for some motivation when the, the individual workout, they might not have that motivation to get it done. Um, is a real, um, benefit to the program as well. So can't say enough good things about it. Um It works. Um It is based on science that I've heard in many other podcasts and articles. Uh everything they do is the things that I hear other doctors and other physiologists and exercise scientists or whatever saying needs to get done and what people need to do to both achieve increased strength as well as uh reduced fat, increased, you know, cardio performance, everything. Um and, and again, the single biggest thing for me was the help that it gave me around nutrition, what to eat, what not to eat and even things I never thought I actually could eat that. I thought were sort of bad for you that actually are totally fine and help improve the, the, the nutrition, the blood work that has come back. You know, I, I went from well over 200 cholesterol to like 50 my last time. So, um, it's fantastic.
