This Man Used Yoga to Lose 80 Pounds and Develop Self-Control

I’ll start tomorrow.” I always told myself that. Start that diet, work out early, pay that bill, study for the exam, and make that dreaded call. Unfortunately, tomorrow never came. As long as I can remember, I’ve made excuses for not doing any of these things, much alone one. The day ended, and I said, “I’ll start tomorrow.” I spent years in that vicious cycle and realized I didn’t want to be that person anymore.

Ever since childhood, I struggled with weight. I played sports, had high grades, and had diverse friends, but I never stuck to a diet or exercise routine, so my weight fluctuated. I believed I was heaviest in college, but my early 30s weight astonished me.

Many genetic and hereditary illnesses affect my family, but my dad’s heart disease is the worst. Still losing family members to heart attacks, bypass surgery, etc. in their 60s. At 18, I started seeing a cardiologist who warned me I’d be like them if I didn’t change. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen.

I started a high-pressure NYC career in my 20s. I worked late into the night and early mornings, which led to bad eating and stress-related coping. I eventually found relief in food and drink. Six years later, I moved back to Philadelphia, PA, married, and had two lovely kids, but the weight continued increasing and I didn’t care since I knew I wasn’t happy. I reached 24 pounds.

My life changed in November 2021 at 33 years old when I woke up with excessive sweating, shortness of breath, and chest problems. Was this it? Will I be like my father, who suffered a big heart attack at 33 and is thankful to be alive (and thriving). I was rushed to the ER that morning and given the “all clear” by the doctor, but he told me my blood work was one of the worst he had ever seen for a 33-year-old man. Again, “you need to make a change.” This time it hit me differently.

Change was my goal after the holidays. Change yourself so I can watch my girls grow up to change the world. Welcome Lacey Schmidt and YogaSix in Collegeville, PA. In my program, “75 Hard,” weight loss is secondary. While the goal may appear simple, obtaining it would require hard effort and discipline, which I lacked. Part of the regimen requires two 45-minute workouts per day, one inside and one outside. They can be anything! Her studio opened that week, so I went to check it out and asked. Everyone was extremely friendly. Despite being frightened and unfamiliar, I took my first lesson at noon on a Wednesday and was hooked, despite the challenges (I had to rest between class).

I started attending to YogaSix three to five times a week and developed a great relationship with the proprietor, a vivacious person I always wanted to be around. I still went to YogaSix every morning at 6 am 75 days after the program.I met fantastic people that supported me, my ambitions, and my trip there. First, my friends who knew “old Zach” laughed and thought I could never practice yoga. After doing weights to get strong and lose weight, I discovered I loved yoga and how it made me feel. I stayed calm. I could be present and relax. I could spend 60 minutes alone with my mat.