A businessman who felt ‘lost’ as he approached 40, struggling with low energy and confidence, has revealed how he turned his life around and lost 10kg in the process.
Stephen Mix drank almost every night, had Deliveroo on speed dial and ate cheese-based pasta dishes most days – sometimes twice a day.
But as he approached his milestone birthday, the entrepreneur became aware that he had to change things.
Stephen, who said he had “a father’s body without even having kids,” decided to sign up for a 12-week intensive training program at Roar Fitness in London.
By following a high protein diet and lifting heavy weights, he soon noticed the change and has now maintained his lithe physique, entering his 40s with a new zest for life.
Before and after: Stephen Mix decided he was going to undergo a drastic transformation when he turned 40
Stephen shows off the results of his hard work with Roar experts James Castle Mason, left, and Jack Pressling, right
Stephen signed up for the transformation at Roar in June 2022.
In just three months, Stephen went from nearly 80.8kg to a lithe 70kg.
He told MailOnline, “I had reached a point where I had been inactive for a while. I had sold my business, was traveling, enjoying myself, not exercising enough, eating too much.
‘As I approached 40 I started to realize that I was gaining a lot of weight, my lifestyle wasn’t very healthy and I needed a change.
“I decided that an intensive training program would suit me. The guys at Roar were super supportive and I was really looking forward to it.
“The timing was right – I was ready to commit and was lucky to be in the right place. Plus, my partner was doing a similar program, so we worked together.
“The system was a bit of a shock — my whole lifestyle changed because I had to cook three meals a day while I was planning my week — but I’ve really benefited from that structure.”
‘Other parts of my life also had to be structured, I arranged everything around training and cooking for myself.’
Stephen trained three times a week at Roar’s gym in Kensington with personal trainer Jack Pressling, taking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day.
He did the program for 12 weeks, starting the day before his 40th birthday.
But to get the results he wanted, he had to give up alcohol, takeaways, and cheesy pasta meals.
Stephen added: “I almost completely hit drinking on the head — I was drinking beer or wine four or five nights a week, so that had a huge impact on my weight.
“My social life was affected by the plan, but for all the right reasons. I soon noticed an improvement in my well-being, sleep, concentration, positivity and energy – I just felt good about life.”
In just three months Stephen went from 5ft11in from almost 80.8kg to a lithe 70kg
The businessman had enjoyed traveling and eating what he wanted before he decided to turn it all around
Now Stephen, who runs a financial charity, maintains his newly lean physique by exercising three times a week and trying to keep up with 10,000 steps a day.
He added, “Now that I’m maintaining my weight, I’m eating about 2,500 calories a day, but I’ve kept it high in protein, which fills me up and feels like a really sustainable way to eat.”
‘I watch my diet and am now much more aware of my calorie intake, of proteins and vegetables, and the amount of food I eat.
‘I used to cook half a bag of pasta for one meal. But now I’ve learned what a portion is.
“While the program was intensive, you get the useful tools you need to address and adapt to your lifestyle and make sure it works in the long run.”
Before embarking on the Roar Plan, Stephen skipped breakfast and ate heavy pasta dishes up to twice a day.
The program included an omelette for breakfast or steak and eggs on training days, followed by chicken, salmon or white fish with lots of salad and vegetables and brown rice for lunch and dinner, or stir-fries.
He added, “The biggest change was in my gut. Suddenly I could fit in my pants. But on top of that, my skin improved, especially the dark circles around my eyes – a combination of the nutrients from the food, and better sleep.
“I lost weight, I got wider and wider in my shoulders and chest, but slimmer in the waist – I was more of a v-shape. My posture also changed and I was slimmer in the face.’
Stephen and Jack trained major muscle groups – back, chest and legs – doing exercises such as deadlifts and chest presses before focusing on specific exercises to remove fat from all over his body.
The 40-year-old completely changed his physique – and noticed that his mood and energy improved as a result
“We did a lot of supersets that were aerobic and really got your heart rate going. It was very strenuous – my heart was pounding and Jack would continue to train as well,” added Stephen.
“There were a lot of deadlifts and on legs and shoulders he would kill me. I almost didn’t do abs at all.
“Then suddenly a six-pack appeared after eight or nine weeks.”
Stephen added, “It was life-changing. I had done a lot of self-examination and personal development work.
“But this really helped me unlock another level. My mental wellbeing, energy and focus was so much better.
“Even how I interacted with people — I would have more concentration and engagement when I’m talking to someone.
“But in the end I think it was very teamwork – I couldn’t have done it without Jack and the team.”
Roar Fitness has gyms in London and Dubai and classes in Kensington and online.
Roar Fitness is owned by ex-Olympian and PT to the stars, Sarah Lindsay – who regularly hits the gym to put the likes of Pixie Lott, Vogue Williams and Graham Norton to the test
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