Tom Pool

Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation

In early January, my wife attended an informational session presented by Matt Murski, founder and coach of BodyLab Athletics.  After the holidays and a family vacation, we had both added a few extra pounds, so it didn’t take much convincing that we needed to improve our dietary habits. Hiring a nutrition coach like Matt was a new experience for both of us, and after years of battling the inevitable ebb and flow of weight gain/loss, we were optimistic that Matt could teach us something new.  Little did we know how transformational this experience would become. 

WOW! In just 3 months of following Matt’s nutrition coaching, I dropped 35 lbs. 27 of those pounds were from fat. As I explained to Matt, the last time I weighed in the 170’s, I was shorter – like freshman or sophomore in high school 30 years ago. The weight and fat loss were fairly steady over the 3 months and I had to start buying new clothes or having my dress clothes tailored to fit. Seeing the results in the mirror and on the scale was a big motivator to keep going.

Beyond the physical measurements and visible appearance changes, I also had bloodwork done on week 1 and then again after 90 days. I learned from my initial results, that both my overall cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (aka bad cholesterol) were elevated to “Borderline High”.  Amazingly after 3 months my levels were back in the range of normal.   Given my family history of high cholesterol, diabetes and heart attacks, improving these levels was a primary goal for me. The nutrition sessions in the classroom combined with the trips to the store with Matt, were of tremendous help.   Learning how a large variety of foods, arranged in proper ratios can be combined to create weight loss or simply to prevent weight gain, was an intense educational experience that is now extremely liberating.

Matt’s teaching and coaching has made all the difference in the world. By truly learning food and taking control of my choices, I have learned what you can’t unlearn. People ask me when I’m going to be through with my diet – as if everyone knows a “diet” is something you do for a limited period of time only to go back to the usual habits and creating the dreaded yo-yo of weight gain and loss. My response is, “I’m not going back – this is how I eat now.” Are processed foods tempting? At first they were, but over the past several months, my brain seems to have been re-wired toward selecting better foods. I choose things now, not because it’s what’s on my diet, but because I prefer them. That only comes from a really intense period of time when you’re learning more than you ever have known about food and you have a coach constantly checking in on you and providing guidance and encouragement. I’m telling you, it’s life changing, and I’m not going back.