When a guy turns 30, it's supposed to be the start of a great new chapter... but our guest this week, Mark Lesney, was experiencing his clothes tightening up, heartburn and weight gain. Mark was nearing 250 pounds, adding 100 pounds to his frame from just a few years prior. When his friends introduce Mark and his wife to keto - "they brought bacon as a snack!" - Mark knew he'd found a new path to health and happiness. Our listeners will enjoy the conversation in the episode this week, touching on depression, low testosterone, anxiety and how keto helped Mark "get into a mental mindset of being better." Enjoy!
When a guy turns 30, it's supposed to be the start of a great new chapter... but our guest this week, Mark Lesney, was experiencing his clothes tightening up, heartburn and weight gain. Mark was nearing 250 pounds, adding 100 pounds to his frame from just a few years prior. When his friends introduce Mark and his wife to keto - "they brought bacon as a snack!" - Mark knew he'd found a new path to health and happiness. Our listeners will enjoy the conversation in the episode this week, touching on depression, low testosterone, anxiety and how keto helped Mark "get into a mental mindset of being better." Enjoy!
Please help us get the word out by sharing about our podcast with your friends and family. You can use the share buttons on the player on our website if you would like to send them a link directly.
You can also use the Subscribe button to make sure you don't miss an episode if you're using the web player.
You can reach us a number of ways:
Email: KetoMansClubPodcast@gmail.com
Website(Facebook group): http://www.TheKetoMansClub.com
Leave a voicemail comment or question by calling 512-518-6161
Instagram
Podcast: @ketomansclubpodcast
Chris: @Duckmanketo
Jim: @Jiminmanjr
Alberto: @el.KetoCholo
0:03
Hello and welcome to the Keto Mans Club Podcast.
0:06
We're glad you're here. We're each week to talk about men's health and
0:10
lifestyle. We do so with the foundation of the ketogenic diet and lifestyle.
0:14
If you don't know what keto is, stick around and you'll find out, I guess we'll be real honest fun. Each week we strive to uncover the tips and tricks that you can use in your everyday life to maximize your overall health.
0:26
Find the clearest path becoming the best version of yourself that you are.
0:35
Hello, and welcome to another week's episode of the Keto Mans Club Podcast. My name is Chris, I want to be your host and as always, today I'm joined by Jim and Oberto.
0:45
And as always, I'm joined by Jim and Alberto, how's it going, Jim?
0:53
I hope you don't edit out.
0:57
But now they can't because it won't flow.
0:58
But
1:04
it's not like I spent all day for 10 hours on the phone today, but you know,
1:10
hey, you've only got so much voice for a day
1:12
go by john gets tired just like I do after Kung Fu. Anyway, what's new Jim? Oh my gosh,
1:19
well, I'm laughing on a Wednesday night as we record this week's episode and a smile on my face, which we'll talk a little bit more about when we get into the shout outs in a few minutes. So that's my story at the moment.
1:31
Sounds good. Alberto.
1:34
Just about a week, week and a half into my latest carnivore stint slash experiment been having some weird stomach issues and nothing, nothing too crazy, but enough to get my attention. So I decided to go ultimate elimination style and then just stick with carnivore and pretty much water. I haven't even drank coffee lately, but I do have a little no dose pill so that that kind of helps.
1:57
Yeah, I find that those give me heartburn.
2:01
Like there's say, give me a little bit of a higher acid thing. It's weird. Anyway. Well, that that will be interesting to see how quickly the that clears up and all of that we know you thrive on it already. So we that Yeah, and I already
2:18
feel better than I did a couple weeks ago. And it's interesting cuz I think, like obviously I know we approve this, but I've said it in the past where I was fairly certain that sugar and grain sensitivity, along with my choice of an extremely toxic career of painting cars is what I always believed, sent me off on it with my ulcerative colitis. And ironically, when I started having these these this, like digestion issues, I was stuck painting cars for two weeks in a row, which never happens. And at that time, I got I mean, I still had 100% keto, but I got kind of, I wasn't nearly as strict and I was eating out a lot because I was out of town and kind of over eating out a lot. So it's kind of interesting that, that it all started about a week after I was painting for a week and not eating as clean as I should have been for a week. So it kind of kind of anecdotally proved my theory. But again, it's just, you know, me and my n equals one. There's no way to prove any of it. But it's, it's it makes for an interesting story, that's for sure.
3:26
Yeah, absolutely. So let's, let's dive into our shout outs. I'm curious. I'm curious. Jim, how about you start us out?
3:35
Well, we've actually talked about it a little bit offline. So I have I have one shout out for two people. We are coming up on our one year anniversary of the Keto Mans Club Podcast. And we've had all these different guests over the last several several months. And as part of our Facebook groups, one of the questions that we asked for potential Members is how they heard about the group or how are they how they heard about the Keto Mans Club, Podcast. So first gents. And as part of our Facebook groups, one of the questions that we asked for potential members is how they heard about the group or how are they how they heard about the Keto Mans Club Podcast. So first gentlemen, one of many that we added this week, Thomas wrote from your pod, how did you hear from your podcast, I was listening to other podcasts and narrowed my search to a man's group and came across yours. I'm in the middle of Episode Six, and am truly enjoying the content. So that was one of the questions being answered. The second one is from Jonathan who, how did you hear about the keto man's club? You're awesome podcast, big fan. It's inspired me to add walking around 20 miles per week, combined with if so. Intermittent fasting I can think of I for a second intermittent intermittent fasting I've lost six inches My waist and down 39 pounds. So just between these two guys who have never been part of the group on Facebook, and how they are listening to the stories of you know, Greg from last week mark from today who will introduce in a couple minutes, we've had 30, some different guys telling all different types of stories about how keto is impacted them. And now getting this feedback tonight from two different individuals who've never met or anything like that. It just, it just made me so proud to know the impact of this podcast. So my shout out to these two guys who have just joined the Keto Mans Club, Podcast, Facebook and who are truly they're just getting it and that's just so awesome. And I think you guys would all agree just the fact that you know what we've been doing here for the last 40 some weeks is really paying off for a lot of people.
5:57
Totally, totally agree.
5:59
How You shared those with us in, you know, our, our messaging, but you also shared it with the group and the response to that has been very, very positive. So that's really cool to get to hear others chiming in. Yeah, I had this happen. I had this and the, the, the successes being shouted out among each other and encouraging others and just that much louder, saying, hey, you can too if you're having an issue, and you need it, you can do it. Yeah. So, so very cool. Alberto, how are you?
6:41
I'm not far along. It's pretty close along the lines. What Jim was saying, I'm not gonna say his name. I can't say his first name. I'm not gonna say his last name. I just read the first sentence of his post says this is a safe space, right? I hope so. Because I'm about I'm about to begin real and get real honest. And he took a picture of himself. Here's the doctor's office, two months checkup post tummy tuck. And you just kind of went on a little rant about how he's trying himself as he should be. and kind of put it all out there for everyone. And the feedback has been very, very positive. And I think that's commendable. And like I said, obviously want to keep it very private. So I'm not gonna mention his name. But if you're in the group, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Yeah,
7:25
absolutely. And he,
7:28
I, I'm, I have no doubt in my mind, he looks like a completely different man on the outside, but he's just equally and I say this almost every week when we talk about these shout outs and these transformations. He is that much more different on the inside, too. And that's why he's gonna stay this way. And that's why he's going to stay healthy and everything else. That's, that's amazing. I am going to shout out our friend, Greg giving Tim who had a Transformation Tuesday post yesterday just shows the sharp contrast between where he was and where he is and just really really cool stuff and he posted that in the beginners group to encourage them to keep digging was his was his hashtag. So if you want to look that up, but it's a hashtag keep digging, but it definitely a worthwhile thought to keep digging in whenever you you feel like you can't just keep going, you can. So let's go ahead and dive into this week's guest. This week, we are joined by another austinite although we're all three remote. So it's going to it's it's gonna be good, good episode. We got the chance to meet mark in person at our last meetup. I don't think that you made it to the one before that mark. Right. No, I didn't. Okay, so we got to hang out with him a little bit the most recent meetup here in Austin whenever David was in town, and it was really great to get to meet him in person and get to hear an inkling of what we're what we hope to dive deep into tonight. Welcome to the show, Mark. Hey, thank you guys. Thank you guys for having me. And I know it's not the guests don't get shoutouts but
9:28
I'm gonna piggyback on Alberto's shout out for and I saw that post today. And I also thought that was pretty dang cool that he felt comfortable and, you know, share his story with us. That's actually something from a man's perspective. I've always been kind of intrigued by so I thought it was super information on the comments. were awesome as well.
9:51
Yeah, that's it's been really amazing to see how
9:57
beyond civil and amazing the The guys on our groups can be they really just are jerks. They just aren't. And that's a very nice thing. So Mark, get us started with knowing a little bit about who you are, where you come from, you know, kind of your, a little bit about your physical standing about, like, you know, heighten kind of how you've been growing up and kind of get us started in your story.
10:30
Yeah, definitely, you know, I won't try to tell a long life story, but I'm about to be 38. And for most of my life, I weighed about 140 to 150 pounds, super healthy, never really got sick, never really had to go to the doctor. You know, pretty much live that way. You know, doing things I shouldn't be doing for too long. And then my 30 cents And that changed everything I've bounced around the country I've lived in. I grew up in California, spent a little bit time in Oklahoma near Oklahoma City, then moved down to back to California back out to Texas and spent a couple years in Chicago. And now I'm back out here in Austin where I love it. And that's just kind of a rundown on me.
11:27
Very cool.
11:28
So
11:30
let's, so you say in your 30s, things kind of went downhill, expand on that a bit, give us a little bit of an idea of kind of what condition you ended up getting into.
11:41
Yeah, so it's kind of a slow progression. I kind of noticed that. My jeans got a little tighter. Went up a size a couple every couple of years and I started noticing other things. I did have to start going to the doctor more often. I also started developing heartburn was just unbelievable. You know Zantac, Toms every day started getting you know, to my, into my mid 30s I've always been a confident you know, outgoing person. But you know, I started developing some anxiety and stress and just seemed overwhelming and you know, even some some panic attacks that I actually got prescribed medications for. So I really started developing this, not only was I gaining, you know, pretty good amount of weight every year, but I started actually taking pills every day for medical conditions that I never thought I'd ever have to do and started feeling, you know, depressed and anxious and just kind of, you know, the mental aspect of things really started to catch up to me pretty quick. And I kind of ended up in a spot 238 pounds which you know, it's 100 pounds higher than I'd been most my life and you get pictures from when my wife and I first started dating. I It's like a whole different person, like half the person I used to be. And you know, on top of that kind of you know, the, the the medical ramifications started catching up pretty quick. And she's, my wife's always been one that's been conscious about her weight. She's battled as well even throughout her life. And you know, she talked about this diet and that diet and a few years before I started keto, I tried to try to paleo kind of diet, what I thought was a paleo kind of diet and I started actually doing exercise for the first time in my life I start running treadmill twice a day, I spent four months before the vacation and I was proud because I lost 10 pounds and after the vacation did maintain it, and you know, it came right back and then some so I kind of had a weird experience with with weight gain and falling into into the keto lifestyle. You know, I don't want to keep rambling, but No You're fine yeah no yeah so we've we've met people actually some friends of ours that are pretty fit you know they did keto for a little while I remember we actually went on Lake Travis and sort of local Lake here for those of you not from the area with voting with them and they were doing keto telling us about it and they literally brought bacon as a snack and I I was literally that person that said there's no way that's healthy for you. I here I am, you know, 100 pounds higher than I've ever been at 238 pounds I'm telling a guy that literally has a six pack that what he's doing is it healthy for him and that this die is gonna kill him. I was literally going into this that we that we have a lot of fun with because that's what I'd read on the internet right? I didn't know anything different. I just seen some articles pop up here and there. And you know, I didn't really know any difference and gospel forward a few months. I actually went to the doctor and had some bloodwork done. And found out that I had low testosterone. And I got on testosterone replacement therapy. And I was on that for about three months at the time, three or four months, I started feeling better. You know, mentally I started feeling a little bit better start having a little bit more energy. And it was like, you know, at this point in time, I was going into the doctor's office and receiving weekly injections. And they make you get on a scale every time and check your blood pressure, right? It was like, out of nowhere, I'm staying on the scale. I'm like, how much do I weigh? And I was like, Jesus, I didn't you know, I wasn't weighing myself at home before that. I didn't realize how big I ballooned up to and I was and literally that was March of last year, beginning of March right before South by Southwest. And my wife had tried in January, he convinced me to try keto because she started researching it. And she started understanding it you know, Sharing results with me that people have had. And as literally after that doctor's appointment I said, let's do it. Let's start tonight like what are we gonna do? And that's kind of how I fell into it we literally she said, You're the You're the one that's weird about what you eat. I didn't think it was weird a party pizza and tuna a peanut butter jelly sandwich for lunch and a party pizza for dinner. I didn't think that was weird. And I really we literally just picked out 10 things off ventures with the grocery store we had most of stuff we needed and we just started doing keto from there are
16:38
so many questions so many.
16:42
So let me I want I want to hit on a couple things. I know Kristin, Berto, we're all gonna kind of take turns here, but, um, you talked about where you were a few years back kind of thing and you had gained like 100 pounds or so. I was like, No, were you a bigger kid growing up was there any weight issues or anything like that in your family at all? Were you athletic and you were burning on the football field or the track field track course or whatever I mean, tell us a little bit about the the young you
17:14
so when I was really little actually had a nickname of Porky I was just like a chubby little kid not like to be teased or anything but just my siblings give me shit. So, you know, I was I had a little bit of a belly and then that went away and I was pretty bony. I was actually self conscious about how skinny I was. Throughout most of my life. I did skateboard a lot throughout high school, but that was really it. I was never really active. I never really paid for what I ate. And you know what I mean? I didn't have to, well, I guess I shouldn't say I wasn't active and I was skateboarding probably five hours a day 365 but I got pretty into it for a long time. But even after I stopped though, you know, I stayed pretty skinny. I just I've just always been skinny. I mean, my 30s would be falling down. Remember were 28 and a high school and sagging them because I thought that was cool.
18:12
Yeah, I don't know how that feels. But that's a story for another day. And one other thing I want to ask you before I switch with Alberto Chris here, so the low testosterone thing we've had some guys share their story about that. So can you kind of give us an idea of where your numbers were? And the factors were hoping you would get to?
18:34
Yeah, yeah. So I really like talking about testosterone being actually because I was that guy. I hear the commercials on the radio. I thought that doesn't apply to me. I'll be frank. I mean, I've always been. Throughout my career. I've always been considered a natural leader. I've been very successful. being promoted in leadership roles in retail and executive positions. I've never been in Number one that you would say is shy or timid or, you know, passive or any of those, I didn't have any of those types of symptoms ever. And never sexually had any issues, you know, in that department. That's it. Most people think like, Oh, I'm not, you know, I'm not having those kinds of symptoms. It's not low. But I was having the other symptoms and my, you know, a couple buddies of mine said, Hey, you know, I'm on testosterone replacement therapy. Have you had your testosterone checked? So it's kind of a situation like this, where it's like, you know, I had the brain fog fog. I was getting, you know, larger all the time. I did say working out before I went on vacation ever really gaining muscle, like, you know, I kind of had some of the other symptoms. I didn't feel, you know, youthful, like I was, I was only 36 years old, 37 years old. And so, I wouldn't have tested at this local men's clinic and I was actually at 138. And for my age four 50 to 850 is where the range they wanted me to be, I would come to find out the eight fifth 850 to 900 is where I feel good, just naturally sitting out. So if you could think about that in terms that's that's a pretty substantial difference. I had the testosterone to the 85 to nine year old man, naturally being produced. Ooh, wow. Yeah. But if you had met me, you wouldn't know the difference. You know what I mean? Like, it's not like there are symptoms that you could tell by my social interactions, or you know what I mean? Sometimes you hear that Oh, man, that's awesome. I'm so low. You must be like a clam or something. And you know, I wasn't like that at all. You know that. You're the first one to say hi at a party. You know what I mean? Just but I such a big difference. I mean, like, four to six weeks in, I just, I felt so much better. And I actually think I owe my me getting on keto. And maybe getting involved with the community that way I have everything I owe to you know, getting getting that testosterone check is that's what really woke me up. Mm hmm.
21:12
That's awesome. So you had mentioned that you pretty much almost always worked out, right?
21:21
No, I didn't really work out. Oh, wow.
21:24
So how Okay, let's start there. Let's, uh, when did you start working out? And was it when you started keto? Or after you started keto, and what has Keto done for your exercise routine?
21:38
So my progression though, after starting ketose was probably somewhat common for people.
21:45
I
21:47
started it, you know, was just trying to stay away from bread and stuff like that, but mostly taco salads burger, no bun chicken in the vegetable, you know, kind of routine and Within two weeks, I got the keto flu and it hit me hard. I was literally laid up in bed, you know, with a man flew for three days. So, for three days, I literally did nothing but read about enjoying as many Facebook groups as I could to learn about this, this way of eating and what's going on because I knew it was for me, I knew I could eat that way. And I know there's results out there. So I literally started reading and learning and watching every internet doctor you could think of, and that sort of thing. And then I hit three or four days after that, and I just had this burst of energy and mental clarity and I realized that really quickly, I didn't have heartburn medication anymore. I wasn't taking anything for anxiety. I wasn't taking anything. I wasn't working with panic attacks at all. And I like I just, it was like, two weeks after that keto flu ended. There was Just like something just flipped and we started a treadmill here to house and I started getting back on the treadmill and running on it you know literally dusted it off because I was pacing around the house and all this energy is cleaning this doing that and my wife would come home and you know, she works a long job on her feet. She's like, you know, you have so much energy you need to do something and I always wanted to lift weights but I was always intimidated by it. And she knew this I talked about it for years, that you know, one day you know, learn to lift weights and get athletic. And she actually bought me a dumbbell set off Amazon for Christmas because you know, we are going to be New Year new me. And here it is, you know, mid March. I hadn't used it ever. And what the energy I literally just popped on a YouTube video of dumbbell routines that I started working out in the back room of our house with with some adjustable dumbbells in the Amazon and I outgrew that pretty quick We'd already paid for a gym membership as part of our neighborhood thing here. Here's a level that includes the gym membership at the world of tennis. And so I've been paying for it forever. I never went. And I went with my same buddy Greg, who I told with a six pack abs when I told him the bacon was going to kill him when he was doing keto. I went with it. I went to his gym, and a couple times two Saturdays, and I said, Hey, here's the YouTube video workouts I've been doing. Here's an app, I found a workout app. It's called fit BOD. You know, show me how to put this all together and he just helped me this two workout sessions and I came back home and that Monday, you know, I went to the gym I never stepped foot in and I you know, plugged in my workout my app based on some splits I found online. I just started you know, working with the dumbbells and stuff I knew how to do safely and it just grew from there. I would say for me what Keto had done was It got me in the mental mindset of wanting to better myself. I had the energy and the mental focus to to start exercising and being healthier and getting better. And I guess kind of the confidence you had already started losing some weight at this point, I started losing some inches around the belly. And, you know, I started feeling comfortable in my own skin again a little bit, you know, with where I wanted to be. And it grew from there. I quickly started lifting five days a week, and then a six day of just cardio. And I just got hooked to it. And I, you know, I don't know how I could have probably had the same read comp without the keto part of it because I quickly found the high protein, you know, moderate fat, low carb keto, I think the majority of our group follows and you No, that's that's that's nothing better for re comp and gaining muscle than those kind of macros.
26:08
Yeah, that's, that's true. And I can tell you from my personal experience that Yeah, prior to keto, I probably worked out more than I did after keto with less desirable results. So you're right on point there. It did definitely go well together, that energy boost goes well together and that and I'm sure you notice, like when you're in the gym, and things are going you get warmed up and you get that laser focus and that intensity and it's like you're on a whole nother level. It's a, as Ralph said, number one. It's like It's like playing life with a cheat code. It's amazing.
26:39
Yeah, and you know, I also I know some people have talked about in the podcast before I also, you know, found keto gains pretty early. I think that their pre workout that you make with coffee and you know, some whey protein and some pink salt, I mean, that was pink salt. My pre workout was a game changer. You guys all talked about it. They talked about it. And I thought, Man, I tried One day and just you know, you get in there to get a good workout going with a good pre workout not you start hitting that pump, man. It's like the pump is just, it's addictive. And, you know, for me, I was just talking to Fred about this last night actually, you know, the gym is meantime, you know, you put your headphones in with whatever music you're blasting. I'm usually listening to some hardcore rap music while the 85 year old man says you know how good I look is no idea where I'm listening to. And you know, that that's my time. You know, I tell people that I think it's important you know, whatever your fitness goals are, whatever your level is, I don't care to walk around the block for 30 minutes. You know, put some headphones in, you know, listen to your favorite music and just zone just focus on you for 30 minutes or an hour or however long you have that fits in your schedule. However many days a week that works for you and just, you know, have that time for yourself and not only will you like the way you look but more importantly, I think you like the way you feel. And I think I speak for all of us to get to work. out, you know, I start I start looking forward to it you know, that's my de stress that's my work work isn't you know around my wife's not around but you know, that's just me time and it's I think it's just as important for our mental benefits as it is for the physical.
28:17
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And that's what it's that's largely what it's been for me I'm I'm more like you I've come to working out after finding keto at roughly 35. And, like, I never thought of myself as an athlete on any level. And now I'm seeing myself as a guy who can get in the gym lift weights with people who seriously lift weights and while I'm not lifting the amount of weight that they are, I can hang with them and keep going. I can do Krav Maga I could do Kung Fu. I can do boot camp style workouts which I never ever imagined in my life I would ever did. You know, all of these things that I, I got into just because I couldn't not I had to be active Acad to be doing something. Heck last night I was, you know, practicing. So buy my kung fu stuff because I know that I'm going to be tested for my neck belt soon. at like, one o'clock in the morning because I had so much energy and I couldn't sleep.
29:34
It's just like crazy. Yeah. In so the,
29:40
in the mental aspects of that of I wanted to call out the taking time for yourself. When I was doing the early morning thing at the gym. That was what that was for me. Now sometimes. Yes, I was there with Alberto but we were both most of the time. When we got into our rhythm, it we both kind of just zoned out and we did our thing. And there's a lot of value to that in and it's, you know, for those who find that they enjoy it that can be their fun thing. And we need a little fun in our days I I've been dealing with a lot more stress lately than normal. And I'm realizing the importance of taking 20 or 30 minutes a day, to have fun, and to relax and actually zone out. And I think that's what you have done in the gym as well. Talk to us more about those exploits if you would.
30:43
Well, one last thing on that, you know, before I was doing keto, it was my me time was an hour and a half at night, playing PlayStation with my friends. Right playing Call of Duty with a glass of whiskey and that didn't help anything obvious. And, you know, now I get messages all the time, like ever getting back on your PlayStation, you know? I've replaced that, you know, you don't I mean, that's just, that's a little, you know, habits if you're that guy out there that's, you know, kind of living that life of like that man it can change, you can change, you start you change your diet and everything else changes around you
31:20
know, so yeah you're you're dead right and and honestly part of my fun has actually been returning to some of those video games I actually I still play sometimes Yeah, yeah, it's a little fortnight I actually was helping build a map with a friend and Halo just before recording the podcast this app this afternoon after golf work. And so you know, there is benefit to that, but it's not. If that's your only thing that you have going on, then you probably need to diversify that.
31:54
Yeah, that was more of my hobby than anything. And now you know, I'll play some Apex you know about two hours. Week usually on Sunday, which is the dreaded rest day. Yeah. And, you know, I'll get on there with my buddies a real life friend of mine, you know, we'll play for a couple hours and just, you know, shoot the shit and have a good time and I'm not nearly as good as I used to be now but, but there's nothing wrong with zoning out. No, you know, keeping some of your hobbies.
32:16
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So your physical exploits that you that you have reached at this point because you kind of buff just just gonna put it out there. He just stood.
32:30
It's just so weird though. Man. When people say that we're we're just at a barbecue and we all got in the hot tub is my friend's house is cold other story but we all got in a hot tub and big group of friends. And you know, I have no
32:46
professional here. We don't
32:49
fear you know, we're not going keto after dark on ourselves.
32:55
Alright, I'll keep that part of it.
33:00
But you know, it was just interesting because that you know, a lot of the guy friends who aren't like so my really close guy friends obviously it's even more recent on my shirt on but he's you know we have a pool in the yard here but still was like so friends I hadn't seen in a while I take out my shirt and they're like, what happened to you like the you know, the wives are telling my wife like Marcos like a model now and like, all these muscles that I still don't you know, I'm sure you guys have had the same experience when your body starts changing and you recall like, it takes you a while to really see it some days. You see it more than others. Some days I still see the belly sticking out, you know what I mean? It's just I'm still going through that. I know people think that body dysmorphia is more of a of a girl thing. But I'm telling you, I think it's it applies to anyone. So I don't really see that all the time. But yeah, I get more and more compliments and I'm getting more used to it. Especially at the gym now. So yeah, I mean, I've increased my benchpress when when I started out by over 100 pounds, I can squat over my body weight, you know, just things that I, I never thought I'd be able to do physically. You know, of all chains and you know, my, my medium shirts I was wearing in July even though I weigh the same. I can't wear them anymore because they're too tight in the back or my arms can't go in them. Right.
34:24
And then I struggled to take them back. Oh, yeah. Trying to take a back off. I know that struggle.
34:32
It's just weird to me, man. This has all happened in the last like three to four months where like, I can't get a shirt back off. And it's like, what the heck. And you know, you're losing weight slowly and Well, to me, it's slowly and so like, I'm buying, you know, this shirt
34:46
and this shirt this year. And it's like, man,
34:47
I was just wearing that shirt when we got to dinner two months ago, three months ago and now I can squeeze into it. So it's it's a little it's a little bizarre, but and the best kind of ways.
34:59
Absolutely.
35:01
So you you, you've been doing this now How have your how's your family reacted to this both those in your immediate family and then those that are more distant? Are they? You said your wife kind of encouraged you to get into it originally. Does she have any idea what type of monster she was was making?
35:22
No, she didn't but she knows how how I cleaned the things and when something starts working for me and I like it, you know, take it to the extreme. And so, you know, next thing you know, I mean, all these keto groups, and I'm an admin and some of them are 27,000 people I'm coaching people and people are pm me all the time, you know, just out of, you know, public groups. I'm sure you guys do the same thing and Keto Mans Club, Podcast and so my my family's extended and here, I get more messages now than I would ever imagine for tips and advice. from people I would have never imagined getting it from. I can tell you a lot of my parents, siblings, aunts, have all lost 10 to 30 pounds with keto, you know, off and on. Because of what they've seen me do, my wife has lost 54 pounds herself. But she deserves all the credit for that for pushing me into it. But so outside of our circle, you know, we have friends and family members, I literally was just messaging with a family member tonight about macros. So she got her tracker set up and she wants to get ready for summer. So, you know, it's been kind of wild that, you know, people kind of tease you before about being a little chubby. And then now all of a sudden, they're all asking you for advice,
36:48
especially my siblings.
36:52
So I want to dive into the different group kind of thing and I mean, it's our opportunity to brag a little bit about the the keto man Club what how do you recall how you found it? And tell us you know a couple things that you like about being in our group.
37:11
So I think I found you guys when I was on my keto flu, great search for answers. And so I literally joined like, I'm sure this happens a lot of people like 16 keto groups, right. Right. And this one appealed to me because it was a men's club. So that's kind of how I found but you know, I kind of joined a bunch of them at once I left. You know, I've left more keto groups that I'm in I'm currently in three
37:40
no four for now. And
37:44
I'm in Zacks, also, so before but um, you know, I like our group, I don't so, and our group, I don't give as much coaching advice because it's not as many people as in some of the other groups that are asking you know, very, very basic questions over and over and over, you know, ours, there's, there's, there's a basic question asked, there's a quick, solidly good answer given. And so I can just like that or you know, or say exactly or whatever funny meme or whatever I want to do but so, you know, what I like about our our groups are typically though is a spot, you know, I've invited several several members, they're joined because I recommend it to men and all the other groups, because I think there's something to be said for a place where men can be vulnerable. You know, there's a lot of things have been posted that you wouldn't expect us to be talking about. I think it's just a spot where we can feel like, you know, we can be ourselves and the best ways as far as being sensitive or vulnerable or sharing these pictures, and you know, those types of things have to lower the facade. Like, there's not a lot of information in our group. I think we all stay pretty factual based. You know, you guys do a good job of keeping down the clatter You know, the look at this magic pill I lost you know, 13 pounds in three days.
39:11
Even when I made that joke about that that supplement come and it was funny I made that joke but the supplement company they had reached out to me that did absolutely no research. It was a shot in the dark. So don't think I'm trying to brag about that just shot the dark on their part. Like I actually go on their website. I was like, oh, wow, like these are like, I mean, they were crazy expensive, but they were actually I mean, one gram of sugar, and it was sucralose and almost all their products and like, that's what I get for talking trash. It's actually pretty decent stuff. Like, still not gonna do it. I was like, but yeah, but I was like, I'll just take it as a as a little a little backside of unresearched compliment when they're like, hey, you're killing it. I'm like, you don't even know me.
39:54
Yeah, you know, I think that you know, in our group, it's, it's pretty, it's pretty simple stuff. You know, we just share our lives and the progress that we're making, you're asking questions, and there's none of that, know that noise like that. And it's nice meal, you know, see what other men are doing, you know, there's, we have specific needs or different, you know, different goals that we have. So, you know, I find it motivating whenever I see pictures in there. There's so many incredible guys that maybe still have a long ways to go on their journey, but they started off like, so much, you know, further away than I did. And they're still pushing that motivates me so much, you know, there's a guy that comes in and out of our group. He's been, you know, often on lately, but he goes to the gym and does the role machine and works his ass off and tries really hard not to use his name, but, you know, and that stuff motivates me, motivates me to keep going. And, you know, you don't really get that in all the groups that you're in. That's why I've left a lot of them. And you know, it's kind of a motivation factor of you know, I feel inspired by these people that are working, you know, hard to get their goals, I can work hard to get mine to you. No, and I just think it's pretty unique. I think it's pretty cool.
41:04
Glad to hear it.
41:05
Very glad to hear it.
41:07
So you, you're pretty close to your goal here. Quite the body composition transformation. We've talked briefly about what's been working for you. But let's go a little bit farther into that, like what macros are you at right now? How did you arrive to them? Where did you start? And then we're like, specifically along along your path towards your first goal, are you
41:30
well, so macros is a big debate in our group. And you
41:35
know, it's not some of us live in poverty some of us live in.
41:43
You guys have no idea every time I smile every time I see it was from data, right. All right. So I've been tracking pretty hard lately and every time I do I, I sticker because of David's comments, well, I probably macros so I started off you know, not tracking just getting good results from doing what I wanted and that kind of slowed down and I started scouring the pages for my answer, you know, and I really started dialing into the keto gains macros. I liked them i i don't think that I could say they're better than anyone elses rather use Quito savage or keto gains, or whoever's, I don't think they're better per se. I just consistently, you know, kind of try to follow a lot of their protocol, their advice. I do eat more protein than my macros give me from them. But you know, right now, I'm 7565 to 75 grams of fat a day 175 to 200 grams of protein. And I mean, my only carbs really, about two or three times a week I would maybe have some green beans or spinach, but my only carbs come from the dextrose my pre workout. So that's pretty much my macros. I pretty much have just Two or three sets of meals that I eat constantly so it's pretty easy to stay on them. I started getting to that point about three or four months ago is when I really started dialing back. And I started off slowly with like, you know, half the amount of cheese and my eggs after I go to the gym or you know, less Mayo or mustard instead of mayo, stuff like that, just to just to dial the fats back. And I noticed that when I do that, and everything else stays the same. I'm getting more lean. I'm pretty close to my first goal, which is you know, having super defined abs. My plan is to get super defined ABS by my one year which I'm only two weeks away, so it's going to be hard by four to five weeks away. And then I'm going to up my protein by 100 grams and my fat by 25 to 50 and see where I go from there because I do think Think that while I am still gaining strength and workouts every week at the gym, I do know I'm sacrificing some of that because of my low intake. I mean, I'm just being honest, I know I am. So, you know, it's kind of want to play around with it. I think it's gonna be fun. And, you know, I've, I've kind of had this mindset that I'm worried that bellies gonna come back. So I guess I've just sold myself on the idea that my abs are super defined. Then I can see if a little bit of fat starts coming and I could change it. So that's kind of where I'm at with figuring that out and seeing where I need to go. But I'm pretty excited, man. I can't wait to get on the growth macros.
44:46
Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun. And so
44:54
Chris, I eat a lot of food. I'm telling you. It's a lot of food. hundred grams of protein for the average person a lot of food.
45:03
Yeah, a lot of food.
45:04
I just don't have a lot of the fun stuff with it. I'm not gonna get a lot of cheese and stuff.
45:08
Yeah. Well, and you know, I don't I'm not stingy but you know, and I'm I'm blessed enough that I'm not quite in the the poverty keto diet
45:21
you know, not far off.
45:24
We're gonna have to explain to them what that means, by the way, I think.
45:27
Yeah, you start with poverty if you'd like.
45:34
So, yeah, the Yeah, poverty is basically Well, what what? Maybe I'm missing part of the conversation even the poverty is is the low workout caloric intake.
45:48
Yeah, deeper cut deeper cut lower fats, like pretty much when I posted my macros, he had made a comment that my fat level was four days of his eating, and then I had thrown the hashtag into ROI. lt macros. That's
46:04
okay. Yeah, so I'm probably Yeah, and you know it anyway, I eat plenty but then I other days I don't have I'm just not that hungry. And so you know, I just don't eat as much but I need to be more consistent because that will help me probably reach my goals and I just have to actually track again I haven't. So
46:27
well and I should add that so the macros I stayed, I'm eating that two meals and then a pre workout. So I do fast every day I do if right. And I do think that helps, you know, not just keep the calories down, but we all know the benefits of fasting. So, you know, I switch to black coffee, a little bit salt in it, and then I'll pretty much drink two cups of that before you know I'm blessed where I go to the gym at lunchtime. So I break my break my fasting with a pre workout. Then I come home, make lunch and then three to four hours later right now. Dinner so you know those those are actually on the you know the macros are really two meals.
47:04
Women let me back up a second to make sure I got the timeline right here you go to the gym at lunch and then you go home for lunch.
47:12
Yeah, so I look at how long
47:14
do you have man?
47:19
I work from home so it's endless. Okay, all right. So my meetings are always in I scheduled in the morning so this hopefully no one that knows me that I work with hears this but I pretty much schedule my meetings around my gym time. I'm lucky I could do either have them in the morning. Or in the evenings I go to the gym. I know it's gonna change. I might end up like Berto and dragging myself to the gym at 430 in the morning and not getting any gains. Because it's too early
47:47
is just too early in the morning. Johnny, Johnny early in the morning.
47:53
Yeah.
47:53
So.
47:55
So I know it'll change one day but yeah, I'm pretty, pretty fortunate right now.
48:01
Just want to know how that two and a half hour lunch hour came into your contract.
48:06
Checking, just checking out
48:10
what's your favorite keto food
48:13
and you can't say steak.
48:16
Really is I don't eat a lot of steak so actually no you know my favorite keto food is the one food I could not give up and switch out for an alternative eggs. Eggs by far like so. My lunches each during the week day, three times a week I have eggs two times a week I have tuna and I am much happier looking forward to my eggs more than my tuna I like the tuna tuna salad with it but I my eggs I love I can just eat scrambled eggs with Taco Bell sauce every day.
48:53
Do you go into Taco Bell and just grab a handful and like I just needed a restroom break or anything like that. I mean,
48:59
he big Hb $1 47 I used two bottles a week dollar 47 each ACB
49:09
larious
49:13
that's awesome that is great
49:16
but in a circle back to that little joke it was other group a completely different group right some guy keeps at this point he's gotta be just making fun of me because there's no way this guy serious but he will he will every time I post something different group all together let's get that straight. The very first question he asked me he says what are your strength numbers? And like which is a completely irrelevant question to everything has absolutely zero context I refuse to answer him I still haven't answered him. I mean don't get me wrong. This guy is huge. he competes strong man he is incredibly strong. I believe the answer he's looking for is not nearly as high as yours. But I had one time that mentioned you know, I work out first thing in the morning fasted for the most part, maybe a little bit MCT oil and he decided to go on this rants about how you how you can't make gains in the morning and, and the only thing that's good in the morning is jogging. And then his whole line of defense was he lifted early in the morning once and hurt his back. So that's why that's why you can't do it. So, so if the people are out there so that's where that early morning joe came from. Obviously, we all know that's not true. But it's been kind of a running joke. That's why you see in the group like you'll see something about strength numbers, it all it all came from a from a post in a different group. But this guy tormenting me about my strength numbers in pounds. Mind you strike numbers in pounds.
50:36
Yeah, it's never a dull moment. That's for sure. There is
50:42
the other side of the internet.
50:44
Yeah, absolutely. So tell us a little bit about your favorite resource that you've found if you were to dial into one maybe two resources from early on if someone is where you were nearly a year ago. just getting started, which resources Did you find the most beneficial and helpful for you?
51:07
That is a super hard question to answer because the information you get. So I feel like there's not one answer that question, and I'll explain why.
51:24
So I feel like when you're
51:27
a large person going into this, and you're just starting out keto, I do think some of the beginning information you get from the YouTube doctors or whoever is good, it's good information. I just think that you hit a point pretty quickly where you outgrow it. And what I mean by that is like when you're first changing that lifestyle, it can be pretty abrupt. So someone telling you, it's okay to have these things and those things that you wouldn't have when you're really trying to lean out or you're really getting closer to your goals. That would stall you becomes harder. So I mean, normal normal is for someone to be keto savage keto gains, get your macros, you know, get a good calculator, start tracking what you eat before you put it in, take some good supplements, you know, electrolytes, good water day vitamins and fish oil, and go to town. But I think that those, those macros can be a little hard for someone that's first starting out with a lot to lose. So I don't know, I think I would say, you know, they're both trusted sources. So I would say to start reading there, but I think that their their strictness in a way could be kind of hard for some people to stick to early on. So I don't really know how to describe that. I don't know that anyone's really got the total package of like, putting it all together for someone from day one, and being successful at it. With really solid scientific fact information, I don't know that that's really that resource is really out there.
53:01
I know that's a horrible answer. I wish I could redo it if you want.
53:06
There are no reduce reduce. I can cut out some things but I know reduce.
53:10
You know what I mean, though I don't know how to answer that question because, you know, the average person that's, you know, you can't go to a group say I'm ready to start keto today, what do I do and get solid information? You're gonna get a bunch of gibberish from people. Sure.
53:26
Yeah, I have a feeling that that for some people, they just need to start eating keto and not worry about macros at all. Yes, that's that was me first and then I figured out macros after a month or so. But I agree, just focusing on the food list from Quito evangelist is really good. There's a visual food guide on diet doctor calm, that's really good. That gives you kind of where fresh vegetables and fruits sit on the car. scale that was very, very beneficial to my wife and I, as we were getting started trying to figure out what in the world I can still eat other than meat in her terms. So, you know, there's all of that. There's there are some great resources, but it is not
54:17
really easy to
54:18
find and think back to what I did.
54:21
I am I you know, when I first started, we literally just went on Pinterest and picked out like 1010 meals that we thought we would be able to eat, you know what I mean? That we would like? Yeah. And that's how he started, you know, we didn't really start with the program or one person or, you know, one resource because I agree with you. I think when you're first starting out, you just need to find foods that you like that fit in the keto realm of lowering your carbs, getting ketosis and as you gain more experience and more knowledge, it's easier to get more refined and get more dialed in. I have had some success though. And getting people going By having them just start entering everything into a tracker, before they eat it, and seeing where they cut out carbs is a way to ease into it. I've done that with family members and I have had some success getting them into a low carb lifestyle doing that. But even then, you know, they're not eating, you know, poverty macros or anything like that. They're just kind of staying where they are, they're losing a good amount of weight, they're happy and they're able to eat you know, some more fun things, you know, making pizzas and he was on, you know, keto lasagna and stuff like that. And I like it, you know, they're losing weight. They're happy and, you know, it works for them. But, yeah, so you know, there's, there's a, there is a resources out there and just I could pointed this one, there's so many.
55:43
Sure. No, I think that that's totally understandable.
55:48
And you had asked earlier about my goals. So my first goal is the one I'm working on now. And then
55:57
I've been a member of and I think several of our members have
56:01
ketogenic bodybuilding, and
56:05
as I get closer to my timeframe, I'm probably gonna, you know, use Rob from there. He's got a lot of good information, also his YouTube channel, it's laid out, it's laid out in a great way, it's easy to understand it's not over complicated. I'm probably gonna use him because I do want to go on stage the local amateur bodybuilding competition for 40 and over, I don't expect to win. I don't like the place. I just, it's just a goal that I have that I'd love to go get on stage one day and just, you know, have that have that looking back on and say, Hey, I was in a bodybuilding competition. When I'm 86 years old and wrinkly. I can say that to people.
56:45
Yeah, absolutely. Well, that's a good goal. I I personally would be the be the one that could just never get up on stage and be quite that vulnerable. I don't think not, not in that way at least. So that and it's Not something I'm really, you know, am courageous enough to do I'll say it that way.
57:06
You could say so you're not interested. It's like,
57:10
Yeah, but I think it's it's, I have a much. I used to think it was rather shallow to do those competitions until I met people like Robert Sykes and all the guys that that, that were at the NACA competition is seeing the amount of self discipline and work that goes into it and that dying to themselves so that they can meet this goal, you know, on this such extreme level, and I'm just going okay, I respect this. This is not shallow. This is absolutely just a personal challenge that, you know, how far can I push myself and it's totally worth it to do it. For those that are self that are inclined, so that's awesome. That's a
57:56
great guy. I couldn't agree more before this journey, I would have said the exact same thing. wouldn't believe I'm a person that would say that I'd want to do that. And, you know, speaking of the ketogenic bodybuilding community, you know, some of the women on there too, and just, you know, the the amount of work that the men and women put into the competitions they do, and, like you said, the dedication and perseverance, you know, it's like we always say, and I see it a lot in the group too, is in our, you know, keto men's club is the hardest exercise there is walking in the gym, you know, getting your butt in, there is the hardest workout you're ever going to do. It's just, you know, doing that so consistently over the amount of time it takes to go on stage and be vulnerable. And it's just, you
58:39
know, it's inspiring. It's super cool. Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you for sharing your story with us. We're needing this time to wrap up things. We want to respect your time and make sure that we don't keep it quiet all night. And I'm sure Jim has an early morning, just like all of us do. So
59:00
I am good man. Yeah, I am. I will. Slight segue. I am treating my office to waffles tomorrow morning. I'm bringing my waffle maker in. Nice for however, there will be a egg waffles instead for some of us.
59:20
were introducing them to the is it called a chapel?
59:27
I refuse to call it by name.
59:33
I will say man,
59:36
I laughed at it. I finally got on the train as like as it faded, but we made some before and they're actually pretty dang good. I probably
59:44
how could they not be I mean the ingredients alone. I mean, you can't go wrong. It's just like, tactical kitchens, carnivore waffles, you know, breakfast sausage and eggs like what are they're like? Well, that tastes like a like it's made out of breakfast sausage and eggs like Bing well,
1:00:08
very good, very good. Really, really great conversation. I hope that a lot of guys and anyone else listening is able to get some inspiration. How can people connect with you? Other than the group we know that you're in the group so how can Yeah, so if people
1:00:27
can always connect with me on Facebook, Mark lesney Instagram same thing is at Mark lezzy. Um, you know, I say you can find me anyone that ever has anything I could ever help them with. Feel free to always send me a message. I help people out all the time. I love to do it. It's it's a personal thing that I just find enjoyable. So anyone that ever wants to connect with me Feel free to and, you know, we're all in this journey together. And so anything I can do to ever help or share, you know what I've learned are gone through I would be more than happy to do that for anyone.
1:01:04
Very cool. Now you could also say that you are Yin cell, because all of the photos that we have of you with the with
1:01:13
are in the mirror. You can read it.
1:01:18
That's funny.
1:01:19
Funny, actually, it's hard to do it.
1:01:29
I never have to worry about anyone stealing my pictures though. I have a permanent watermark.
1:01:33
Yes.
1:01:36
Fair point. Fair point.
1:01:39
Yeah, absolutely. Well, let's go ahead and let's go around the horn for everybody else. Alberto. How about you?
1:01:48
The group as per usual and on Instagram is L Quito, cholo and capital underscore painter. If you want to see what it's like living the living with my day to day job of painting cars, and Find automotive facts
1:02:03
and Miami blue Porsches blue Porsche
1:02:07
Don't get me started
1:02:12
and airbag is also on us.
1:02:15
Okay those we gotta admit that airbag bench was pretty freakin cool.
1:02:20
Yeah, obviously I remembered that you here
1:02:24
yep. Jim How are you
1:02:27
find me in the group or on Instagram Jim and min Jr.
1:02:32
Very cool.
1:02:34
I am at duck mint 21 or at duck man Kido on Instagram in the group as well of course, just tag any of us and we'll be happy to reach out you can reach the podcast on Instagram and follow get notifications from when things come out and T shirts come available which we're going to have a new t shirt design before well probably around The time yeah that by the time you know the pre shows will be going by now probably. But
1:03:06
yes, so we got our man Anthony working on it. He's, he's a it's gonna be a two color t shirt. I don't think there's a way around it. Yeah, but now he's thinking if we make the color of the T shirt, one of the main colors, it'll cut down on somewhat Well, it's it'll cut down on some of his work and I've pretty much told him Hey, man, you want information on painting cars, come ask me. If I want information. I'm making a shirt. Let your expertise do
1:03:30
your thing. Absolutely. We were in antitrust
1:03:34
suits, right.
1:03:36
So hopefully we'll have the the new t shirt design out there if you got one of our first limited edition t shirts. You know, post something, tag us on Instagram. And you can do that at Keto Mans Club Podcast. And you could also email us and or call us email us at Keto Mans Club Podcast. guess@gmail.com any questions, comments, anything like that, or leave us a voicemail at 512-518-6161. So plenty of ways to reach out you can get all of our social links the links to all of our Facebook groups, the Facebook page, everything by going to the Keto Mans Club, Podcast calm. So that's how you can easily find links to everything and make sure that you subscribe if you found this conversation helpful or encouraging. share it with a friend or family member that might also find that it's encouraging and all of that. And lastly, but very much not least good leave a comment or rating. It would help the algorithm a lot to get those comments in and they build our souls up quite a lot to be able to hear the response that people are getting in giving for the podcast What we're trying to put out into the world for all of that. Well, that's it for this week for me and Jim Alberto and mark. Good night and until next week, make sure to eat me lift heavy sleep and repeat. Thank you for joining us for the Keto Mans Club Podcast. Your support means the world to us. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Would you help us spread the word about the keto man's Club by sharing with your friends family? We're available on all podcast platforms. So just search for keto man's club and you'll find us if you would like to connect with us you can do so a number of ways. Our web address leads to our Facebook group, the Keto Mans Club Podcast calm, that's th e ke to mA ns co ub.com. You can also follow us on Instagram at Keto Mans Club Podcast. Lastly, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to reach out via email to Quito. Mans Club podcast@gmail.com thank you again for joining us today. We look forward to hanging out with you again next week.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai